It all started in April 1986, when Gloria and Jose Fuentes worked at a small Salvadorian eatery in Oak Cliff owned by Gloria’s sister. When she was ready to move on from her restaurant business, Gloria and Jose saw it as an opportunity for them to take over and showcase their passion for cooking and serving authentic Salvadorian cuisine.
Since then, Gloria’s® Latin Cuisine has been focused on fresh ingredients, creative recipes, and an ongoing commitment to their guests. A go-to favorite throughout Texas, Gloria’s has 17 locations throughout Dallas-Fort Worth, along with locations in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio.
Gloria Fuentes attributes the success of the restaurant to consistency—in the recipes and among the team. “We’re truly a family owned-and-operated business,” Gloria says. “We bring the love for our family’s recipes into every location. We also treat our employees like family, and many have been with us since we first opened in 1986.”
They recall the early days of the business, when Gloria and Jose weren’t sure their restaurant concept would be sustainable. “We were inexperienced in running a restaurant back then, but we learned along the way,” Jose recalls. “We treated our guests the way we wanted to be treated. It took more than seven years of hard work and self-taught skills before we could open a second location. We owe our success to our employees and our guests.” That location, at Lemmon and Douglas in Uptown Dallas, is still in operation today and among the most popular.
At every Gloria’s Latin Cuisine location, people gather over the restaurant’s famous black bean dip, award-winning margaritas, Salvadorian favorites such as Pupusas and Churrasco Tipico, and Tex-Mex items. You can find a location near you at GloriasCuisine.com.
