El Naranjo, a South Austin Mexican restaurant, will close its doors on July 18. The restaurant, located at 2717 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. 1085, in Austin, will have a selection of farewell specials leading up to the closure, highlighting its fan-favorite dishes.

Menu and History

The menu at El Naranjo features a range of seasonal, scratch-made dishes, including ceviche, guacamole, tuna tostadas, and enchiladas. Behind the menu is chef and owner Iliana de la Vega, who was recognized with the 2022 Best Chef Texas award from the James Beard Foundation.

The dinner menu includes dishes made with in-house moles, such as those served with duck breast, chicken, or vegetables. Another notable menu item is the A La Diabla, which features halibut in a spicy salsa diabla with pineapple relish and white rice. El Naranjo also serves Sunday brunch with classics like rancheros and chilaquiles.

Closure Announcement

The announcement of the closure marks the second time El Naranjo has closed its doors in Austin. The restaurant previously closed its Rainey Street location three months after opening the South Lamar spot in 2019.

Owners Iliana de la Vega and Ernesto Torrealba expressed their gratitude to the city of Austin and their customers, stating, “Gracias, gracias to each one of you and to the city of Austin for opening your arms to us. Thank you for welcoming our whole family when we had nothing but our recipes and hope. And for returning, again and again, to enjoy our history, traditions, culture, and the food of our family, with us.”

Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.