There's seafood cooking at a well known East Dallas address: Del Mar Seafood & Oyster Bar, a family-run restaurant which has been wowing Garland with oysters, ceviche, and fried catfish for seven years, is opening at 2706 Samuell Blvd., most recently home to Mixtito’s, which closed in December 2024, but previously the longtime home of La Acapulqueña for 33 years.

Del Mar is a true family business, owned and operated by Martín Cerda, his mother María Gonzalez, and his cousins Sergio Ibarra and Abel Salas. Martín and María are originally from San Luis Potosi but have been in Dallas for more than 20 years.

“We are a very well-organized team as a family," Martin says. "My sister and my wife help, too. I have confidence in our food and service because we manage the restaurant and are always here to serve."

After working in the restaurant industry for many years, Cerda opened the original Del Mar in Garland in 2017, where it did very well, persevering even through the pandemic, due in no small part to their well-made food at great prices.

But they closed the Garland location in February, due to landlord issues. Finding this coveted location in East Dallas was kismet for both the restauant and for landlord Patrick Donlin, who was seeking the perfect tenant for the space. They're planning to open in mid-March.

"Their approach towards community and families aligned well with the neighborhood," Donlin says. "They are going to do some fun things like live music and brings good energy to the neighborhood. We think the neighborhood will support them, too."

The menu at Del Mar includes a variety of seafood dishes, mostly from María’s own recipes.

“We have many styles, from Louisiana Cajun plates to Sinaloa-style shrimp and ceviche," Martin says. "We brought all our expertise and combined different plates."

They offer seafood three ways — grilled, fried, and boiled — in dishes such as garlic shrimp, fried catfish, and a Cajun-style boiled seafood platter with shrimp, crab, sausage, corn, and potatoes for $25, ond of the most expensive items on the menu and enough for a table to share.

Entrees like garlic shrimp or grilled salmon with rice and vegetables are $12 to $13. Fried catfish & shrimp has two filets plus two fried shrimp, and is $11. Po'boys and taco plates, with choice of shrimp, oyster, chicken, or catish, are all around $9.

At this new location, they're adding traditional Mexican dishes such as enchiladas, menudo, tacos de birria, and barbacoa. They'll also serve alcohol including micheladas, palomas, and cocktails such as the Niña Fresa (vodka, Triple Sec, guava, lime, and strawberry puree) and a fruity tequila drink called the Vampiro.

They'll be open for lunch and dinneer with late-night hours on weekends, with live music, and may open for breakfast, as well.

“Our customers in Garland promised that they will follow us. We are hoping to see them here in East Dallas," Martín says.