eMex: Tough Call: Chi-Latin Closing; Rompope's Renaissance

News About Mexican/Latin Restaurants from el Restaurante Magazine

December 5, 2025

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Tough Decision: Chicago's Chi-Latin Closing

In West Town, Chicago, there is a place that, in November 2023, was born not only as a restaurant but as a cultural manifesto. That place is Chi Latin, created and led by Freddy Orellana, who is now going through the most difficult chapter of his career: putting on hold a project that was born from his soul. Read More

Ask Pepe: Protecting Your Restaurant from Employee Theft

Running a restaurant is one of the toughest businesses out there. Margins are razor-thin, competition is fierce, and every detail—from food quality to customer service—can make or break your reputation. But there’s another challenge that owners often don’t talk about: employee theft. Read More

Moe's Expanding to India

Moe’s Casa Mexicana™, the global evolution of the U.S. fast casual chain Moe’s Southwest Grill^®, is entering the Indian market with franchise partner Unify Foodworks. The brand’s international flagship restaurant will celebrate with a grand opening on December 6, 2025, in Gurugram. Read More

Mexican Sugar: Maintaining the Feel as the Group Grows

Few restaurant groups have managed to grow as rapidly — and as gracefully — as Mexican Sugar, a concept that debuted in 2013 in Plano, Texas. Read More

NYC's La Palapa Celebrates a Milestone

When Chef Barbara Sibley opened La Palapa Cocina Mexicana, her flagship restaurant on St. Marks Place in New York City’s East Village in 2000, she had one goal in mind. Read More

Rompope's Renaissance: How the "Sweet Soul of Mexico" is Reinventing Itself

Rompope, a sweet symbol of Mexican tradition, originated in the convents of New Spain in the 17th century. In the convent of Santa Clara, the Poor Clare nuns reinterpreted old European recipes for eggnog, incorporating milk, Veracruz vanilla, and cane alcohol. Read More

Velvet Taco Names New CEO

Fast-casual chain Velvet Taco has named Chris Schultz as CEO. Schultz brings more than 30 years of restaurant leadership experience. Most recently, he served as CEO of Voodoo Doughnut, where he guided the brand's expansion into new markets while keeping its distinctive culture intact. Read More

Chihuahua Celebrates Mexican Wine: 9th Annual Mexico Selection by CMB

The 9th edition of Mexico Selection by CMB once again ignited the heart of Mexican wine from November 17 to 21 in Chihuahua. Read More

Latin Desserts, Rompope, Shared Plates: Our NovDec Issue is Here!

Good news: The November/December issue of el Restaurante magazine is now available. Do you want to know trends in desserts at Mexican/Latin restaurants? Or how rompope is making inroads? Or how Chicago's Chilam Bilam succeeds with shared plates? You can read about all of that, and much more, in this issue. Read More

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