Tex-Mex News

Chef-driven Tex Mex favorite to open in downtown Dallas' East Quarter

Tex-Mex done Muchacho style.

Courtesy photo

Downtown Dallas gets a new restaurant featuring a chef's take on Tex-Mex: Muchacho, the Mexican concept from local chef Omar Flores, will open in East Quarter, the downtown development from Todd Interests.

According to a release, Muchacho will open at 2110 Jackson St. at the corner of Cesar Chavez Boulevard in the 300 Pearl building in early 2023.

Flores, who's been nominated twice for a James Beard Award and who won a CultureMap Dallas Tastemaker Award for Best Chef, founded Muchacho in 2019.

"Growing up in El Paso exposed me to great, authentic Mexican food," he said at the time. "While there isn't a shortage of Tex-Mex restaurants in Dallas, we are striving to bring a unique restaurant that is better than the rest."

He opened the first location in Preston Center in 2019, then followed that up in 2021 with a location in Southlake, where he also has a branch of his fried chicken concept Whistle Britches.

Muchacho in East Quarter will be the third DFW location.

The menu adds a modern flair to both Texan and regional Mexican cuisine. There are enchilada dinners and chef's versions of combo plates such as the Combo # Juan, with a beef picadillo taco, cheeses enchilada, chicken al carbon rolled taco, rice, and refried beans.

Tacos are varied and intriguing, from rolled tacos with redfish or fried shrimp to hard-shell tacos with spiced beef picadillo to a veggie taco with fried cauliflower and pepitas. Flautas come with choice of brisket or pulled chicken.

There's a big assortment of fajitas, including steak, pork belly, shrimp, chicken, or portobello mushrooms, and a whole bunch of fun appetizers such as nachos, brisket sopes, picadillo empanadas, and tuna taquitos.

A separate brunch menu features favorites such as chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, and tacos with chorizo, potato, & egg. Margaritas come in eight varieties with all sorts of exotic ingredients such as Nixta corn liquor, Amaras Verde mezcal, tamarind, and prickly pear puree.

Muchacho will join three other restaurants in the East Quarter, all from chef Nick Badovinus: National Anthem, which is already open, plus two more opening this fall, called Brass Ram and Pop Top.

"With the addition of Muchacho alongside National Anthem, East Quarter has solidified itself as a premier culinary neighborhood in Dallas," says Todd Interests managing partner Patrick Todd in a statement. "Muchacho is a fun and lively eatery that executes at the highest level."

tex-mex

Craft Beer News

Lakewood Brewing brings Fort Worth favorite Rahr beers to Dallas

Photo by Mary Tuab/Flickr

The new partnership will expand production capacity for select Rahr brands.

Longtime Fort Worth craft beer name Rahr & Sons Brewing is about to surface in a new location: The brewery, which exited its longtime brewery space in Fort Worth in 2025, has entered a new partnership with another acclaimed brewery: Lakewood Brewing of Dallas.

The new partnership will expand production capacity for select Rahr brands, bringing together two of North Texas’ most respected craft brewing pioneers.

"Rahr Brewing has been seeking additional brewing capacity to help meet increasing Dallas demand," their statement says. "Under this new agreement, Lakewood Brewing will produce certain Rahr brands at its Dallas facility, while Rahr will continue brewing beer in Fort Worth."

As an added benefit to the new partnership, Rahr beers will be served on tap at the Lakewood Brewery taproom.

Rahr left their Fort Worth location after 20 years, with a goal to find a new home. (Their space was taken over by Blue Flag whiskey distiller.) Rahr has continued to brew their beers, maintaining their availability in restaurants, bars, and stores.

Craft beer pioneer Fritz Rahr debuted his namesake brewery in 2004, back when Fort Worth was “very much a Miller-Coors town,” as he said in 2024. They went on to establish themselves as the godfather of Fort Worth's craft beer scene, thanks to an evolving roster of beers that range from classics like Texas Red American ale to newer favorites like Dadgum IPA — earning them critical nods such as a CultureMap Tastemakers Award nomination in 2023 for Brewery of the Year.

Founded by craft beer aficionado Wim Bens in 2012, Lakewood Brewing has become one of Texas’ most recognized independent craft breweries, winning numerous awards. Their tap room on the east side of Dallas is a popular beer hound haunt.

With the new partnership, the two brands will collaborate on brewing projects, special releases, community events, and initiatives that celebrate the vibrant culture of North Texas craft beer.

“This partnership is built on friendship, mutual respect, and a shared belief in the future of Texas craft beer,” says Fritz Rahr in a statement.

“Together, we can continue to innovate while honoring the traditions that have made both of our breweries successful," Wim Bens says. “Rahr Brewing has long been a cornerstone of the North Texas brewing community. We are excited to produce some of their brands here at our brewery.”

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Celestina Blok contributed to this story.

craft-beer openings