DINING FEATURE Wicho’s House Restaurant Grapevine family serves Tex-Mex and more F ood is always cooking in the kitchen of the Tuney family’s Grapevine home. The family “And then we have the American plates: Cajun pasta, Texas burger, sh tacos. Everything that is derived from the American side is from my dad’s BY GRANT JOHNSON
is made up of siblings Jason, Jessica, Kimberly and Brandon; parents Ana and Jose Luis; and family friend Santiago Juarez Pedraza. The Tuney family took the dishes they created in their home kitchen and combined them with their expe- rience in the food service industry as well as their passion for serving others. They opened Wicho’s House Restaurant in 2018 in North Richland Hills. Business slowed just before the COVID-19 pandemic, so the family decided to move to a new location. “We’ve lived in the Grapevine area for about 15 years,” said Kimberly, the oldest sibling, who has worked as a server and
restaurant experience, and every- thing on the Latin side is from my mom. That’s why we call the place Tex-Mex and more.” The four siblings, the youngest of whom is 14 years old, work the front of the house, waiting tables and man- aging the restaurant, while their par- ents and Pedraza prepare the dishes in the kitchen. The Tuney siblings named the restaurant Wicho’s House, because in Latin America “Wicho” is a nickname for Luis, which is part of their father’s name, Kimberly said. “When I was a child, my mom taught us that it’s not a customer in
The Tuney family owns and operates Wicho’s House Restaurant with family friend Santiago Juarez Pedraza (left). (Photos by Grant Johnson/Community Impact Newspaper)
3 DISHES TO TRY
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Wicho’s House Restaurant 2100 W. Northwest Highway, Ste. 2307, Grapevine 682-271-4131 www.facebook.com/wichoshouse Hours: Tue.-Thu. 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; Fri.-Sun. 7 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-8 p.m.; Mon. closed 3 Jason’s Foreign Breakfast ($11.50) consists of two eggs any style with newlywed rice and beans (white rice and black beans) and is served with sweet plantains, cheese, sour cream and salsa. 1 Jessica’s Fish Tacos ($13.99) include grilled or blackened tilapia, cole slaw, avocado, pico de gallo and chipotle mayo on a corn tortilla with cilantro lime rice and vegetables or borracho beans. 2 The Texas Burger ($13.95) has a charbroiled burger topped with cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, fried onion strings, lettuce, tomato, pickles and barbecue sauce on a brioche bun and served with french fries.
business,” said Jose Luis, who has over 30 years experience in corporate kitch- ens. “It is a guest. Everyone that comes to Wicho’s House is a guest, and I showed my kids that, too.”
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bartender at other restaurants. “We noticed a gap in the area food industry, and we have trouble nding options with a big menu
“OUR SCRATCH KITCHEN IS A FUSION OF FOOD FROM CENTRAL AMERICA AND EVERYWHERE. ... OUR FOOD IS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.” ANA TUNEY, CO OWNER
so everyone in our family can nd something they like.” The family decided it made the most sense to bring their home cook- ing to their hometown of Grapevine in 2021. They describe their food as “Tex-Mex and more” because the menu is rooted in traditional Latin dishes and includes American dishes. “We are known for our chilaquiles, enchiladas and beef fajitas for Mex- ican or Latin plates,” Kimberly said.
The family brands the restaurant as “your second home” on its Facebook page. The restaurant is a scratch kitchen, meaning the dishes are prepared one at a time from fresh ingredients, according to Ana, the matriarch of the family. “Our scratch kitchen is a fusion of food from Central America and everywhere,” Ana said. “Our food is for the neighborhood.”
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