The History of the Frozen Margarita Begins in Dallas
A look at how one invention changed the margarita forever.
Not all frozen margaritas are created equal. In fact, whenever a bartender serves a frozen margarita around the world, its origins can be traced back to Dallas, Texas.
This story begins with a high school dropout who had dreams of opening his own business. With $500 in hand and a small business loan, Mariano Martinez opened Mariano's Hacienda restaurant in East Dallas. While the smell and sizzle of grilled fajitas and the fire-roasted salsa kept hungry guests coming back for more, it was the margaritas that brought them back for seconds.
Guests raved about Mariano's margaritas except for one very important detail: the consistency. His bartenders simply couldn't keep up with the growing demand that left some perfect, while others were melted down. Martinez knew he had to come up with a solution.
His a-ha moment came to him during a morning visit to 7-Eleven for a cup of coffee. Low and behold, it was the Slurpee machine that sparked the idea that will live on forever! Martinez and a friend, Frank Adams, tinkered with an old soft-serve ice cream machine until it resulted in a frozen margarita that was served to perfection with every pour. And just like that, the world's first frozen margarita machine was born!
Today, the original machine can be found at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
Want to get a taste of history for yourself? Raise your glass high to the legend that lives on today at the original Mariano's location.
Mariano's
Visit the original restaurant where you can enjoy delicious Tex-Mex cuisine and of course, one of the famous frozen margaritas.
Meso Maya
Meso Maya provides a dining experience filled with fresh, earthy and bold flavors that are the heart and soul of Mayan and Mexican cuisine.
Beto & Son
Impress your friends and order the Liquid Nitrogen Margarita, which contains hand-selected Beto & Son Avion Resposado Tequila, fresh lime juice, agave, orange liqueur and fruit encapsulated pearls.
El Fenix
Founded in 1918, this Dallas staple was the originator of "Tex-Mex cuisine" and continues to be a local favorite.
Fearing's
Led by celebrity chef, Dean Fearing, you'll want to savor every sip of Dean's Margarita. The margarita features Patrón Anejo Tequila, which contains a blend of two different barrels exclusive to Fearing's.
Taqueria La Ventana
This laid-back Mexican eatery is where you need to go for sizzlin' street-style tacos, tasty margs and a fun outdoor patio.
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