Flip-Flopping for Yelapa's Mex-on-the-Beach fare

Rather be on a Mexican beach sipping a frosty marg and chowing down on fresh seafood? Wouldn’t we all. No need to pack your bags now, though, as Chuck Bulnes just opened Yelapa Playa Mexican Restaurant. Bulnes—a long-time fixture in H-town’s restaurant industry who has previously worked various positions at La Griglia, Ninfa's and Berryhill, to name a few—describes his spanking new inner-Loop, Upper Kirby spot as “funky beach house meets Austin cool.” Named after the beach town near Puerto Vallarta, and just as shorts-and-sandals casual, the affordable yet sublime menu spotlights fresh oceanside faves. Think campechana with rock shrimp, crab claws and avocado; salmon carpaccio; or various twists on ceviches. There is no shortage of talent either, with French Culinary Institute-trained chef L.J. Wiley in the kitchen. (You may recall him from stints at Smith & Wollensky, Brennan’s and Bank.)

Here are some of our early menu favorites:

* Snacks of crispy tempura rock shrimp or Caesar de Yelapa

* Roasted corn gazpacho with Corona and lime

* Taco Truck quesadillas with braised pork and hominy or Baja-style fish tacos with coleslaw and chili mayo

* Entrees of salmon with cauliflower risotto and cocoa con chiles

* The Whole Enchilada, which is stuffed with Hereford skirt steak—so mouth-melting tender and juicy that you won’t believe you ate the whole thing!

2303 Richmond Ave., 281.501.0391, yelapatime.com.