Matt’s Rancho Martinez, a beloved Tex-Mex restaurant located in East Dallas, closed its doors permanently this week.
The restaurant, which has been a staple in the Lakewood neighborhood for 34 years, served its last meal on April 2, per WFAA.
Matt’s Rancho Martinez opened its doors on Skillman Street in 1989, and it quickly became a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike.
The restaurant was known for its delicious Tex-Mex cuisine, but it was most famous for its “Bob Armstrong Dip” appetizer.
The dish was named after a former Texas politician who had walked into the kitchen one day, asking for something off-menu, per the restaurant’s website.
The owner, Matt Martinez III, slapped together some taco meat, guacamole, sour cream, and chile con queso, and a crowd favorite was born.
Over the years, the restaurant expanded its menu and became a go-to destination for families and friends to enjoy a casual meal together, per WFAA.
The closure was announced via the restaurant’s website and Facebook page.
“The Martinez family, management & staff want to thank you for the many years, meals, celebrations & memories we have shared with each one of you, your family & friends. … We leave with deep gratitude & appreciation for your support & loyal following,” the statement read.
The restaurant’s owners encourage patrons to visit their newest location in Allen, Texas, off U.S. 75 and McDermott Drive. The family also operates another location in Royse City at 4765 State Highway 276.
Martinez represents one of five generations in his family preparing Tex-Mex cuisine. The tradition was launched by Delfino Martinez, who sold tamales and pralines from a pushcart in Austin before opening a restaurant called El Original in 1925.
“When you get started in this industry there’s a lot of hope. You have a lot of dreams,” Martinez said, per WFAA. “It was time. After 35 years of leasing businesses, we just wanted a change.”
That change now includes investing in the family’s own real estate, as Martinez told The Dallas Morning News.
When the time is right and property becomes available for purchase, the restaurant might return to Lakewood, Martinez added.