“Un rinconcito de nuestra tierra – A little piece of our homeland”, is how Don Pancho best describes Palenque Grill®, the Ochoa family’s latest entrepreneurial conquest. What began as simply a possibility became a reality on July 31, 2005 when the first Palenque Grill opened its doors in Laredo, Texas.

Juan Francisco “Don Pancho” Ochoa first began his journey into the restaurant business in 1975 with the inception of El Pollo Loco® in his hometown of Guasave located on the North Pacific Coast of Mexico. As El Pollo Loco® expanded, Don Pancho traveled to all the restaurants ensuring the pollo asado recipe was intact. Through his travels he submerged himself with flavors, recipes and traditions from the different regions of Mexico. By 1980, El Pollo Loco® had spread throughout Mexico before moving north across the border and opening its first American location in Los Angeles, California. A fun fact about those early years in Hollywood is Brad Pitt’s first job was handing out flyers for El Pollo Loco®, dressed in a full-on chicken costume.

In 1987, Taco Palenque® was born and progressively gained the reputation as one of South Texas’ most preferred places to eat. Don Pancho had done it again. He created a 100% Mexican fast casual chain which today serves thousands of customers throughout South Texas every year.

Don Pancho had always dreamed of having a full-service restaurant with live music and great Mexican recipes. He even had a design created for the restaurant which sat in his office for years. Eventually, alongside his son Carlos “Charles” Ochoa, Palenque Grill became a reality in 2005.

The family-oriented ambiance of Palenque Grill® is a direct reflection of the Ochoa family’s involvement. Flerida Ochoa, Don Pancho’s wife, introduced family recipes into the expansive menu and the other Ochoa siblings are also participants in the restaurant’s success.

Don’t forget to try the “Puntas de Filete al Albañil”, Don Pancho’s favorite dish!

Why North Pacific Mexican Cuisine?
Our food is 100% Mexican with the flavors of the North Pacific Coast of Mexico that includes Sinaloa, Sonora, North and South Baja California.