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Spanish tapas restaurant El Chipiron, which had been supposedly temporarily closed for maintenance issues this summer, is shuttered for good. Taking over its South Austin space is beloved Mexican restaurant El Naranjo, which will open its second location at 2717 South Lamar Boulevard starting on Tuesday, September 17.
El Naranjo co-owners chef Iliana de la Vega and Ernesto Torrealba opened the original restaurant in Oaxaca, Mexico in 1997, but closed because of political troubles and relocated to Texas. They reopened in Austin on Rainey Street as a food truck and then as the restaurant in 2012. The restaurant is known for its strong array of moles, among other Oaxacan dishes. De la Vega was also a James Beard Award semifinalist chef this year.
El Chipiron owner Pablo Gomez opened the Spanish restaurant in 2017, with a focus on all sorts of tapas dishes and gin-and-tonics. He had told Eater that he had to close the restaurant for several weeks this summer because its air conditioner died, but planned on reopening.
When El Naranjo South Lamar opens, it will offer 20 percent off dishes from Tuesday, September 17 through Saturday, September 21. Its hours will be from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
