San Antonio Chef Jason Dady Is Opening His First Austin Restaurant

Jason Dady, the notable San Antonio chef and Iron Chef Gauntlet competitor, is opening his very first Austin restaurant, taking over now-closed Fado Irish Pub’s West 4th Street location. Chispas will open as a taco and margarita restaurant on 214 West 4th Street in downtown Austin sometime in September or October of this year.

Dady told Eater the restaurant will focus on casual tacos — no new-school or composed tacos there. He notes that there will be a killer salsa bar. As for margaritas, he’s thinking of nixing frozen ones altogether to focus on ones poured over ice instead. While chispas is Spanish for sparks, it also refers to really strong margaritas in San Antonio.

Dady revealed the new restaurant during Austin Food & Wine Festival, which took place over the weekend.

The longtime Irish bar Fado’s closed after nearly 21 years of operation. Fado managed to host its last St. Patrick’s Day celebration this year and closed on Tuesday, March 20. The owners were looking to relocate the bar somewhere else in Austin. Originally, Austin 360 reported that FBR Management was taking over the West 4th address for a new bar, but that doesn’t appear to be happening.

Dady has seven San Antonio restaurants already, including the recent steakhouse Range, Tre Trattoria, Tre Enoteca, Shuck Shack, Two Bros BBQ Market (with pitmaster and Eater Young Gun Laura Loomis), B&D Ice House, and Bin Tapas.