News
Sommelier Georgina Estrada Earns Women of Mexico Award 2025
Georgina Estrada, president of the Mexican Sommelier Association (ASM), has been recognized with the Women of Mexico Award 2025 by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.
Dec 9, 2025
5:27 PM
Camacho Garage: Nostalgia, Street Food, and a Space Where Everyone Fits In
In the vibrant Westville neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut, Camacho Garage has become a meeting place where sophistication blends—without asking permission—with the honest rawness of Mexican street food. The concept, led by Chef Franco Camacho,
Dec 8, 2025
2:54 PM
Lisa Dahl Foundation to Launch at Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill
Celebrated chef/restaurateur Lisa Dahl will officially launch the Lisa Dahl Foundation, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to addressing severe food insecurity across Arizona's Native American communities, with a gala weekend benefit at her Mariposa Latin Inspire
Dec 8, 2025
1:04 PM
Mexican Sugar: Maintaining the Feel as the Group Grows
Few restaurant groups have managed to grow as rapidly — and as gracefully — as Mexican Sugar, a concept that debuted in 2013 in Plano, Texas. With locations now in Plano, Las Colinas, Uptown Dallas, Houston, and the newest in Addison (opened in Septe
Dec 4, 2025
Velvet Taco Names New CEO
Fast-casual chain Velvet Taco has named Chris Schultz as CEO. Schultz brings more than 30 years of restaurant leadership experience. Most recently, he served as CEO of Voodoo Doughnut, where he guided the brand's expansion into new markets while keep
Dec 4, 2025
NYC’s La Palapa Celebrates a Milestone
When Chef Barbara Sibley opened La Palapa Cocina Mexicana, her flagship restaurant on St. Marks Place in New York City’s East Village in 2000, she had one goal in mind.
Dec 3, 2025
Moe's Expanding to India
Moe’s Casa Mexicana™, the global evolution of the U.S. fast casual chain Moe’s Southwest Grill®, is entering the Indian market with franchise partner Unify Foodworks. The brand’s international flagship restaurant will celebrate with a grand opening o
Dec 2, 2025
Tough But Wise Decision: Chicago's Chi-Latin Closing in December
In West Town, Chicago, there is a place that, in November 2023, was born not only as a restaurant but as a cultural manifesto. It is one of the restaurants recognized as the best in the city. A tribute to Latin roots, to the mix of worlds that defin
Nov 25, 2025
4 Mexican/Latin Restaurants Among OpenTable’s Top 100
Three Mexican restaurants and one featuring cutting-edge Spanish cuisine are among OpenTable’s 2025 list of Top 100 restaurants. These top restaurants were chosen based on insights from more than 10 million diner reviews, diners’ ratings, reservation
Nov 21, 2025
Dignity in Difficult Times: How Carnitas Uruapan Faces ICE Harassment Without Giving Up its Essence
On the corner where 26th Avenue breathes history, resilience, and the aroma of freshly made carnitas, the Carbajal family has sustained one of Chicago's most iconic Mexican businesses for nearly five decades: Carnitas Uruapan. They have done so with
Nov 20, 2025
Aarón Sánchez Scholarship Applications Open
Do you know a young, aspiring chef seeking mentorship and a life-changing experience in the culinary arts? The Aarón Sánchez Scholarship may be perfect for them.
Nov 20, 2025
Latin Desserts, Rompope, Shared Plates: Our Nov/Dec Issue is Now Available!
Good news: The November/December issue of el Restaurante magazine is now available. Do you want to know trends in desserts at Mexican/Latin restaurants? Or how rompope is making inroads? Or how Chicago's Chilam Bilam succeeds with shared plates? You
Nov 20, 2025
Denver's Chili Shack Expanding with Franchises
Chili Shack, a Denver-based restaurant that mixes Mexican-American flavors with a heavy dose of green chili, has decided to franchise.
Nov 12, 2025
Pancho’s Southwestern Grille Steps Up for SNAP Recipients
Pancho’s Southwestern Grille is a beloved institution in Green, Ohio, so when owner Maury Sullivan realized that SNAP recipients were not going to get their food benefits due to the federal government shut-down, he snapped into action with a “Taco T
Nov 6, 2025
Q&A with Chef Gonzalo Guzmán: Guardian of the Corn
“Corn must have an incomparable flavor,” says Gonzalo Guzmán, chef and co-owner of Nopalito, one of San Francisco's most beloved restaurants for its authentic Mexican cuisine and special treatment of corn, the soul of the restaurant.
Nov 4, 2025
Taco John's Offers Free Meals in Light of Government Shutdown
Taco John’s is stepping up to support communities affected by the government shutdown by offering free meals to anyone in need. From Friday, October 31 through Sunday, November 2, Taco John’s restaurants will provide one free Community Support Specia
Oct 31, 2025
Mezcal-inspired Recipes Win NYC’s Chiles en Nogada Cooking Competition
On Monday night October 20th, Damian Escalante, Sous-Chef of Dolores in Brooklyn, and Veronica Vega, home cook and Tehuacán, Puebla native, were named the winners of New York City’s first Chiles en Nogada Cooking Competition, hosted by Brooklyn-based
Oct 28, 2025
10th World Forum of Mexican Gastronomy Coming in November
With the beautiful colors of its bougainvilleas and the aroma of freshly baked bread, Cuernavaca is preparing to welcome Mexican cuisine to the terraces of the Jardín Borda and the Plaza General Emiliano Zapata Salazar from November 7 to 9, filling t
Oct 24, 2025
Taco Bueno Donating Dessert Profits to Combat Domestic Violence
Taco Bueno continued to help its communities with its “Chimis for Change” campaign in support of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. From October 20 through 24, 100% of profits from the brand’s Cheesecake Chimis were donated to sup
Oct 23, 2025
Six Mexican/Latin Restaurants Among Banchet Awards Finalists
The recognition keeps coming for Mexican/Latin restaurants and their team members with the October 16 announcement of finalists for The Banchet Awards, the Chicago-based awards honoring originality and talent across the region. Named after Chef Jean
Oct 20, 2025
Taco Cabana Owner Buys Del Taco
Two big taco brands will soon be under the same corporate roof: The owner of Taco Cabana, Yadav Enterprises Inc., has struck a deal to buy Del Taco. Del Taco is currently owned by Jack in the Box, Inc., which is much better known for its burger joint
Oct 17, 2025
Ed Avis
Photo Gallery: Lots to See at Antojo Expo 2025!
The Antojo Industry Expo, which occurred October 13-14, was packed with attendees enjoying the countless Mexican/Latin products on display, plus seminars, cooking demos and receptions.
Oct 16, 2025
Kanché: A Restaurant Bridging Yucatán and Querétaro
“Kim Káamikech Yéetel Kiímak Óolal” (I welcome you with joy). This is how chef Misael Canché welcomes guests to his restaurant Kanché, meaning “wooden snake” or “stick snake” in Mayan, a space that seeks to build a bridge between Yucatán and Querétar
Oct 9, 2025
