From Los Altos to Austin: Chef Johnny Curiel Brings Alteño to Life

Drawing from the traditions of Los Altos de Jalisco and Austin’s live-fire spirit, Chef Johnny Curiel brings Alteño to 1 Hotel Austin this summer.

For Chef Johnny Curiel, food has always been inseparable from gathering. Growing up in Los Altos de Jalisco, weekends were spent around open flames, seafood was shared along the coast with his father, and meals stretched late into the evening alongside family and friends. Those moments now shape Alteño, the new restaurant opening at 1 Hotel Austin this summer.

Rooted in the traditions of the Jaliscan Highlands and inspired by Austin’s culture of smoke, seasonality, and community, Alteño reflects Curiel’s deeply personal approach to hospitality, one shaped by his upbringing, his family’s legacy in restaurants, and the campestre-style cooking of his childhood. Through fire-driven dishes, heritage flavors, agave spirits, and a strong sense of place, the restaurant is designed to feel less like a dining destination and more like an invitation into someone’s home.

Ahead of the opening, we sat down with Chef Johnny to talk about legacy, hospitality, and the stories woven into every dish.

A Taste of Los Altos with Chef Johnny Curiel

Alteño is rooted in Los Altos de Jalisco, a region shaped by altitude, agriculture, and a distinct culinary identity. What flavors, ingredients, or memories from your childhood there find their way onto the menu today?

In the highlands of Jalisco, my family spent Sundays around a firepit, waiting for whole animals to slow-roast while we laughed, ate, and reconnected. Gathering like this was a Sunday ritual that brought us together in celebration of our family’s traditions. Dishes kissed by fire in our hearth are rooted in those family gatherings that shaped who I am today. 
So much of the menu is inspired by memories with my father. He and I would travel the coast to visit cevicherías and marisquerías, where we’d share oysters, ceviche, and fresh fish. Alteño’s seafood-forward plates are a natural extension of so many of those experiences. My most cherished memories in Los Altos aren’t just about the food, but the experience and time spent with family connecting over food. That same sense of connection shines through at Alteño.

You’ve spoken about the influence of your father, the original “Alteño,” and his life in hospitality. How has that legacy shaped not just the food, but the feeling and spirit you’re trying to create in the restaurant?

My father’s cooking has always shaped my approach to both cooking and eating. He is a rare chef who truly enjoys cooking at home, and was known for turning Mondays into a celebration by grilling steaks and uncorking bottles of wine for family and friends. Alteño is, in many ways, a reflection of his world. A place where people can gather, linger, and celebrate the way we do in Los Altos.

Austin has a strong culinary voice, one grounded in smoke, seasonality, and a blend of cultural influences. What drew you to this city, and how are you contributing to that conversation through Alteño?

We’ve spent years exploring Austin and falling in love with its food and community. Opening a restaurant here has always been a dream, and we’re excited to become part of a city that’s inspired us for so long. At Alteño, my personal storytelling through food and our hearth-driven ethos aligns with so many restaurants and chefs that inspire me in town.

Opening Alteño within 1 Hotel Austin introduces a new layer to the experience. How did the setting of the hotel shape your vision for the restaurant?

We’re really excited to partner with 1 Hotel Austin. Both of our brands care deeply about putting guests first, paying attention to the details, and growing in a way that genuinely respects the communities we join. Opening Alteño within 1 Hotel Austin just reinforces how important it is for us to be a gathering space where both travelers and locals can come together and celebrate what makes Austin so special.

From the first sip to the last course, Alteño is designed as an experience. What do you want guests to notice, feel, or remember most during their time here?

Our goal at Alteño is to honor the beauty and traditions of the Jaliscan Highlands. We want guests to leave with that same feeling you get after visiting a campestre-style restaurant in Mexico, with a sense of connection to the food, the place, and the care behind each dish. More than anything, we want people to feel taken care of, like they’re in our home, where plates are shared, drinks are poured, and everyone feels they belong.