Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
The Palenque Grill brand emerged in 2005 to bring a more elevated, full-service dining experience to life. As the family puts it, it was always his “dream of having a full-service restaurant with live music and great Mexican recipes”. The first Palenque Grill opened in Laredo on July 31, 2005, offering North Pacific Mexican cuisine, a romantic live-music ambiance, and deeply rooted family recipes introduced by Ochoa’s wife, Flerida. The restaurant’s slogan— “Un rinconcito de nuestra tierra” (“A little corner of our homeland”)—reflects its commitment to heritage.
A second Palenque Grill opened in McAllen’s La Plaza Mall in 2006, followed by locations in San Antonio (2011), a second Laredo site (2016), Edinburg (2019), and later in places like Corpus Christi and El Paso. This strategic growth speaks to the family’s intentional expansion and consistent quality.
To mark 20 years since its first opening in Laredo, Palenque Grill’s McAllen location held a celebratory event that brought people together in congratulations and reflection. Many guests participated in the gathering at the Plaza Mall location, showing their pride in the business milestone. On social media, the Ochoa family and supporters shared congratulatory messages: “I would like to congratulate my friends, The ‘OCHOA’ family personally and @palenque.grill on their 20th anniversary”. And according to their promotional materials, the anniversary celebration featured “20 years of unforgettable flavors, live music, and family moments”.
At the county level, the recognition extended even further: Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez, along with Commissioners David L. Fuentes, Everardo “Ever” Villarreal, and Eduardo “Eddie” Cantu, joined the commemoration. Among the Ochoa family in attendance was Mrs. Patricia Ochoa, wife of Francisco Ochoa Jr., and business supporter Marcelo Rodriguez, who serves as their Marketing Business Partner.
This milestone celebrates more than two decades of success for the Ochoa family. Through each phase—from El Pollo Loco and Taco Palenque to the full-service Palenque Grill concept—they turned a vision anchored in family recipes, cultural authenticity, and close-nit atmosphere into thriving brands. As one prominent voice put it, “At 81 (years) of age he continues to create and inspire,” referring to Don Pancho Ochoa—and underscoring a legacy still in motion
About Francisco “Pancho” Ochoa, the creator.
From humble beginnings in Guasave, Mexico, Juan Francisco “Don Pancho” Ochoa made his name in the restaurant world by launching the original El Pollo Loco in 1975. That first venture marked the start of his devotion to authentic Mexican cuisine. By 1980, the brand had expanded across Mexico and into the U.S. with its first California location in Los Angeles. (The Pollo Loco brand in the US was sold) Building on this foundation, Ochoa opened Taco Palenque in 1987 in Laredo, Texas—a fast-casual concept serving flame-grilled fajitas, parrilladas, pirata tacos, and more, along with a homemade salsa bar featuring more than seven salsas. Today, Taco Palenque includes around 42 locations—39 in Texas and 3 in Nuevo León, Mexico.
