Popular Houston Tex-Mex restaurant to open in North Texas. Here’s what you need to know
El Tiempo Cantina, a Houston Tex-Mex staple, will soon have a home inside Choctaw Stadium in Arlington next month.
Rafael Hernandez, chief revenue officer for El Tiempo, said they are a Texas company, not a Houston company.
“This is where we’re from. It’s called Tex-Mex. And hopefully, we can make people happy with our food and our margaritas,” Hernandez told the Star-Telegram.
They’ve grown the brand in Houston — with 14 locations including three Minute Maid Park concession stands and a spot inside the George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
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The restaurant’s success at Astros stadium sparked interest in the Texas Rangers. El Tiempo thought since their business is successful at one baseball stadium, why not try it at another sporting venue?
“Every year we sell more and more margaritas,” Hernandez said. “It’s outstanding, and I think it makes for a great baseball experience.”
The ballparks are not the only places for expansion. The Tex-Mex chain plans to open in Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, a logical next step considering they are now in Arlington.
SSP America, a culinary hospitality service for airports, gave El Tiempo a very positive review for dining at IAH. This led to El Tiempo considering opening a location at the North Texas airport.
“When you pick the right partners, like we did with Rangers and SSP, franchising becomes easier,” Hernandez said. “They’re just on the ball, and this is how we plan on expanding our franchise business with only those kinds of exceptional characters and exceptional organizations.”
Dominic Lorenzo and family, owners of the El Tempio brand, have had a hand in everything from the tortilla stations to the bathroom wall paint. The Choctaw Stadium location will have the same ambiance and menu as the Houston locations.
The menu is extensive, you can get anything from chicken fajitas to fish tacos. Try the Ballpark margaritas made with Hornitos Plata tequila and fresh lime. And of course, it wouldn’t hurt to have the brisket tacos.
Curated from passed-down Lorenzo family recipe, everything on the menu is made from scratch, even the salad dressing. Because of Fort Worth’s love for BBQ and Tex-Mex, El Tiempo Cantina is an exciting addition to North Texas dining.
“We’re not coming in from Houston. We’re coming in from Texas,” Hernandez said, “We’re very excited about being in both places, Houston and Dallas.”
El Tiempo is set to open in May at 1011 Nolan Ryan Expressway, Arlington, inside Choctaw Stadium.
