COMING ATTRACTIONS

New Nigerian restaurant debuts on San Antonio's East Side

Oringo Africana will open September 5.

Although Nigerian cuisine is now entering the U.S. mainstream through restaurants like the Dept. of Culture in Brooklyn and Houston’s ChòpnBlọk, it has been underrepresented in San Antonio. That’s about to change. New West African restaurant Oringo Africana will open September 5 at 1701 E. Houston, the former home of Dignowity Meats.

The concept isn’t entirely new to San Antonio. Chef Ugoshukwu Ijoma, a native of Arochukwu, Nigeria, first started the business as a cottage take-out business before branching out to a food truck at 9501 Computer Dr. Despite some interest from local influencers, however, the eatery has largely remained under the radar.

For many San Antonians, Oringo will be their first taste of Nigeria’s deeply spiced cuisine. Alamo City only has a handful of African restaurants, and fewer still have focused on West African fare. Only Ultra Kitchen at 7870 Culebra Rd. explicitly frames its food as Nigerian, although newcomer Afrotex Grill serves Nigerian fusion.

According to its opening flyer, Oringo will dish out classics like egusi (a thick soup made with ground melon seeds) and efo riro (a leafy vegetable stew). The menu also includes one of Africa’s most famous culinary exports, Jollof rice, served with chicken.

Many of the dishes are eaten with West African swallows, dense doughs meant for scooping. According to the flyer, Oringo’s main vehicle is stretchy fufu made of yam-based poundo flour.

Ijoma also throws in a nod to his adopted hometown. Suya — thin-sliced and skewered grilled beef coated in a ground-peanut and spice blend — is reinvented as a taco.

Oringo has not yet publicized its regular operating hours, but it seems like it will cater to daytime crowds. On grand opening day, the restaurant will open at noon.

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SOLO VENTURES

Mixtli chef unveils new neighborhood restaurant near Pearl

Rendering courtesy of Filleman House.

Filleman House will open in the fall.

One half of San Antonio’s most acclaimed chef team is stepping out with a new solo venture. Mixtli’s Diego Galicia will open Filleman House in the former home of Restaurant Claudine (517 E. Grayson St.) this fall.

The new restaurant, named after the historic bungalow’s original owner, August Filleman, is a departure from the Mexican fare Galicia is most known for. According to a release, the menu will feature brasserie classics like prime rib, steak au poivre, a dry-aged burger paired with a martini at the bar, and oysters in the garden. Galicia says the fare was inspired by years of travel and his own cookbook collection.

"Filleman House is the restaurant I've always craved to create," Galicia said in a release. "After years of telling the stories of Mexico through Mixtli, I wanted to build something that reflects another part of who I am, not just as a chef, but as a diner. It's the kind of place I want to eat in every day."

Filleman House bar Lauren Beckman will lead the beverage program.Rendering courtesy of Filleman House

Lauren Beckman, who received the 2024 Michelin Guide Texas Service Award, will join Filleman House as the beverage director, offering both a high-octane and zero-proof cocktail program. Linda Romero, a creative vet of Pullman Market and Hotel Emma, Jazz, TX, and Hanzo, is designing the space.

Galicia joins his Mixtli cofounder Rico Torres in striking out on new culinary ventures. In July, Torres announced his own anticipated opening as part of the new La Unión Hospitality group — red-sauce Italian steakhouse, Rosso. Together with Filleman House and Houston chef Aaron Bludorn’s upcoming project in the old Carriqui space, the openings will make 2026 one of the buzziest restaurant seasons in years.

Filleman House does not yet have an opening date, but the release says OpenTable reservations will open soon. Fans can follow along on Instagram for updates.

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