San Antonio chef Alex Paredes — the 2020 James Beard Awards semifinalist behind acclaimed eateries Carnitas Lonja and Fish Lonja — has shuttered his Deco District taqueria Tacopolis and reopened it as a seafood spot.
The new restaurant, El Fish Demon Mariscos de Golfo, began serving this week at 1604 Fredericksburg Road.
“We’ve had other seafood restaurants that are really good, and we’re going to bring that to the Deco District,” Paredes said in an Instagram video explaining his decision to close Tacopolis and reopen with a new name and approach. “We’re going to do some ceviches, aguachiles, tostadas, fish tacos — all that good stuff.”
In the clip, Paredes explained that meat prices for Tacopolis have been through the roof, forcing him to shift gears.
The chef also apologized for the taqueria’s frequent closures as he worked through unspecified health issues. He added that he’s on the rebound and “100%” dedicated to running the new restaurant.
Paredes’ no-frills South Side dining spot Carnitas Lonja opened in 2017 and quickly built a local following for its Michoacán-style carnitas. National publications including the New York Times, Esquire and Bon Appetit also heaped praise on its succulent meats.
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.
Both Lonja concepts closed in 2023 after riding out the COVID-19 pandemic.
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