Tex Mex at the Rio:

What is it? What makes it special?

Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant has been serving Colorado its own brand of handmade Tex Mex fare since 1986.

Tex Mex food is a uniquely American style of cuisine that originates with the Tejano people of Texas, featuring dishes rooted in traditional Mexican cooking blended with ingredients available to and beloved by Texans. With a focus on beef and flour tortillas, Tex Mex has spread beyond the southwestern border states to the rest of America. The most popular Tex Mex dishes – including at the Rio – are fajitas, enchiladas, tacos, and queso.

The Rio’s Founder and Owner, Pat McGaughran, grew up in Houston, Texas, a city known for its cultural diversity, including a strong Latino community, and Tex Mex cooking.

Living in such a melting pot, McGaughran spent his youth eating plenty of fresh, Mexican food, both at his friends’ homes and out at Houston’s well-known Tex Mex restaurants. It is these experiences, as well as his many travels throughout Mexico, that inspired the Rio’s Tex Mex menu.

Like any great Tex Mex Restaurant worth its salt, our fresh flour tortillas are made in house daily and our fajita steak is marinated and  flame grilled to perfection. We’ve also added influences from New Mexico and California, with the addition of burritos and green chile.

Perhaps most importantly, our dishes are best enjoyed with the mighty Classic Rio margarita or any of our myriad of top shelf margarita options. We strive to honor Mexican cuisine and our Texas roots in every dish we serve.