For one Houston chain, the approach seems to be quick, quick, slow. After closing its Lackland location in May, Latin-tinged eatery Mambo Seafood is once again in growth mode with a new restaurant opening September 8 in the Las Palmas Neighborhood at 719 Castroville Rd.
Mambo first 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, but the company scaled back in 2025 in what they called a “difficult but strategic decision.”
The new seafood joint mostly focuses on Latin American dishes like Sinaloan aguachile, Baja-style fish tacos, and Argentinian parilladas. But there are plenty of other choices, like Cajun seafood boils and a riff on jalapeño poppers. The fried rice, taking its cues from Chifa (Chinese Peruvian) cuisine, has reached cult status and is served alone or as a side.
Entrepreneur Michael Ho founded the Latin-tinged seafood joint in 1996, slowly growing its Houston footprint over two decades. Although Bayou City remains the restaurant’s stronghold, the mini-chain has tested the Rio Grande Valley’s waters with a McAllen outpost.
The Las Palmas restaurant will be the first Mambo Seafood on the West Side.
“We know the West Side, specifically Las Palmas, isn’t just a neighborhood; it’s a legacy of families and culture that make San Antonio what it is,” Nuno Lima, CEO of Mambo Seafood Restaurants, said in a release. “We’re honored to become a part of that legacy.”
Mambo will soft-pedal operations for a couple of weeks before its grand opening debut on September 27. The party will include giveaways, live music, a lowrider showcase, kids’ activities, free paletas, and an appearance from San Antonio Missions mascot Ballapeño.