La Tiki Paisa, the after-hours tiki bar tucked inside La Casita at the Half-Price Books flagship, has officially gone dark, leaving Dallas short one wildly theatrical late-night hangout. The tiny, tiki-forward spot built a cult following on rum-heavy cocktails and a showstopper of a centerpiece dish: a whole fried branzino that many considered the city’s can’t-miss fish tacos. Owners Maricsa Trejo and Alex Henderson broke the news on social media, adding that La Casita’s daytime operation is staying put.
According to the Dallas Observer, Trejo and Henderson wrote in an Instagram caption that “our little tiki bar was written up about more times than we can count, but in the en,d the numbers were not what we needed to continue at this space,” and confirmed that the final service was last Saturday. They thanked guests for the ride and hinted that their tiki ambitions might resurface in a new home someday.
La Casita will stay open as an all-day cafe
On their Instagram, the owners stressed that La Casita is not going anywhere. The all-day cafe will continue to pour cocktails and coffee and serve brunch, sandwiches, and pastries seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. So while the tiki crowd has cleared out, the bakery and coffee bar will still anchor the Half-Price Books space.
Why the fish tacos became a local obsession
La Tiki Paisa’s cult-famous plate started with a whole branzino, bent and fried so it arched dramatically off the plate, then paired with tomatillo salsa, cabbage slaw, and house tortillas. The presentation turned heads, but it was the combination of crisp skin, tender fish, and DIY tacos that sparked a full-on fixation. The Dallas Observer devoted a feature to the fish tacos, crowning them the city’s surprise dish of the summer, while D Magazine applauded both the drinks and the adventurous menu. The concept first rolled out dinner service in late February 2025 at the Half-Price Books flagship on E. Northwest Highway, according to The Dallas Morning News.
What’s next for the owners and the neighborhood
On Instagram, Trejo and Henderson told followers they are interested in exploring a space where our tiki dreams can come to life down the road, leaving the door open for a future revival. For now, the bookstore keeps its cafe life and daytime buzz, but the stacks will be noticeably quieter at night without La Tiki Paisa’s cocktail energy and whole-fish spectacle holding court in the aisles.
