Birthplace of Tex-Mex
The popular cuisine’s roots are in Dallas’ Little Mexico neighborhood
When Miguel Martinez converted his small cate to a restaurant in 1918 near his Little Mexico neighborhood of Dallas, he couldn’t have imagined his fusion of Anglo and Tejano recipes would begin a revolution that a century later would be known internationally as Tex-Mex cuisine. His legacy lives today in El Fenix, the oldest chain of Mexican restaurants in the United States, whose flagship store stands less than a half mile from the original location in downtown Dallas.
The eatery’s menu features carefully crafted recipes, perfected and passed down through generations. There are Martinez Family Favorites such as the simple Miguelito Plate and the namesake El Fenix Dinner, a fiesta of enchiladas, tacos and tamales with chili con carne, loaded with traditional sides to satisfy the heartiest of appetites.
But Martinez wasn’t the only enterprising resident from the nearby barrio. Maria Luna, a young widowed mother of two, established an empire of her own and in 1938 moved her humble tortilla business into a newly costructed, Spanish-inspired building next door to the popular El Fenix. Maria Luna’s Tortilla Factory remained in the location nearly 70 years before moving to larger facilities.
HOTBED OF TEX-MEX What is now MesoMaya Comida Y Copas was once Maria Luna’s Tortilla Factory — next door to El Fenix.
Today the Dallas Historic Landmark building is home to a new genre of Mexican food and culture, MesoMaya Comida Y Copas, with recipes reminiscent of central and southern Mexican cuisine. Their tortillas are hand-ground, an homage to local history, and the creative blend of herbs and spices, which executive chef Nico Sanchez uses to create his homemade adobos and salsas is culinario perfección. House specialty – and guest favorite – the Carne Budin Azteca is an exquisite serving of seared beef tenderloin cubes, gold potatoes, black beans, arugula and queso fresco in a rich chile guajillo sauce.
MesoMaya has four DFW Metroplex locations; El Fenix has 23 restaurants throughout north-central Texas and, more recently, in Oklahoma.
