Bring on the chilaquiles

Lake Highlands breakfast spot JJ's Cafe expands to Dallas Medical District

JJ’s Cafe's signature chilaquiles, topped with fried eggs, fajita steak, crema, cotija cheese.

Photo courtesy of JJ's Cafe

JJ's Cafe, a popular breakfast-and-lunch restaurant that debuted in Lake Highlands in 2011, has opened a new location in Dallas' Medical District, at 4711 Maple Ave.

Founded by José Ramirez, who moved from Guanajuato, Mexico, to California in 1997 before relocating to Dallas, the restaurant expanded to Garland in 2025 and has now opened its third location on Maple.

The menu combines American breakfast favorites with traditional Mexican dishes, all served throughout the day. Options range from pancakes, crepes, and waffles to burgers, quesadillas, sandwiches, tacos, omelets, huevos rancheros, and migas.

“Families get together to have a family breakfast, and they can choose from both American and Mexican items,” Ramirez says.

JJ's Cafe is best known for its chilaquiles, which are available with seven sauces: rojos, verdes, chipotle, poblanos, rancheros, habanero, and blancos. Diners can add proteins including brisket birria, pork carnitas, smoked brisket, fajita steak, chicken, short ribs, or beans and cheese.

The dish is such a signature that JJ's Cafe hosts a weekly Chilaquiles Challenge: Finish a plate of extra-spicy chilaquiles in under four minutes and win $500. The waitlist is currently booked three months out, according to Ramirez. So far, only two contestants — both professional spicy food tasters, one from Mexico and one from California — have completed the challenge.

The menu includes desserts like these strawberry and Nutella crepes.Photo courtesy of JJ's Cafe

Beyond the chilaquiles, customer favorites include Tres Leches Pancakes, Crispy Birria Tacos, Nutella Crepes, Huevos Rancheros, and weekend-only menudo.

The restaurant also serves specialty coffees, milkshakes, and fresh aguas frescas.

The new location is inside Food Nation Cinco Cocinas Food Hall, which opened in 2022 and was formerly known as Maple Street Food Hall. Entrepreneur Ray Quintanilla partnered with veteran restaurateur Mico Rodriguez (Mi Cocina, Mesero, Doce Mesas) on the concept last year, and the food hall is now home to JJ's Cafe, Wing City, Picazo Sushi and Poke, Sal's Pizza, and Bar Mico.

Ramirez says both the Medical District location and the opportunity to work alongside Rodriguez made the food hall a natural fit.

“Mico Rodriguez invited me to be part of this, and I have always admired him,” Ramirez says. “Together, we can deliver something that is both delicious and quick for the people who work around here.”

To serve nearby hospital employees and office workers, JJ's Cafe offers a $10 lunch special with choices including burgers, tacos, quesadillas, chicken fingers, chicken-fried steak, or a soup-and-sandwich combination.

Throughout his growth, Ramirez remains deeply connected to his customer base. When the pandemic forced temporary closures, loyal clients sent checks to help the restaurant keep its footing. Today, Ramirez repays that loyalty every holiday season by providing full Thanksgiving dinners to roughly 70 families in need — feeding around 500 people total. Recipients are nominated directly by customers, bringing holiday meals to local teachers, students, and church members.

JJ's Cafe is open daily from 8 am-9 pm, with extended hours until 10 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

lake highlands medical district openings breakfast

outta this world

Cowboys superfan launches pizzeria with Tex-Mex twist in Dallas food hall

Photo courtesy of Starboy's

Check out the cheese pull on Starboy's birria pizza.

A new pizza restaurant is slinging a variety of innovative pies in the Dallas Medical District: Called Starboy’s Pizzeria, the new shop is part of Food Nation Cinco Cocinas, the eclectic food hall at 4711 Maple Ave. The food hall was created by Ray Quintanilla and legendary restaurateur and "Godfather of Dallas Tex-Mex" Mico Rodriguez, who died earlier this month at age 68.

John Flores, an IT professional and self-proclaimed Dallas Cowboys super-fan, created Starboy’s Pizzeria, which is now open in the former Sal’s Pizza and Restaurant space. Friends call Flores by the nickname "Starboy," which combines his love for the Cowboys and his fascination with NASA and space, he explains.

Flores met Quintanilla and Rodriguez while hosting karaoke at Mico’s Bar, another food hall occupant. When Sal’s closed earlier this year, they saw an opportunity to fill the void with a refreshed pizza concept.

“It is because of Mico that I even thought about starting this project: he was part of this, he was always happy, and we really hit it off, so I miss him,” Flores says.

Starboy's Pizzeria joins Mico’s Bar, Picazo Sushi and Poke, Wing City, and JJ’s Cafe, which opened a location in the food hall earlier this year.

Lupe Ibarra, a chef from the closed Sal’s Pizza with 25 years of experience, stayed on at Starboy's to continue perfecting traditional recipes while creating signature new ones tied to Flores’ Mexican heritage.

The result of the collaboration is a menu that includes traditional favorites alongside creative pies with a Mexican-inspired twist like the Pizza Birria (resembling the flavor profile of popular birria tacos), elotero, chicken fajitas, and pastor, among more than 15 specialty offerings.

Flores' passion for the Cowboys is especially evident in several unique creations:

Cry Eagles Cry: Inspired by the Philly cheesesteak, topped with beef, green peppers, onions, and mozzarella.
Starboy’s Classic (Blue): Red sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, onions, sausage, and fresh arugula.
Starboy’s Classic (Silver): White sauce, chicken, mushrooms, onions, arugula, mozzarella, and a balsamic glaze.
Cowboy: Brisket, onions, barbecue sauce, and smoked gouda.

Starboy's 16-inch pizzas range from $14-$25, with individual slices priced around $4. The menu also features sub sandwiches, pastas with a variety of sauces, and chicken Parmesan, all under $14.

To cater to the busy medical, residential, and retail crowds nearby, Starboy's offers lunch deals for under $12, which include pasta and garlic knots or a slice of pizza and a salad, complete with a drink.

Flores explains that his heritage and his mother’s influence serve as the primary driving force behind his new venture.

“My mom would always host family gatherings. She always fed people, and I got that from her. I like to see smiles on people’s faces from the things I do,” he says. “I have big dreams for this place. I want us to be part of the community and give back.”

Flores remains involved with karaoke at Mico’s Bar and is focused on driving traffic to the entire complex. He hosts Cowboys watch parties, while his adult children — Nathan, Natalie, and Amy — assist with social media, website management, and overall promotion for Starboy’s.

“When people try our pizzas for the first time, their eyes light up, so we know we are on the right track,” Flores says.

Starboy’s Pizzeria is open daily from 11 am-10 pm.

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