Oak Cliff News
Roomy sports bar Mas Chingon to bring Latin flair to Oak Cliff Dallas
Mas Chingon
There's a big new restaurant-sports bar with a Latin theme coming to Oak Cliff: Called Más Chingón, it'll open at 312 W. Davis St., in the former Blue Cenote space, with food, big-screens, and live music. Construction is underway, with a target opening date of June.
The owner is Christian Avanti, who also owns Lava Lounge on Cedar Springs Road as well as a couple of barber shops in town. His goal is to create a sports bar with a Latin environment, Latin music, and a menu of Mexican-Latin food.
The sports bar area will feature a Vegas-inspired 50-feet screen, a mural by local artist Dummy Fresh, and colors everywhere including a ceiling with a fluorescent effect when the lights are on. The space also features a stage for bands and DJs, while Instagram photos hint at female servers in Hooters-style uniforms.
Overseeing the menu is chef Antonio De Jesús Martínez, who was born in Monterrey, raised in Oak Cliff, and previously worked at neighboring restaurants Gloria’s, 303, and Pier 247. He and Avanti met 15 years ago when the chef visited one of Christian’s barber shops for a haircut. They stayed in touch, often partnering for events where the chef catered food.
"I picked Antonio because he is young, open-minded, and has a modern take on Mexican food," Avanti says.
The menu is still being finalized, but it will provide opportunities for instagrammable moments, such a a miniature elote station with toppings brought to the table; a branded cowboy steak meant to be shared; and a pork belly “al pastor” served trompo-style with pineapple, flambéed tableside.
“We want our customers to experience their favorite street food but elevated, with traditional Mexican flavors," Martinez says. “We want to share our culture, food and party vibes, all in good place."
The restaurant occupies a huge space with a capacity of more than 350 people — affording plenty of room for a second concept within the restaurant called Isla, an indoor/outdoor seafood restaurant with beachy vibes, tropical wallpaper, shiny barro countertops, and wide windows that open to the patio space on Davis Street. That menu will feature aguachiles, shrimp cocktail, oysters on the half shell, Louisiana-style boils, and fried cod served on the hook. There are also plans for a rooftop bar.
They'll host a serious brunch, with a menu featuring unique specialties such as concha French toast, chilaquiles, huevos chingones a la Mexicana, alitas (chicken wings) & waffles, and a variety of micheladas.
“All of us involved in this project grew up here and are Dallas based," Martinez says. "We knew what type of environment we want to showcase. We want to be a watering hole for the locals and a must-stop shop for tourists."
