After three and a half years in Southtown, San Antonio's Puerto Rican favorite Luna Rosa is once again on the move. In December, the restaurant will move from the former home of Rosario's at 910 S Alamo St. to an equally well-known address, Hot Joy's old digs at 1014 S. Alamo St.

Luna Rosa did not spell out the reasons for the move, but did say it planned to make the new building its permanent home. Hot Joy moved out of the space in late 2024 to its new Broadway home.

"When we took our leap of faith and moved to downtown, we grew from a cozy 15-table spot to a vibrant 300-seat restaurant," wrote the restaurant in a statement. "For the past three and a half years, we've proudly proven that authentic Puerto Rican cuisine — a cuisine made with love and cooked fresh to order — can shine in a large-format, high-volume setting."

Luna Rosa first introduced itself to San Antonio in 2015, opening a small cafe at Brooks City Base. The spot quickly became popular for a menu mixing traditional island fare like mofongo and ropa vieja with Spanish tapas like croquetas de jamon.

Three years later, it was thrust into the national spotlight when Guy Fieri visited chef Iris Gonzalez-Ornelas for an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. One of the dishes he tried, Caribbean nachos topped with pork, ground beef, or churrasco steak, is still listed at the top of the menu.

Even with TV success, many were surprised when the tiny restaurant decided to open in the much larger venue. But during the time, it was able to pack seats and even open a bodega next door in fall 2025.

It's unclear whether a new business will move in to take advantage of the building's poppy midcentury character, but Luna Rosa says it is not looking back.

"Our new forever home will be a place we can pour even more love, culture, and sabor into for years to come," it wrote.