{"id":766515,"date":"2026-05-01T19:08:38","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T19:08:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/766515\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T19:08:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T19:08:38","slug":"chef-behind-san-antonios-acclaimed-carnitas-lonja-launches-mexican-seafood-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/766515\/","title":{"rendered":"Chef behind San Antonio’s acclaimed Carnitas Lonja launches Mexican seafood spot"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ElEl Fish Demon\u2019s menu is focused on ceviches, aguachiles, tostadas and fish tacos. Credit: Instagram \/ tacopolissa<\/p>\n

San Antonio chef Alex Paredes \u2014\u00a0the 2020 James Beard Awards semifinalist behind acclaimed eateries Carnitas Lonja and Fish Lonja \u2014\u00a0has shuttered his Deco District taqueria Tacopolis and reopened it as a seafood spot. <\/p>\n

The new restaurant, El Fish Demon Mariscos de Golfo, began serving this week at 1604 Fredericksburg Road. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had other seafood restaurants that are really good, and we\u2019re going to bring that to the Deco District,\u201d Paredes said in an Instagram video explaining his decision to close Tacopolis and reopen with a new name and approach. \u201cWe\u2019re going to do some ceviches, aguachiles, tostadas, fish tacos \u2014\u00a0all that good stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the clip, Paredes explained that meat prices for Tacopolis have been through the roof, forcing him to shift gears. <\/p>\n

The chef also apologized for the taqueria\u2019s frequent closures as he worked through unspecified health issues. He added that he\u2019s on the rebound and \u201c100%\u201d dedicated to running the new restaurant. <\/p>\n

Paredes\u2019 no-frills South Side dining spot Carnitas Lonja opened in 2017 and quickly built a local following for its Michoac\u00e1n-style carnitas. National publications including the\u00a0New York Times,\u00a0Esquire\u00a0and\u00a0Bon Appetit\u00a0also heaped praise on its succulent meats.<\/p>\n

Paredes launched a seafood concept, Fish Lonja, at the same location that also also garnered national attention. In 2021, the New York Times praised the offshoot as one of the 50 restaurants its critics were most excited about.<\/p>\n

Both Lonja concepts closed in 2023 after riding out the COVID-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n

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