Tex-Mex News
Houston Tex-Mex favorite serves up fajitas and margaritas in Arlington
El Tiempo tacos al carbon
A Houston-based Tex-Mex restaurant has made its DFW debut: Called El Tiempo Cantina, it's open at 1011 Nolan Ryan Expy. inside Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, which is headquarters for sports teams Arlington Renegades and Dallas Jackals.
El Tiempo is a family-owned chain founded by father-and-son Roland and Domenic Laurenzo, who opened the first location in 1998 as an offshoot of the famous Ninfa's Tex Mex chain; Roland's mother was "Mama" Ninfa Laurenzo. (Mama Ninfa was briefly a part of the Dallas dining scene before it filed for bankruptcy in the late 1990s.)
Arlington represents the first El Tiempo outside Houston, where there are 14 locations.
Featured menu items at El Tiempo include filet mignon fajitas, skirt steak fajita quesadillas, nachos, ground beef enchiladas, and crispy or soft tacos, with flour tortillas made in-house daily. A full bar includes margaritas made with agave tequila and mezcal.
Arlington will have the same festive atmosphere as the El Tiempo locations in Houston, with bright yellows and blues on the walls, silver trays, and colorful plates.
The idea to open in Arlington came after El Tiempo opened a concession inside Minute Maid Park, home to the Houston Astros.
“Someone at Texas Rangers got wind of it and they wanted El Tiempo,” family member Rafael Laurenzo told Houston Public Media. “They are really trying to help grow that specific part of Arlington.”
Here's a quote to prove it:
“The Laurenzo family has a long history of creating unique and delicious Mexican food," says Rangers ExecuVP Rob Matwick in a statement. "Their fajitas, margaritas and fresh, hand-made tortillas are signature items on an amazing menu that will give sports fans and visitors a reason to keep coming back for more."
They're currently open for dinner service and will add lunch hours starting Monday, July 8.
