Just ten minutes from Coronado, Chaplos is a new experience worth the drive!

Irene Seymour and her husband Edwin spent the last year building their dream business. Irene was born in Coronado when there was still a maternity ward at the local hospital, but grew up in Mexico City. Her parents owned a condo at the shores and she got to spend every summer here in Coronado.

Chaplos Owners Irene and Edwin Seymour

Parents of two young children, the couple lived in Cortez Hill for a while. The lack of good eateries in their area inspired them to open a place for people to come enjoy good food and drink and have a great time. They have lived in the Cays for two years and Irene says of Coronado, “I don’t think there’s a better place in the world.”  Her favorite part of living in Coronado is that it feels like paradise. She says, “The neighbors, parks, feeling of a town, it’s all very personal. People help you out, look you in the eye and smile.”

If you have the opportunity to meet Irene and Edwin, you will quickly realize that they are two very nice people. They are hardworking and extremely generous and they are meticulous about personalizing their restaurant. Chaplos is the nickname of Irene’s father. They are focused on family and if you look carefully around the restaurant, you will see personal items they have brought from Mexico to make the place feel like home. It is definitely not “homey”, though. It’s modern and different and really fun!

This case is located on the right as you enter the restaurant and houses items that are special to Irene and Edwin's family.   A close look at the bottom right and you can spy one of Chaplos' (Irene's dad) golfing trophies.

The décor is amazing. Irene, with a degree in architecture, designed the restaurant while Edwin used his construction background to build the space from the ground up. They have several items from the old Fat City Restaurant like the vintage cash register, Tiffany lamps and bar booths. Several decorative items were purchased in Coronado at Charisma (1158 Orange Avenue) and Cotier (1053 B Avenue). The booth my friend Rhonda and I sat in was very comfortable, but my favorite part of the restaurant was the large table parallel to the bar. It made me want to come back with a bunch of friends just so I could sit there! I also really enjoyed the wine storage. It created a nice barrier between the seating and the kitchen, but still allowed the servers to discreetly view the patrons.

The wine storage that separates the dining area from the kitchen.  The picture doesn't do it justice.

I want to go back with a large group just so I can sit at this table!  Seems like it would be so much fun.

We were there at lunch time and were not immediately greeted when we entered. Keep in mind, however, that Chaplos had only been open three weeks when I visited. It sometimes takes a few weeks to work out the kinks in a new place. I ordered the turkey club and Rhonda ordered a chicken Caesar wrap. We split each dish and each was delicious. The sandwiches came with fries and they were thin and fun to eat. We even splurged on dessert. I don’t remember what it was called, but it had a brownie, chocolate, ice cream and fresh berries. It looked great and tasted even better.

Irene and Edwin brought in Norma Martinez to be their head chef. Her family is well known in Tijuana for their ability to transform food into pure deliciousness. Norma spent some time training in Belgium and enjoys creating dishes using local items. Chaplos uses fresh, local organic produce when possible and their proteins do not contain added hormones or antibiotics. Norma enjoys creating dishes that will remind you of home. Her food is familiar and may take you back to a time when families cooked together and things were prepared with care in grandma’s kitchen.

Chef Norma Martinez

Chaplos offers a full bar and even has wine (you read that correctly) on tap! There is no doubt that Irene, Edwin and Norma put a lot of heart into this venture. They are extremely focused on delivering a high quality experience and their establishment is certainly worth a try. If you are looking for a reason to get off the island, take a short drive to Chaplos, owned and operated by Coronado residents.

From Sunset Park, it took all of ten minutes to arrive at Chaplos, 925 B Street between 10th and 9th Avenues. We parked on the street where you don’t get as much for your money as in Coronado, but if you don’t have change, use the valet service for $8.

Hours are as follows and if you visit their website, www.chaplos.com , you can get a coupon to save 10%:

Lunch:  Monday-Friday 12p.m.-3p.m.

Dinner:  Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday 5p.m.-11p.m.
Friday 5p.m.-1:30a.m.
Saturday 5p.m.-1:30a.m.

Sunday Closed

Happy Hour Tuesday-Friday 4p.m.-7p.m.

Kellee Hearther

Online Editor

eCoronado.com

If you have something you would love to read about, please contact us.