Buffet News

Hacienda Buffet brings all-you-can-eat Mexican buffet to Garland

Some of the spread at the Hacienda Buffet

Hacienda Buffet

A new Mexican buffet restaurant has just debuted in Garland: Hacienda Buffet is now open at 1480 W Buckingham Rd., in the Northstar Plaza center at the southwest corner of Garland Ave., serving an all-you-can-eat Mexican dining experience for lunch and dinner, starting at 10 am.

The restaurant takes over what was most recently a location of Del Rancho Grill (which relocated), but was previously a Pancho's Mexican Buffet. Pancho's is the buffet chain founded in El Paso in the late 50s, forced to close most of its locations more than a decade ago. A couple of locations remain, but its demise still prompts loads of nostalgia among Pancho's fans to this very day.

Spotting an opportunity, entrepreneurial businessman Jose Becerra opened the first Hacienda Buffet in 2016 in Grand Prairie, featuring authentic Mexican food as well as Tex-Mex in a festive setting. They've since opened two more locations in Carrollton and Fort Worth (which also boasts a big event space).

According to a spokesperson, Garland was the perfect place to expand, giving them the opportunity to hit the far east side of the DFW metroplex and serve as a go-to spot for families and enthusiasts of both buffets and Mexican food.

Hacienda Buffet features an expansive selection of Mexican and Tex-Mex classics: barbacoa and chicken enchiladas in house-made red and green sauces, tortillas made fresh throughout the day, salad bar with Romaine, tomato, avocado slices, pickled jalapeños, and more.

There are dedicated stations such as:

guacamole station, where avocados are mashed and seasoned to order
taco station, where corn and flour tortillas are filled with choice of beef, pork al pastor, or grilled vegetables
steak fajita station featuring seared skirt steak, sautéed bell peppers, and onions

Signature dishes on the buffet line include queso fondue with tortilla chips, slow-cooked carnitas, and chiles rellenos stuffed with cheese, battered, and fried. Vegetarian options are plentiful, including a rotating selection of rice dishes, beans, and vegetable medleys.

Other items include seafood, soups, menudo con pata, roasted corn on the cob, and a big selection of desserts including conchos with cafe de olla, rice pudding, Jell-O, fresh mangos, Waldorf salad, dried pineapple, cookies, sour gummies, fruit-shaped candies, coconut, marshmallows, and more.

The interior features hacienda-style touches including buffet tables clad in stone, decorative wagon wheels, and a terra-cotta-colored tile floor.

On weekdays, the buffet is $21.99, and on weekends it's $30 or $15 for kids.

tex-mex openings

Gearing up

Upscale sports bar Moxies will touch down at The Star in Frisco

Moxie's

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Moxies, the upscale-casual concept founded in Canada and co-owned by Dallas Stars proprietor Tom Gaglardi, is joining the restaurant lineup at The Star in Frisco.

According to a release, a new location of Moxies will open in The Star District, at 3680 The Star Blvd. #1300, in an old City Works space, in 2027.

The sporty restaurant at the home of the Cowboys will be designed for everything from lunch and happy hour to dinner and late-night gatherings, offering chef-driven dishes with a lively bar experience in a polished, social setting, the owners say. The new location will include the restaurant's signature statement bar, elevated dining experience and high-energy hospitality.

“Being part of The Star in Frisco is a perfect fit for Moxies,” says Joanne Forrester, president and COO of Moxies, in the release. “The entire district is built around elevated experiences and connection — training, work, entertainment and hospitality all in one place. That’s where we thrive. Our chef-driven dishes, signature cocktails and statement bar are designed for exactly this kind of social, high-energy setting anchored by the Dallas Cowboys.”

Frisco will be the fourth DFW location for Moxies. The first one debuted at The Crescent in Uptown Dallas in 2016, and got a major renovation in 2024. The chain also has locations in Plano and Southlake.

Moxies is owned by Gaglardi, proprietor of the Dallas Stars, and brought to the U.S. by franchise group Eatz Hospitality.

While few details of the Frisco location have been revealed, the other locations serve lunch, brunch, dinner, and happy hour specials, with a menu of elevated American classics overseen by executive chef Brandon Thordarson. A typical Moxies menu includes:

Sushi Cones, made of tempura shrimp with avocado, pea shoots, nori crisps and drizzled with sesame chili ponzu
Poutine, the Canadian staple with French fries, hot beef gravy, and cheese curds
Kale and Quinoa Salad
Vegetarian Power Bowl with marinated tofu, shiitake mushrooms, soft boiled egg, vegetables, and greens

Brunch options include:

Vegetarian Huevos Rancheros
Smoke Salmon Goat Cheese & Egg White Omelet
Sicilian Sausage Hash

The traditional Moxies bar features craft cocktails such as Strawberry Ghost Pepper Margarita and a Hard Lemonade made with Tito’s Vodka.

The spaces typically feature an extended bar, a large covered patio, TVs inside and outside, and flex walls that can be converted for private dining experience and party spaces.

Other openings at The Star in Frisco

Moxies will join previously announced bar The Imperial Room, which will open at at 3685 The Star Blvd. in early September (aka "next week," a spokesperson clarifies).

The new bar will open next door to the Frisco location of Cane Rosso, and is from PILF Restaurant Group (Cane Rosso, Zoli's Pizza, and Thunderbird Pies), which also owned Cow Tipping Creamery, which closed in July.

With seating for 25 to 30 guests, The Imperial Room will offer an intimate setting for pre-event cocktails, date nights, celebrations and late-night gatherings, the release says. Guests can expect a sophisticated cocktail program featuring expertly executed classics and original creations, complemented by elevated shareable plates and select entrées.

PILF Restaurant Group has drafted acclaimed Dallas bartender Gabe Sanchez, whose work has helped shape cocktail programs at some of the city's most respected bars.

Longtime Star Tex-Mex restaurant Mi Cocina has expanded its outdoor dining experience with a renovation of its main patio, at 6740 Winning Dr. Ste. 1010. The enhanced space features additional seating, permanent heaters, larger fans, and drop-down shades, creating a more comfortable three-season patio for guests to enjoy throughout the year, the release says.

On the non-restaurant front, Élan Sculpt Club, a new luxury boutique fitness concept combining infrared-heated sculpt classes with Pilates reformer training, is opening its flagship location at The Star District, at 3620 The Star Boulevard, #1215.

Moxie’s is also known for their light sign décor, centered on the main dining wall, that spells out "I will if you will."

opening frisco moxies sports bar