Taco Bout Dallas

Visit Dallas: Have you visited Dallas before? What are you looking forward to most during your time here?

Mario: Well, I’ve been here before, but not for work or for any kind of presentation, right? So, what do I expect? I hope people respond to our invitation. We’re here with open arms, ready to welcome everyone, and we hope we don’t disappoint the expectations they have for us.

Visit Dallas: What makes Dallas such an attractive culinary city for chefs to bring their cuisine, even if it's for a pop-up event?

Mario: Well, it’s a cosmopolitan city, a very large, entrepreneurial city with many different facets. So, anyone with even a bit of ambition or an idea would be interested in being here, in any area of the economy, whatever it may be called.

Visit Dallas: How do you want to represent Mexico and Mexican culture with this pop-up event? What do you hope people get out of this experience and trying the first MICHELIN Star taco?

Mario: Well, since we’ve been fortunate enough to receive an award of this magnitude, we want to share it with the general public—because a taco is something that’s practically within anyone’s reach. It’s not like a gourmet restaurant where you have to wait for days or make an important reservation. Quite simply, we have the opportunity to present and offer our customers a taco with a MICHELIN Star.

Visit Dallas: Your MICHELIN Star has redefined what global diners expect from a taquería. What message do you hope to send by sharing that experience with Dallas diners?

Mario: Well, nothing more than the fact that we have the opportunity to meet people’s expectations—to live up to what they’re hoping for. That alone makes me feel satisfied, because it’s the one thing that makes me smile and feel proud, seeing people leave happy and with a good taste in their mouths.

Visit Dallas: Many visitors think of Dallas for barbecue or Tex-Mex—but it's becoming known for global culinary innovation. Where do you see taquerías and traditional Mexican street food fitting into that evolution?

Mario: Well, I think it plays a very important role. It bridges that gap for people who might not have the means to visit other types of businesses and, as I mentioned a moment ago, it’s something that’s affordable for most people. And that’s the beautiful part, being able to offer a service that’s accessible to the public.

Visit Dallas: What do you want first-time guests at your Dallas pop-up to understand about the heritage and craft behind each taco you serve?

Mario: Well, our culture, how rich it is in Mexico. We have such strong traditions when it comes to gastronomy. In every city and every state of Mexico, we have an incredible wealth to offer.
And in my case, thanks to my parents who took a chance on this small business, I’ve had the opportunity to first share it with my fellow Mexicans and now with people in different parts of the United States.

Visit Dallas: As a chef deeply rooted in Mexican culinary traditions, what does it mean to share those flavors with both Mexican-American communities and travelers discovering this food for the first time in Dallas?

Mario: Well, as I was saying, Mexican culture, especially its gastronomy, has many different branches and specialties from the north, center, and southeast of the country. It’s very rich and diverse, it’s not based on just one type of food. It’s broad and varied, and within that diversity, I think the common denominator is the taco. The taco exists in the south, center, and north of Mexico, it’s like the unifying symbol of our cuisine.

Visit Dallas: What is the biggest thing you think Dallas has to offer Latinos, Mexicans, or non-Dallasites?

Mario: Well, there are Mexican or Latino people who haven’t been back to their home countries in a very long time, so I like to say that I bring them a little piece of Mexico, a bit of Mexican tradition, so they can connect with it and remember the old times. And the best part is, it’s accessible; it’s within everyone’s reach.

Visit Dallas: Dallas has one of the largest and fastest-growing Hispanic populations in the U.S. How does it feel to bring authentic Mexican street food to a city where Latino culture plays such a strong role?

Mario: As you just said, what’s most important for us is to offer a taco that’s as original and authentic as possible, because there are a lot of variations out there. So, there’s often some confusion between what’s considered traditional Mexican food, what’s an authentic taco, and what’s Tex-Mex, as you mentioned.

My goal is to offer people the most authentic taco possible—simple, just like the ones we make ourselves.

Visit Dallas: Why should Hispanic travelers—especially food lovers—put Dallas on their list of must-visit cities? What does it offer them that they might not expect?

Mario: Well, I think it has many attractions, not just gastronomy. It also has major draws like sports, culture, and the blend of all these influences, not only from the locals but from all the Latinos who have the opportunity to live here. And this has become a very important aspect.

Visit Dallas: After these two weeks in Dallas, what lasting impression do you hope your team and your cuisine leave on the city?

Mario: My goal is to leave a great impression—like I mentioned a moment ago—to satisfy the palate of everyone who does us the great honor of visiting and to give them a wonderful experience. That’s what I wish for everyone who takes the time to be here with us.