There’s nothing more Texan than a skillet filled with sizzling beef, colorful peppers, cheese, fresh tortillas and a variety of toppings. The sizzle of a fajita is our culinary version of white noise.
At least, that’s what Jon Alexis, the owner of Escondido, says.
Otomi embroidery with chickens and donkeys fills frames on the walls, and the farm animal motif continues in the coasters and napkins. The chandeliers are metal cactuses, and the bright whites and intricate tiling resemble a Mexican resort. The Preston Royal restaurant is a bit like a Cabo swim-up bar, Alexis says.
He discovered Tex-Mex when he moved to Texas from Virginia in 1989.
“When we first came here, eating in Tex-Mex restaurants was like being on vacation,” Alexis says. “It was this amazing cuisine. I had never experienced anything like it.”
Restaurant veteran Alexis and his wife Natalie are no strangers to the area. The pair owns TJ’s Seafood across the street, which Alexis bought from his parents in 2009. When the 2019 tornado closed Cantina Laredo across the street, Alexis saw it as an opportunity to venture into the Tex-Mex world.
“I love Tex-Mex. It’s really happy,” Alexis says. “Having a frozen margarita and some chips and salsa makes life better.”
Alexis and his wife ate at the best Tex-Mex places in Dallas and neighboring cities to find their signature dishes, and they worked on creating recipes to beat those dishes in their own restaurant.
“We cherry picked our favorite aspects of all of them,” Alexis says. “We wanted to make a damn good Tex-Mex spot, and so far there’s a line to get in every day, so we think it’s working.”
Aside from fajitas, Escondido’s menu is full of classic Tex-Mex favorites like enchiladas, tacos, chile relleno, carne asada and huevos rancheros. The restaurant features a full bar, offering several flavors of house and frozen margaritas. They even offer mini margaritas for those drinking on the lighter side.
“Let’s be real. I’m a white kid,” Alexis says. “I felt like I really had to do it right. It had to be really amazing.”
Escondido’s signature dish is ancho butter fajitas, which comes with either chicken, steak, shrimp, portobello or a chicken and steak combo for the protein choice. Fajitas are served with all the typical toppings, plus roasted garlic, spiced lime, rice and refried beans.
“A perfect fajita with a perfect tortilla and perfectly grilled onions,” Alexis says. “Tell me a better bite of food in Paris. Tell me a better bite of food in Tokyo than that.”
Escondido, 5950 Royal Lane, 214.471.5929
