Round Rock Edition | August 2022

DINING FEATURE Rio Grande Tex-Mex Restaurant

Family-owned establishment focuses on traditional favorites R aquel Cisneros opened Rio Grande Tex-Mex in Hutto in 2005 with her husband, Mario Maldonado. According to their daughter and Rio Grande General Manager Priscilla Orona, Cisneros and Mal- donado wanted to create a restaurant that serves generations of recipes inspired by their family as well as well-known Tex-Mex favorites. “My mom liked to be in the kitchen, so she wanted to be able to, along with my grandparents, put recipes out there that … people would really enjoy,” Orona said. The restaurant proved popular in Hutto, and by 2011, Cisneros and Maldonado opened a location in Pugerville o Central Commerce Drive. As of press time, the Pugerville location was scheduled to close permanently by Aug. 7. Orona said the owners of the property plan to open a new restaurant, but the Hutto restaurant will remain open. For her part, Orona has been helping her parents at the restaurant since it rst opened. After taking some time o to attend school, she rejoined her family and has managed both locations since 2018. The Hutto location allows for ample space for its 360-degree bar that serves customers inside and out- side, a large room for private events and an expansive patio that wraps around the back of the restaurant. The restaurant also has a to-go pickup area. Additionally, Orona said they have plans for a homemade tortilla station and a bakery. “You’re going to actually be able to see the torti- llas being made,” she said. “That is one of the things our customers have been asking for, for years.” BY BRIAN RASH

The Hutto location of Rio Grande Tex-Mex Restaurant features a 360-degree bar that serves customers inside and on the patio. (Photos by Brian Rash/Community Impact Newspaper)

POPULAR DISHES Rio Grande Tex-Mex has a wide-ranging menu. Two of the most popular items include:

Priscilla Orona (center), pictured with her husband, Gabriel, and son, Mateo, is the general manager.

El Grande: combo plate with crispy taco, two cheese enchiladas, a choice of beef or chicken fajitas, guacamole salad, rice and beans

Rio Grande Tex-Mex Restaurant 551 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto 512-759-1449 | www.riograndemex.com Hours: Mon.-Thu. 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri. 7 a.m.- 10 p.m., Sat. 7 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

130 TOLL

EMORY FARMS AVE.

Fajitas: served with grilled onions; beef, chicken or both; sour cream; guacamole; cheese; pico de gallo; rice and beans

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