Less than two years after opening its first San Antonio restaurant — and quickly building two more locations — Houston-based chain Mambo Seafood has stepped away from its Lackland location, at 1446 SW Loop 410. The company announced the immediate closure in a May 21 newsletter.
“We have made the difficult but strategic decision to consolidate our Lackland restaurant in San Antonio,” Mambo explained. “This move allows us to operate more efficiently and better serve our customers and the community.”
The Latin-tinged seafood joint dipped its toes in San Antonio in August 2023, taking over a former Joe’s Crab Shack location at 4711 NW Loop 410. The following summer, it traveled 15 minutes down the highway to open the Lackland location. A third outpost at 3242 Goliad Rd near Brooks City Base soon followed in the fall of 2024.
Although the Lackland location is now closed, a new West Side restaurant is on the way.Photo courtesy of Mambo Seafood
Entrepreneur Michael Ho founded the Mambo brand in 1996, slowly growing its Houston footprint over two decades. Although Bayou City remains the restaurant’s stronghold, the mini-chain has also tested McAllen’s waters.
While its branding borrows from Latin America, the menu doesn’t stick to a single point of view. The chefs embrace Sinaloan aguachile, Cajun-style seafood boils, Argentinian parilladas, and a riff on jalapeño poppers. One of its most popular dishes, fried rice, takes cues from Chifa (Chinese Peruvian) cuisine.
The closure comes as many San Antonio restaurants are reconsidering expansion plans. Q Hibachi Express, Bunz Handcrafted Burgers, and The Hayden scaled back in May, closing recently opened locations.
For its part, Mambo Seafood seems undeterred by the setback. It is offering Lackland employees hours at its other outposts. It is also moving closer to the city core with an upcoming restaurant in the Las Palmas development at 719 Castroville Rd. The company had yet to share an estimated opening date.
