After conquering fried chicken and biscuits at Whistle Britches, Dallas chef Omar Flores will take on Tex-Mex with Muchacho

The team behind the excellent fried chicken and biscuits at Whistle Britches has something else to cluck about: a new Tex-Mex restaurant called Muchacho opening this summer in Dallas’ Preston Center development.

“Muchacho is a restaurant I’ve been thinking about for a really long time,” says chef/owner Omar Flores of the new venture. “It’s influenced by the kind of Tex-Mex I grew up with in El Paso, but more elevated than traditional Tex-Mex because everything will be made with quality in mind.”

The 70-seat restaurant has a 30-seat outdoor patio and will occupy the former Taco Diner space in the shopping center.

“It’s a top-to-bottom redo,” says Flores. “Lots of woods and leathers. We have a 12-seat bar bar and a chef’s table, a big lounge area and a well-stocked wine cabinet on display, but nothing will feel too fancy. We want it to feel like a place you’d find in a desert border town but very family-friendly. And nothing on the menu will break the bank. We want you to walk out of here for $20.”

So what’s on Muchacho’s menu?

Flores says to expect classics like queso, enchiladas, tacos, fajitas, guacamole, fajitas, and flour tortillas made from scratch- “all of it executed my way.” And because this is Dallas, Muchacho also has a smoker and a J&R wood-burning grill for a hefty selection of steaks and meats.

“There will be lots of meaty goodness on this menu,” says Flores.

Muchacho is slated to open in early September.