In an increasingly corporate San Antonio food scene, it’s rare for the indies to grab a news cycle. So, this week, we’re focusing on the homegrown. Alamo City has a shiny new 85°C Bakery Cafe and will soon welcome new locations of HTeaO and Long John Silver’s (hey, we don’t judge). That tea can wait. Until then, let’s hear it for the little guys. They need support now more than ever.

Openings

New Braunfels eatery Muck & Fuss will soon be flipping patties in San Antonio. According to paperwork filed at the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), the craft beer and gourmet burger joint is building a new home at 2422 N. Loop 1604 W. The lengthy construction period is set to wrap up in December 2025.

A new Mexican concept is settling into the former home of Southtown Pizzeria at 728 S Presa St. Per signage and the restaurant’s Instagram account, Nixtamali Molino + Comedor plans to open sometime in June. The name borrows from nixtamalization — the ancient process of processing corn into masa — but the owners have revealed no other details.

After unexpectedly losing its longtime home, Cypress Cafe is about to begin a new chapter. In May, H-E-B notified the Korean favorite that it was closing the Cypress Tower to outside businesses, a move intended to secure the workplace. Now the long-running restaurant has found shelter at the nearby Lobrano Food Hall. The concept will primarily operate as a delivery ghost kitchen, although pickup and limited seating is available at 427 Lombrano St.

Jesse Tavitas, the owner of Broadway hot spot Bentley’s Bar, is working on two new concepts at 829 N. Alamo. TDLR records state the renovation will last until July, but particulars have still not been made public. Still, the ‘80s-referencing names — McFly’s Bar and BBQ and Just Like Heaven —might hold some clues to the general vibe. Let’s hope the opening doesn’t cause any paradoxes.

The second location of Empty Stomach Group bakery Extra Finequietly opened on June 5. Operators John and Jessica Philpot didn’t mess with the formula of the Monte Vista original, replicating its menu, opening hours (7 am to 6 pm), and general vibe.

Less than two years after expanding, the owners behind fusion sushi spot Yellowfin Sushi are pulling back. In May, it decided to close its fledgling Blanco Road location and now it is temporary shuttering Netflix-approved taqueria El Pastor es Mi Señor. The restructuring will allow the owners to keep current employees and make some improvements. The Yellowfin on Wurzbach Road will remain open, but there’s no word yet on when El Pastor will return.

Other news and notes

Southtown fixture Hot Joy will soon have new digs. Though the Instagram announcement did not give an exact timeline of when the raucous spot would vacate 1014 S. Alamo, it did confirm rumors that it was headed downtown to 1101 Broadway, the new home of NOLA Brunch & Beignets and future stomping grounds of Stefan Bowers’ Pumpers. Until the move, the restaurant will serve some throwback favorites beginning June 18.

Lala’s Gorditas is the latest San Antonio restaurant sending a distress call. On June 11, owner Steven Pizzini took to Facebook asking for community support during a sales downturn. In the statement, Pizzini acknowledged the problems with his outdoor facilities but asked for neighbors to save the business “one more time.”