Owners Opened Comal en Brasa in Tacoma
The new restaurant serves Mexican and Salvadoran cuisine in a local shopping plaza.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Dining Out
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Jose and Sonia Paulino opened Comal en Brasa in a Tacoma shopping plaza in late August 2026. The new eatery features a menu of Mexican and Salvadoran dishes and offers late-night dining hours on weekends.
Why it matters
The owners aimed to return to food service at the shopping plaza after the closure of a previous tenant, a smoke shop. They specifically designed the restaurant's hours to serve local nightclub crowds.
Pupusas are priced at $4.49 each, while the plato tipico costs $28.99. Traditional soups range from $24.99 to $25.99, and taco orders cost between $10.99 and $12.99.
The players
Jose and Sonia Paulino
They are restaurateurs and business owners who also manage Fuego Nightclub in Tacoma and Las Palmas in SeaTac.
Comal en Brasa
It is a new Tacoma restaurant specializing in Mexican and Salvadoran cuisine.
The details
Customers order their food at the counter, with staff delivering the completed dishes to tables. The establishment occupies a space formerly used by a smoke shop and does not serve alcohol.
Timeline
The restaurant opened its doors in late August 2026.
The owners teased the new concept on social media in April 2026.
The establishment remains open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
Culture Shift
The opening of Comal en Brasa aligns with the trend of operators extending operating hours to capture the demand for post-entertainment dining. This reflects a shift toward integrating casual culinary options into areas defined by their nightlife economy.
Residents in Tacoma have a new late-night option for weekend meals. The restaurant offers a distinct alternative for those seeking Mexican and Salvadoran food during hours when many other local businesses are closed.
The takeaway
The restaurant provides a targeted dining solution for late-night crowds by operating until 2 a.m. on weekends. Customers should note that the establishment does not serve alcohol and utilizes a counter-service ordering model.
Further reading
Explore more local food options in the Dining Out section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tacoma News Tribune.
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