Texas is the birthplace of so much bold flavor, iconic hospitality, and culinary tradition and when it comes to Mexican food, the state’s influence is undeniable. But one question always sparks debate among food lovers:
What is the oldest Mexican restaurant in Texas?
The truth is, the title is often disputed depending on what qualifies as “oldest.” Is it the oldest still operating? The oldest family-run? The first to popularize Tex-Mex in a major city? Or the earliest known Mexican café that helped introduce this cuisine to a wider Texas audience?
While there may not be one definitive answer, a few legendary restaurants stand out as historic pillars of Texas dining—each with a story that deserves to be celebrated.
Below are some of the most notable contenders for the title of oldest Mexican restaurant in Texas, and why they matter.
A family-run Tex-Mex institution serving generations
Founded in 1926 by the Pineda family, The Original Mexican Eats Café holds a powerful claim in Texas restaurant history: it’s widely recognized as one of Fort Worth’s oldest restaurants, with deep roots in the community and a proud legacy of classic Tex-Mex done right.
One of the most meaningful parts of its story is its continuity. The restaurant is known for serving five generations, proving that the heart of Tex-Mex isn’t just in the recipes it’s in the families who keep them alive.
For those who believe “oldest” should mean longest-standing family-run tradition, The Original Mexican Eats Café is absolutely at the center of the conversation.
Dallas’s oldest Mexican restaurant and a Tex-Mex trailblazer
If you ask Dallas locals where the legacy begins, one name comes up again and again: El Fenix.
Dating back to 1918, El Fenix is widely recognized as Dallas’s oldest Mexican restaurant and a major contributor to what we now know as Tex-Mex cuisine. In many ways, it represents the moment Mexican food began to move from regional familiarity into something bigger—something that would become part of Texas culture itself.
El Fenix isn’t just old; it’s historically important. It helped define the flavors that would become staples across the state: comforting, craveable, and unmistakably Texan.
San Antonio’s oldest Mexican restaurant—full of charm and tradition
San Antonio is one of the most iconic food cities in the country, and its Mexican culinary history runs deep. That’s why La Fonda on Main, serving since 1932, earns its place as a top Texas classic.
Often considered San Antonio’s oldest Mexican restaurant, La Fonda on Main has built a reputation for timeless ambiance, warm hospitality, and the kind of menu that feels like it belongs in a long-running family tradition.
And yes legend has it the margaritas hold their own, too.
A Texas pioneer… with a history that sparks curiosity
If we’re going strictly by dates, one of the most fascinating names in the conversation is Old Borunda Café, said to have opened in Marfa in 1887.
Some sources cite it as a potential early pioneer of what would eventually become Tex-Mex dining in Texas. But there’s an important detail that keeps the debate alive: its continuous operation isn’t as clearly documented or widely agreed upon compared to the restaurants above.
Still, Old Borunda Café remains an intriguing piece of the puzzle especially for anyone who loves digging into the earliest chapters of Texas food history.
So… What Is the Oldest Mexican Restaurant in Texas?
Here’s where Texas stays perfectly Texas: the answer depends on who you ask.
If you’re looking for Dallas’s oldest, El Fenix (1918) is a standout.
If you’re looking for a long-running family-run Tex-Mex legacy, The Original Mexican Eats Café (1926) has an iconic claim.
If you’re asking about San Antonio’s oldest, La Fonda on Main (1932) holds a strong local title.
And if you’re hunting for the earliest roots, Old Borunda Café (1887) is a name worth exploring with a footnote of historical uncertainty.
But what’s not up for debate is this:
Each of these restaurants helped shape what Mexican food in Texas became—bold, beloved, and deeply woven into the culture.
Honorable Mention: The National Tex-Mex Legend in Tucson
While this list is all about Texas, it’s worth noting that El Charro Café in Tucson is often credited as the oldest family-run Mexican restaurant in the United States, dating back to 1922.
Not Texas but still a powerful piece of the bigger story of Mexican food in America.
Final Bite: Texas Restaurants That Keep History Alive
In a world where restaurants open and close, these long-running Mexican eateries represent something special: survival, community, and tradition on a plate.
They’ve served families, celebrated milestones, and kept recipes alive through decades of change proving that the greatest restaurants aren’t just places to eat.
They’re places to remember.
