Industry News
California Avocado Commission Forecasts Healthy Harvest
There’s some positive news on the avocado front. As fears about the impact President Trump’s tariffs will have on fruit and vegetable imports loom for restaurant operators, the California Avocado Commission (CAC) has announced that the 2025 Californi Read more
Feb 13, 2025
6:25 PM
A Quick Switch: 7 Months After Opening, Houston's Maximo Starts Again with Young Chef
When a relatively new restaurant closes its doors and announces it is redesigning, customers usually suspect the restaurant didn’t make it and is closing for good. So when Maximo, a restaurant in Houston that’s part of the Local Foods Group, shut its Read more
Feb 10, 2025
2:47 PM
Free Registration at Texas Restaurant Show for el Restaurante Readers
Good news, registration is open for the 2025 Texas Restaurant Show, and readers of el Restaurante can register at no cost. The event is July 20-21 in Houston. Read more
Feb 7, 2025
11:11 AM
California Avocado Commission Forecasts Healthy Harvest
There’s some positive news on the avocado front. As fears about the impact President Trump’s tariffs will have on fruit and vegetable imports loom for restaurant operators, the California Avocado Commission (CAC) has announced that the 2025 Californi Read more
Feb 13, 2025
A Quick Switch: 7 Months After Opening, Houston's Maximo Starts Again with Young Chef
When a relatively new restaurant closes its doors and announces it is redesigning, customers usually suspect the restaurant didn’t make it and is closing for good. So when Maximo, a restaurant in Houston that’s part of the Local Foods Group, shut its Read more
Feb 10, 2025
Free Registration at Texas Restaurant Show for el Restaurante Readers
Good news, registration is open for the 2025 Texas Restaurant Show, and readers of el Restaurante can register at no cost. The event is July 20-21 in Houston. Read more
Feb 7, 2025
Restaurants Nationwide Stand in Solidarity with Immigrants in ‘Day Without Immigrants’ Protests
As President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown started to unfold, members of the restaurant industry throughout the country expressed outrage and fear about what the raids would do to their employees, their families, and their businesses as a who Read more
Feb 3, 2025
Six Amazing Latin Dessert Recipes from the el Restaurante Archives
Looking for new desserts to sweeten your menu? These favorites from the el Restaurante archives are a good place to start! Desserts make your customers happy and fatten the checks, so make sure you offer a tempting selection of them. Read more
Jan 29, 2025
LRA Seeks Meeting with "Border Czar"
The Latino Restaurant Association (LRA), along with regional partners representing thousands of restaurants and millions of workers across the United States, is calling for a meeting with Thomas D. Honan, President Trump’s appointed “Border Czar,” to Read more
Jan 27, 2025
Hot Head Burritos Plans Six New Locations in 2025
Hot Head Burritos, a fast-casual concept known for customizable burritos, bowls and tacos, plans to add six locations in the coming year. Read more
Jan 27, 2025
Mexican Wine, Restaurant Leaders Sign Pact
For the second consecutive year, the Mexican restaurant association (CANIRAC) and the Mexican Wine Council (CMV) reaffirmed their commitment to the promotion of Mexican gastronomy and national wine, signing a collaboration agreement that seeks to con Read more
Jan 27, 2025
73 Mexican/Latin Chefs, Restaurants Named 2025 James Beard Awards’ Semifinalists
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the James Beard Awards. To celebrate that milestone and to recognize the continuously evolving independent restaurant landscape, the Restaurant and Chef Awards — which celebrate excellence across all types of d Read more
Jan 24, 2025
Restaurants Care Commits $100K to LA Restaurant Workers
Restaurants Care®, a signature program of the California Restaurant Foundation (CRF), has committed $100,000 to support food and beverage workers affected by the fires in Los Angeles. The grants, which can total up to $1,500 per recipient, will aid i Read more
Jan 24, 2025
Our First Issue of 2025 is Available!
Good news, the January/February issue of el Restaurante magazine is now available! This issue includes articles on how to make your plating truly stand out, the benefits of hiring interns in your restaurant, making cocktails with Damiana liqueur, our Read more
Jan 23, 2025
Put Your Salsa Recipe to the Test!
Are you proud of the salsa you make in your restaurant? Then put your salsa recipe to the test and enter the el Restaurante Sassiest Salsa Contest sponsored by Sammic! Read more
Jan 22, 2025
Applications Open for National Restaurant Association Scholarship Program
If you, or someone you know, are pursuing a post-secondary school degree in restaurant, foodservice, or hospitality related fields, scholarships from National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) could help. Read more
Jan 21, 2025
Tips to Prepare for ICE Raids
President-elect Donald Trump has threatened mass deportations, which may mean that your restaurant will be visited by agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. What should you do to prepare? Read more
Jan 18, 2025
El Pollo Loco Celebrating 50 Years with Deals, Donations
El Pollo Loco, founded in Sinaloa, Mexico in 1975, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a year-long celebration. The chain is starting the fun with Loco Friday Drops, which are deals and giveaways announced on Fridays to Loco Rewards Members. Read more
Jan 17, 2025
Q&A with Luis Cárdenas Barona: The Word “Sommelier” Deserves Respect
Luis Cárdenas Barona is a pillar in the world of sommeliers in Mexico. Our representative in Mexico City, Alfredo Espinola, interviewed him about the world of Mexican sommeliers. Read more
Jan 15, 2025
Latino Restaurant Association Asks for Help for LA Fire Victims
The Latino Restaurant Association, which is based in Los Angeles, is asking for help for restaurants that have been affected by the devastating fires in that community. Read more
Jan 10, 2025
Mexican Restaurant Industry Loses Culinary Pioneer
el Restaurante extends condolences to the family and friends of Socorro Herrera, founder of Yuca’s Restaurant, who passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Dec. 23, 2024. Herrera started Yuca’s in a small hut on Hillhurst Avenue in Los Feliz, Read more
Jan 8, 2025
Q&A: After 70 Years, El Nopal is Still the Chili Verde King
In 2025, El Nopal Restaurant, pioneer of the well-known green chili of Pueblo, Colorado, is marking a major birthday. el Restaurante writer Natalia Otero spoke with the current owner, George Torres, grandson of founder Rosa Torres. Read more
Jan 6, 2025
Different Geography, Different Mexican Food: A Conversation with Raul Luis
Mexican cuisine evolves as cooks and chefs use the ingredients they have on hand. Raul Luis experienced this when he opened a location of his family’s restaurant, Birrieria Chalío in Ft. Worth, Texas. The family has three locations in Los Angeles. In Read more
Dec 31, 2024