NEWS YOU CAN EAT

A pizzeria pause and Michelin dining fire up San Antonio dining news

Wicked Bah Pizza is one of the area's few spots for East Coast pies.

As San Antonio shivers in anticipation of Fiesta, its northern neighbor, New Braunfels, delivers a bummer. One of the area’s few spots for East Coast pizza is firing down the ovens. Back in Alamo City, locals continue to feed their obsession for fancy dinners, Fiesta medals, Dubai chocolate, and burgers.

Here are the buzziest bits of San Antonio restaurant news this week:

Closures

A popular New Braunfels pizzeria has thrown in the towel. Via social media, Wicked Bah Pizza said it was “afforded an opportunity that [it wasn’t] expecting so soon” but did not elaborate on the next chapter. The restaurant opened in 2022 at 11 S. Union Ave. #123, serving East Coast-style pies. The last day of business is April 30, though the owners promised a return.

Other news and notes

Brasserie Mon Chou Chou is reigniting Michelin fever in San Antonio. On April 29, the Pearl restaurant will host acclaimed Chicago chef Noah Sandoval of two-starred standout Oriole. The dinner launches the Pearl restaurant’s La Table Des Étoiles series, a set of collaborations with high-profile culinary figures. Seats are $195 per guest with an optional $80 wine pairing and can only be reserved by emailing stephanie@southerleigh.com.

Broadway sandwich shop The Newstand is launching a limited-edition merch collection with Alamo City streetwear brand Southtown Supply Co. The exclusive drop, available to the first 100 guests, includes a “tow-shirt” (available in crop and t-shirt styles), a branded glass cortado mug, Newstand’s 2025 Fiesta medal, and freshly baked concha. Fans can snag the kit from 8 am-11 am, but the first 30 guests arriving at 8 am will receive a discount.

Hold on to your buns. San Antonio Burger Week is returning April 18-27 to help the San Antonio Food Bank fight food insecurity. This year’s participants are a who’s who of local burger joints, including Henbit, Burger Boy, Lucy Cooper’s, Mark’s Outing, and Chris Madrids. Head to the website for a complete list of restaurants or to download the app.

Chocolatl is going full throttle on the viral Dubai chocolate trend. On April 18-19, the patisserie is hosting a Dubai pastries weekend with a plethora of pistachio-filled treats. The lineup includes macarons, cheesecake cups, cookies, conchas, and spreads from Alessia Benavides, the recent winner of the Tastemaker Award for Pastry Chef of the Year.

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LAST DANCE

Mambo Seafood scales back San Antonio restaurants 2 years after debut

Photo courtesy of Mambo Seafood

This Latin seafood spot is known for its fried rice.

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.

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