A new Mexican seafood restaurant, Mi Vecino, is opening in Circle C, courtesy of chef Amir Hajimaleki and his brother Ali Hajimaleki of Roya Hospitality Group. It’s slated to open between now and early 2027, per a release. The restaurant, Mi Vecino, will
open at 5701 West Slaughter Lane, replacing another of the group’s restaurants, Keeper’s Coastal Kitchen, which closed Saturday, October 24.
Mi Vecino, which means my neighbor in Spanish, will focus on Mexican seafood dishes, both raw and fire-grilled. That means offerings like shrimp enchiladas with white mole, ceviche, oysters, and fajitas served with fresh tortillas. Drinks-wise, there will be a full bar with margaritas, ranch waters, palomas, and other cocktails. Chef Hajimaleki will oversee the menu, which will be executed by chef Jose Alajandro Sanchez.
The Hajimalekis’ restaurants are mostly clustered on Slaughter Lane in South Austin. Gastropub Oasthouse Kitchen + Bar, cocktail bar Daisy Lounge, and forthcoming Mi Vecino all share a building, and the group’s first restaurant, American spot District Kitchen + Cocktails, is just down the street.
This is not the first time Roya Hospitality Group has reimagined one of their restaurants. Roya, Hajimalekis’ highly personal Persian restaurant in North Shoal Creek, opened this year in a space that was previously Shortie’s, the group’s foray into New England Greek-style pizza. Roya is the group’s only North Austin restaurant, and sits above a former second District Kitchen, which closed and became an event space. Given the group’s penchant for reinvention, only time will tell whether it stays an event space.
