5 pages of reminiscing about the good old days of Aggie Tex-Mex and nobody mentions the Taquaria on Northgate or Zerapes in Bryan? I'm i living an episode of the Twilight Zone?


[Note: I only read pages 1 and 5. Please tell me it's there somewhere on pages 2-4]

Possibly the original "soft taco"
Which iirc was Chiliin a flour tortilla

I think Chili's #4 was at Richmond and Fountainview we went there regularly in the lates 70's early 80's

Sq 17 said:

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Possibly the original "soft taco"
Which iirc was Chiliin a flour tortilla

I think Chili's #4 was at Richmond and Fountainview we went there regularly in the lates 70's early 80's

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Those were awesome too.

Bennigans needs to re enter the fold.

Not sure why Lupe is catching strays. Their lime fajitas are great!

BCG Disciple said:

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Bennigans needs to re enter the fold.

Not sure why Lupe is catching strays. Their lime fajitas are great!

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They could reopen and literally have one menu item because it's the only one anyone can remember or has ever mentioned publicly when discussing them.

Lupe's has gotten expensive
Their Salsa is sub par
Fajitas are one of my favorite things but not how a Tex mex restaurant should be judged

It is remarkable that Lupe's has grown enough to even be discussed
And why we are talking corporate TexMex does anybody like Gringos

Been there twice and both times swore I'd never go back ( 2 nd time So body else picked the restaurant)

BCG Disciple said:

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Bennigans needs to re enter the fold.

Not sure why Lupe is catching strays. Their lime fajitas are great!

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Six Bennigan's reopened as of this article on them:

https://www.tastingtable.com/1997900/bankrupt-chain-monte-cristo-comeback-bennigans/

Pappas needs to turn that OTB in CS into something. I'm sure they're just waiting on SpaceX as well.

They should make it a concept spot.
With all of the people that come to town, that would work well. Always something new.

BCG Disciple said:

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Bennigans needs to re enter the fold.

Not sure why Lupe is catching strays. Their lime fajitas are great!

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For half the money and not dealing with people, I can make lime fajitas at home.

Kind of ironic. I live in East Tennessee and when I see the On The Border chips in the grocery store I wonder if the locals have any idea of the history. Obviously not.

Years ago, I remember that Truco had developed the On The Border chips business, but didn't realize Utz acquired the business...which occurred in 2020.

Ute Acquire OTB chips

Personally, I prefer Utz products, as they come as close to the HEB chips, especially their sour cream/onion chips.

And just my biased opinion...9.2 times adjusted EBITA is pretty healthy in the food business. I guess I would say while the restaurants are DOA, the chip business survives.

Counterpoint said:

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aggiedata said:

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Wonder where this framed picture and menu will go?

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A US president, a Soviet president, and a football coach walk into a Tex-mex restaurant...

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Also Senator Phil Gramm.

Sq 17 said:

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I had sworn off Chuy's after a couple of Covid Era disappointments.

This thread made me think about fast casual Tex mex and I went to chuy's for the first time in years and it was pretty good

Chips were good I like the salsa
The Comida Deluxe was solid and at $15 a reasonable value

Lupe's is all around better but the salsa at Lupe's is not what I like and there largest combo platter is closer to $20

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We're addicted to Chuy's jalapeño ranch dip. It's the bomb. I always order the Appetizer plate.

Elvis Chicken w/Boom Boom sauce. Only reason to walk into that place.

It used to be a Brinker held restaraunt.

The quality on all of their chains went down seemingly all at once from late 90s onward- Chili's, OTB, Macaroni Grill, several others.

In the early 80s, it was nearly IMPOSSIBLE to get into the fledgling Chili's stores in the DFW area. Quality of the food was far better then. Everyone wanted their fajitas and bbr's.

Brinker and the successive holders/owners of these chains did not maintain the high quality of the food from back in the day. They did not make necessary adaptations to market trends either.

I last went to an OTB maybe 10 years ago in Arlington. It was truly terrible. Not the service.... but the food.

I am not surprised to see it go under. But I am surprised Pappas has not converted more of them to Pappasito's.

We have a Cheddar's here in Pensacola. Back in the day (80s and 90s), their Chicken Fried Steak was one of the best . Their quality seems to be going down the toilet too.

Texas Road House and their sister chain Bubbas are able to expand and maintain quality without shortcuts. It is working for them. I can go to a TRH anywhere and get the same quality food.

The Chili's Original was always a very solid burger, but that was also before good burger joints started popping up all over the place. Kind of ahead of its time but then time caught up

Chili's also invented a new dining category just as dining out was becoming much more prevalent.

In the early 70's eating out was not very common

Principal Uncertainty said:

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5 pages of reminiscing about the good old days of Aggie Tex-Mex and nobody mentions the Taquaria on Northgate or Zerapes in Bryan? I'm i living an episode of the Twilight Zone?


[Note: I only read pages 1 and 5. Please tell me it's there somewhere on pages 2-4]

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It was La Taqueria. Or LaTaq as everyone I know called it.

Trump closed the border last year.

UAS Ag said:

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fc2112 said:

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I haven't been to a chain Mexican place in years.

There are so many fantastic mom and pop places in Arlington - no need to settle for a chain.

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Best subs in the metroplex is Dino's on Collins...

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Hey, keep it down. We don't want the rest of the metroplex to know...

Seriously, you want good MExican food? Drive up and down Pioneer Parkway and you'll find a dozen places that'll knock your socks off. Los Pastores, Danielitas, La Original - all walking distance from Dino's. Hell, that little Tacos La Banqueta is fantastic

doubledog said:

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itsyourboypookie said:

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Private equity bought them in 2014, Pappas bought them at the bankruptcy auction for 15.9 million, and now they are throwing in the towel.

Between covid and inflation I'm surprised more places aren't calling it quits.

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The food quality and service had nothing to do with it. Right

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Ate there after my daughter's softball game a few months ago it was priced for what it was.

I think most of them being located in the parking lots of aging strip malls wasn't helping them, unless you needed a payday loan or rub and tug after your lunch.

Oh damn. Looks like they have come and gone in the Houston area based on a google search. Three locations, all permanently closed.