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."

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Attention, shoppers

Long-awaited Kroger Marketplace ready for big debut in Little Elm

Photo courtesy of Kroger

Kroger will open in Little Elm on July 31.

After nearly two years in the making, Kroger's new Marketplace store in Little Elm is finally ready to debut. The grocery chain has set Friday, July 31 as the opening date of its 123,000-square-foot store at 26587 E. University Dr.

According to a release, the store is a nearly $40 million project that will bring about 200 jobs and serve the rapidly growing communities of Little Elm, Aubrey, Providence Village, and beyond.

Announced in 2024, the new location is Kroger's first Marketplace-format store to open in North Texas this year. In addition to a full-service grocery with produce, meat and seafood, floral, and pharmacy departments, the expanded concept includes home goods, apparel, toys, and other general merchandise.

Shoppers also will find specialty features such as a Murray's Cheese counter, a fresh-cut fruit kiosk, and a fuel center with 14 pumps plus a grab-and-go kiosk for snacks and beverages.

"This new Marketplace store reflects Kroger's long-term commitment to serving families who are putting down roots and building their future in one of the fastest-growing areas of North Texas," said Rudy DiPietro, president of Kroger's Texas Division, in a statement.

The grand opening begins at 6 am on July 31, when the first shoppers through the doors will receive prizes, gift cards, and coupons for free breakfast items. Kroger also will offer grand opening discounts through August 4, including 30 cents off per gallon for Kroger Rewards members at the fuel center during the weekends of July 31-August 2 and August 7-9.

The Little Elm location is Kroger's 208th store in Texas. Targeting the fast-growing suburbs north of Dallas, the grocer also has new stores under construction in Anna, Fate, McKinney, Princeton, as well as the Sendera Ranch community in north Fort Worth.

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