Food Network star shutters Huncho House in Hyattsville: locals react

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• Spotlight — Hyattsville
• Other recent closures and changes

Several well-known restaurants across the D.C. region announced closures in August, a mix of permanent shutdowns and relocations that underscore shifting economics and tastes in the local dining scene. The biggest story: chef Tobias Dorzon is moving his Hyattsville fine‑dining concept to Miami, while neighborhood staples from Bethesda to Arlington are either closing or being repurposed.

Spotlight — Hyattsville

Tobias Dorzon, the former NFL player-turned-chef familiar to Food Network viewers, will shutter Huncho House in Hyattsville on Sunday, August 30, and move the concept to Florida. The restaurant — known for marrying Sicilian training with Asian and West African influences — will reopen this fall in Miami as 1123 The Huncho Experience.

Huncho House’s menu mixed spicy, noodle-forward plates and seafood mains: think rigatoni with crab and jalapeño heat, garlicky snow crab noodles, and whole fried red snapper alongside dishes such as lobster jollof. Dorzon also launched a sister spot called 1123 in University Town Center in 2024, described as a lounge that blends West African flavors with Asian accents.

In 2024 Dorzon survived a widely reported robbery-related shooting; he has since recovered and is preparing the Floridian relaunch. Address: 6450 America Boulevard, Hyattsville, Maryland.

Other recent closures and changes

Below is a quick reference to neighborhood shut‑downs and what’s replacing them where known. These shifts reflect both rising operating costs and changing customer patterns across the region.

• Adams Morgan — Hilo Poke & Sushi: The quick-serve bowl and sushi shop that opened in 2019 closed in August; the second‑floor, 1,400‑square‑foot space is now listed for lease. (2439 18th Street NW)
• Ballston — El Rey: The Hilton hospitality brothers’ taqueria closed its five‑year Arlington location this week. Local brewer Solace Brewing Company plans to take over the space, according to ArlNow. El Rey still operates in Shaw and Navy Yard. (4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA)
• Bethesda — Alatri Bros.: The wood‑fired pizzeria quietly shut after a decade; the owners cited rising food costs and a difficult winter as factors, per Bethesda Now. The family remains active elsewhere in Maryland. (4926 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda, MD)
• Clarendon — Sakaki Izakaya: The all‑you‑can‑eat Japanese spot closed suddenly on August 20, reports ArlNow. The menu had featured sushi, sashimi, ramen, udon and late‑night dishes; AYCE dinner ran around $45. Nearby AYCE sushi options have continued to appear in Arlington this month. (3227 Washington Boulevard, Arlington, VA)
• Dupont — Selva: The Mayflower Club’s Central/South American restaurant ended operations after roughly a year. Chef Giovanni Orellana’s menu included Peruvian and Salvadoran inspirations, ceviches and creative small plates. The dining room is being reused for private events and pop‑ups. (1223 Connecticut Avenue NW)

Some closures are already producing quick turnover: landlords and operators are marketing vacated units aggressively, and a few have been earmarked for breweries, fast‑casual concepts, or event space use. For diners, that means familiar favorites can disappear fast — but new concepts often arrive in their place.

What this means now: Rising ingredient costs, labor pressures and seasonal slumps remain common reasons owners cite when they close. For customers, closures reshape neighborhood options and can accelerate leasing activity; for staff, they create sudden job shifts. In one local example, a shuttered restaurant has become a potential home for a regional brewery, highlighting how operators adapt existing footprints rather than building from scratch.

If you’ve noticed a recent closure or reopening in your neighborhood, send a tip to dc@eater.com.