The Story of Chico’s Tacos
The Mora family’s rolled-taco restaurant, its El Paso roots, and the public records behind the milestones.
Chico’s is known for rolled, fried tacos served in a paper boat with a tomato-based sauce and shredded cheese. Its place in El Paso food culture is as important to the story as the recipe. For the dish itself, see the ordering guide; the history begins on Alameda Avenue in 1953.
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A Recipe Born of Necessity
Texas House Resolution HR 84 records that Joe B. Mora opened the first Chico’s Tacos on Alameda Street on July 4, 1953, after working as a boxing promoter. Authentic Texas also describes him as a jukebox mechanic and recounts a recipe he developed while feeding his younger siblings. That childhood account is a reported family origin story, rather than a dated business record.
Mora’s response to arguments over what counted as a taco became part of the restaurant’s folklore. More concretely, the business expanded beyond Alameda: a South Central El Paso history places the second restaurant near Chelmont in 1969 and the Dyer opening in 1971. That makes the 1969 opening sixteen years after 1953, not fourteen.
From Taco Stand to Institution
The Original on Alameda
Joe B. Mora opens Chico’s Tacos on Alameda on July 4. The 2003 Texas House resolution records this founding date and recognizes the Mora family.
The Chain Begins
A local historical account places the second restaurant near Chelmont in 1969 and the Dyer location in 1971. The Chelmont restaurant later closed in 2016.
The Founder Passes the Tray
Joe Mora dies. HR 84 records that Emma Mora and their five children continued the family business after his death.
State Honor & National Fame
The Texas House adopts HR 84 in 2003 to mark the 50th anniversary. Gabriel Iglesias references Chico’s in his El Paso-recorded 2009 special, as documented by Authentic Texas.
70th Anniversary, Then 73 Years
Texas Senate Resolution 27 commemorates the 70th anniversary in 2023. July 4, 2026 marked 73 years since the recorded founding date. See the location guide before visiting.
The Sauce Nobody Can Have
The sauce is central to the restaurant’s identity: even the 2003 House resolution describes its recipe as closely guarded. That supports the history of a family recipe, but it does not establish its complete ingredients. A home copycat recipe should not be presented as the restaurant’s recipe or used to answer an allergy question.
Why the El Paso Connection Matters
The 2003 House and 2023 Senate resolutions both recognize a restaurant that became part of its hometown’s shared life. Expansion did not make every address permanent: KVIA documented the Chelmont closure in 2016. For a visitor, that distinction matters—an address in an old feature is a historical reference, not proof that the same branch still operates. Use the current location guide when planning a visit.
Chico’s Tacos History FAQ
When did Chico’s Tacos open?
The founding date recorded in Texas HR 84 and SR 27 is July 4, 1953, on Alameda in El Paso. The restaurant reached 73 years in July 2026.
Who founded Chico’s Tacos?
The resolutions name Joe B. Mora, an El Paso boxing promoter. HR 84 also recognizes Emma Mora and the couple’s five children for continuing the business after his death in 1992.
Why are they called Chico’s Tacos if they’re not really tacos?
The dish is a distinctive rolled, fried taco served with tomato-based sauce and cheese. Disagreement over the name is part of its local folklore; it does not change the recorded founding date.
What is Chico’s Tacos’ secret sauce?
HR 84 describes the sauce recipe as closely guarded. The complete current ingredients are not established here; ask the restaurant about dietary or allergy requirements.
How many Chico’s Tacos locations are there?
Historical location counts vary by date. A 2003 resolution records expansion, while later reporting documents a closure. Check the linked location guide for the branch you intend to visit.
References for this guide
Texas HR 84 (2003) · Texas SR 27 (2023) · South Central El Paso: expansion history · KVIA: Chelmont closure · Authentic Texas: family and food history