News
Oh Corn!: Owners First Had to Explain What Arepas Are
It was never in José Theoktisto’s plans to open a restaurant. An engineer by profession, he had a stable career in the corporate world and, together with his wife, Belkis Castro, had built a life in the United States. But some business stories don’t
Aug 17, 2026
3:10 PM
Abastur 2026 to Feature 520 Suppliers
Want to learn about Mexican restaurant supplies and equipment at the source? Then consider visiting Abastur, a major hospitality trade show that will include 520 suppliers spread across more than 30,000 square meters of the Citibanamex Center in Mexi
Aug 14, 2026
10:56 AM
GG's Barbacoa Café: From the Small Towns of Tabasco to One of Kansas City's Best Restaurants
Gabriel González and Lourdes Ávalos came from two small farming communities in Tabasco, Mexico, and now own one of Kansas City's highest-rated restaurants, GG's Barbacoa Café. The husband-and-wife owners say that their restaurant, named among the Top
Aug 13, 2026
11:05 AM
Price of a Bottle of Corona? Mexican Restaurants Add Just 36 Cents in Two Years
How much do Mexican restaurants charge for a bottle of Corona beer? The average national menu price for a bottle of Corona is just over $7 ($7.11, to be exact). That figure comes from an analysis in June 2026 by el Restaurante magazine that examined
Aug 12, 2026
Israel Soriano: Introducing the World to the Flavors of Querétaro
Israel Soriano doesn’t cook just to feed people. He cooks to preserve memory. Amid casseroles, native corn varieties, and recipes that seemed destined to be forgotten, he has built one of most solid culinary offerings in the Mexican state of Querétar
Aug 10, 2026
Su Plus Two: Wisconsin Fusion Restaurant Has a Mexican Soul
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced thousands of restaurants to close their doors, José Cisneros saw an opportunity where others saw uncertainty. His brother Joe was about to lose his job, José was working as a software programmer but wanted a more fle
Aug 4, 2026
Apple Photos Clean Up
Founder of Mexican School of Sommeliers: Forget Memorization, Instead Tell the Story
In an era when knowledge is often measured by the number of diplomas earned or the number of wines tasted, Ricardo Espíndola effortlessly defies that logic. At 52 years old, with three decades dedicated to the world of sommelier culture, he stands as
Aug 4, 2026
Latin American Connection Grows at Texas Restaurant Show
The 2026 Texas Restaurant Show, July 12-13, reflected something increasingly important to the Texas restaurant industry: the deep connection between Texas, the U.S. Hispanic market and the broader Latin American hospitality community.
Jul 30, 2026
QDOBA Adding 100 Franchised Locations in Southeast and Northwest
QDOBA is expanding in opposite corners of the United States, the Southeast and the Northwest. The Mexican fast casual restaurant has signed two development agreements to open 50 new restaurants in Atlanta and Nashville, and a recent acquisition and e
Jul 28, 2026
Motor City Elote Pizza Takes Top Category Honors in Real California Pizza Contest
Chef Jimmy Henry of Jimmyhank Pizza in Harleysville, Penn. won the California Freestyle category and $5,000 prize in the California Milk Advisory Board’s (CMAB’s) 2026 Real California Pizza Contest with his Motor City Elote pizza. The pie, inspired b
Jul 27, 2026
Jarritos Launches Big Digital Ad Campaign
Drinking Jarritos sodas is a popular way to cool down on hot summer days, and Novamex, the company that imports Jarritos, is stimulating sales of Jarritos with a big new digital ad campaign that started July 22 and will run through the end of August.
Jul 27, 2026
With Abuelita's, Owners Transitioned from TexMex to Homestyle Mexican
The cuisine at Abuelita’s, in Richmond, Virginia, is the everyday cuisine of Mexican homes. The menu features stews that simmer for hours, freshly made tortillas, mole prepared with patience, and recipes passed down from generation to generation.
Jul 24, 2026
Paz Austin: The Woman Who Changed the Conversation About Mexican Wine
For generations, Mexicans learned to look to Europe when they thought of wine. France represented tradition. Italy evoked the family dinner table. Spain spoke of history. Meanwhile, Mexico remained on the sidelines of that conversation, as if its win
Jul 22, 2026
Learn About Tortas, Mexican Craft Beer, and Hatch Chiles in the JulyAug Edition of el Restaurante
Are you taking advantage of the public's love of tortas? Learn how in the July/August 2026 issue of el Restaurante, which is now available! Other top stories include one about Mexican craft beer and its availability north of the border, the craze for
Jul 20, 2026
NEW CONTEST ALERT: $5K and a Custom Video Await the 2026 Independent Mexican/Latin Restaurant of the Year
Independent Mexican/Latin restaurants play a big role in their communities. They are essential meeting places for the community, important employers, and providers of great food. But they rarely get the recognition they deserve. A new contest co-spon
Jul 18, 2026
Flavor Meets Culture: Chef Carlos Gaytán Partners with Art Museum
Great food and great art go well together! Michelin Star Chef Carlos Gaytán of Chicago’s acclaimed Tzuco restaurant has partnered with the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago to create a signature dish and cocktail to represent Dancing the Revol
Jul 16, 2026
4.5 Million Servings of Chile en Nogada: The Dish that Drives Tourism in Puebla
As part of the opening of the “Chile en Nogada, Tradición Viva” season, held in the Mexican city of Puebla on July 9, state officials, representatives from the restaurant industry, traditional cooks, and producers officially kicked off one of the cou
Jul 14, 2026
Leña: Daughter Fulfills Parents' Dream of Opening a Restaurant
For Yesenia Chávez, founder of Leña in Alameda, California, food was never just sustenance. It was the language through which her family built a community, welcomed newcomers, and preserved their Guanajuato roots.
Jul 13, 2026
Chef Javier Plascencia and Team to “Reinterpret” Casa Vega Menu
Michelin-starred chef Javier Plascencia, who is internationally recognized for helping define modern Baja cuisine, will soon share his magic with another restaurant, Casa Vega in Sherman Oaks, California. But this isn’t your typical chef visit – Plas
Jul 10, 2026
The Smoked Taco Opens 8th Location
The Smoked Taco, a fast casual multi-unit that combines barbecue with tacos, has opened its 8th location in Sandy, Utah. The restaurant is known for meats that are smoked for 12 hours, cheese-crusted tortillas, and loaded tots.
Jul 9, 2026
Taco Tasting Room: Michelin-Recommended Restaurant Explores the Infinite Possibilities
The question posed by Taco Tasting Room—the exclusive gastronomic bar from Central Hoteles, located in the heart of Mexico City’s Historic Center—seems simple, but it holds a profound reflection on contemporary Mexican cuisine: What happens when the
Jul 8, 2026
Viñedo San Miguel Named Mexican Winery of the Year
At times, Jorge Solís speaks as a CEO. At others, he speaks as a passionate lover of the countryside, a champion of Mexican wine, and, above all, as a man deeply aware that great accolades never belong to just one person.
Jul 8, 2026
The New Art of Being a “Good Drinker”: Mexico Creates 10 Commandments of Alcohol Consumption
In a country where sharing a drink is often an act of hospitality, celebration, and cultural belonging, talking about responsible drinking remains an uncomfortable conversation. Mexico toasts, celebrates, and socializes around alcohol, but rarely pau
Jul 8, 2026
