La Familia Cortez Restaurants began when founder and family patriarch Pedro Cortez purchased a fledgling café in San Antonio's Market Square for $150. With family recipes and a dedication to customer service, he and his wife Cruz worked side-by-side to make the venture a success. That humble beginning planted a seed that has grown into some of the most iconic restaurants in San Antonio, as well as the cornerstone of the city's Historic Market Square and the heartbeat of Latino culture in the Alamo City.

The company is guided by a single vision, "We will glorify God by honoring the vision of our founders, valuing family, preserving our culture and offering a world-class experience."​ As it works to honor that vision, its entire team operates under this credo: "We are in the business of feeding minds, bodies and spirits while exceeding the needs, desires and expectations of our guests each and every time."​

La Familia Cortez Restaurants strongly believes one of the main ingredients to its success continues to be creating a special connection with the community outside of the restaurants. That vision of active community involvement is rooted in how Pedro worked to develop his beloved El Mercado and preserve Latino culture in San Antonio. Pedro's community service and activism continue to inspire the family's community patronage and commitment to San Antonio, guiding the family's dedication to preserving Mexican culture in San Antonio. 

We've come a long way since Pedro and Cruz Cortez opened the little café at El Mercado 75 years ago. Today, our family of five restaurants continues the tradition of authentic Mexican food and warm-hearted hospitality.



La Familia Cortez Restaurants

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