South First Location of El Chile to Morph Into New Latin Seafood Concept

Changes are a-comin’ to South First early next year when the El Chile restaurant group replaces the current El Chile space with new concept Alcomar, as reported by the Austin Chronicle. Helmed by co-executive chefs Alma Alcocer from El Alma and Jeff Martinez from El Chile, the focus of the restaurant will be on coastal Latin cuisine. The revamped space, according to a press release, will resemble "modern yet rustic beach house kitchen." The restaurant will remain open throughout this transformation, and El Chile will feature specials from the forthcoming Alcomar menu.

El Chile Group is prone to often shuffling restaurants and switching concepts within the past 11 years, as noted by an Eater interview with El Chile’s Carlos Rivero last year. Recently, a second El Chilto should open soon in the former Church’s Chicken space on East 7th, and a third Chilito is in the works on Manchaca Road. El Sapo was the new cantina that opened earlier in the spring in the group's former Flat Top Burger spot. Then there was Manor Road’s El Chile shuttering to move to the South First location, and then reopening last fall. Then there was the shuttering of the El Chilito on Congress Avenue in the fall of 2010.