Yes, El Chino in Tyler Has Closed. Here’s What’s Taking Its Place

TYLER, Texas -- If you've driven by El Chino Buffet in Tyler lately and thought things looked a little quiet, you weren't the only one wondering what's going on. A question posted in the All Things Tyler Facebook group asking whether the restaurant had closed quickly drew more than 100 comments. Several people said yes, but the conversation also included some happy restaurant news.

Joamia's Kitchen is opening a new location in the Former El Chino restaurant at 1500 WSW Loop 323.

The Japanese restaurant recently announced the news on its Facebook page while also putting out a rather significant help-wanted sign: Joamia's Kitchen is hiring for all positions at its new location.

Joamia's Kitchen is Getting a Much Bigger Tyler Location

If you haven't heard of Joamia's Kitchen yet, you're about to have a much easier time finding it. The locally owned Japanese restaurant is currently tucked away at 720 S. Fleishel Avenue in Tyler, near Christus Mother Frances Hospital. It's a small, locally owned Japanese restaurant that's earned a rather devoted following for dishes including teriyaki chicken, fried rice, and other Japanese favorites.

It's also one of those wonderful little Tyler places you could drive past 47 times without realizing there's really good food hiding in there. The restaurant currently carries an impressive 4.9-star rating online, although it has a relatively small number of reviews. That totally makes sense, given this is a little hidden-gem operation.

The Former El Chino Location Is Getting a New Restaurant

As for El Chino Buffet, the Chinese-Mexican fusion buffet opened in the former Red Lobster building on Southwest Loop 323. Its apparent closure had already prompted plenty of discussion among Tyler residents. El Chino brought a Chinese-Mexican buffet concept to the building before closing. Before that, the space housed longtime Red Lobster.

We don't have an opening date for Joamia's Kitchen just yet, but things are definitely moving behind the scenes. We love hearing that a small Tyler restaurant that's been something of a hidden gem is getting a much bigger stage.

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