The chicken fried steak is one of many customer favorites at TEXAZ Grill, which celebrated its 40th anniversary by adding new Tex-Mex offerings to the menu (submitted photo).
Established in 1985 by co-founders Steve Freidkin and Jim Mitchell as a proper Texas steakhouse, TEXAZ Grill has been serving hearty, made-from-scratch meals with authentic Texas flavor and hospitality for four decades. Possibly best known for its chicken fried steak, the Phoenix institution, located on the northeast corner of 16th Street and Bethany Home Road, also features hand-cut rib eyes and comfort classics.
For its 40th anniversary, in October the eatery teamed with Rich Hinojosa (chef-owner of CRUjiente Tacos) to jointly unveil San Antonio-style “puffy tacos” on the TEXAZ menu.
Long before he set the standard for Valley taco artistry at CRUjiente, Hinojosa, a San Antonio native, grew up enjoying the succulent texture and comforting crisp of classic puffy tacos. So, he was eager to help TEXAZ Grill – known for its award-winning chicken-fried steak – bring the staple of his childhood to Greater Phoenix. Featuring a choice of picadillo (homestyle ground beef), green chile pork, carne guisada (Tex-Mex beef braise) and refried beans and cheese, the unique tacos are a staple of South Texas cooking and will anchor an all-new Tex-Mex pocket menu at the restaurant.
According to Hinojosa, the secret to a superior puffy taco is the same as any taco: “You start with a great shell or tortilla and let the flavors speak for themselves.” Cooking with nixtamalized corn dough – i.e. masa, a richer, more rustic cousin of modern corn-flour tortillas – Hinojosa uses a deep-frier to arrest the “puffed-up” phase of tortilla-making familiar to any home cook, creating a satisfying crispy-chewy texture.
Local owners at TEXAZ Grill say they are dedicated to honoring its legacy while bringing fresh, true-to-Texas flavors, and when they were looking to spice up the restaurant’s menu for its 40th anniversary, managing partner Greg Linaman reached out to Hinojosa last summer after learning of the chef’s Texas heritage and struck up the consulting partnership.
“We were already huge fans of Rich – CRUjiente was a staple for us,” Linaman said. “But I have to say, the puffy tacos are incredible, beyond even what we imagined. Having them on our milestone menu alongside all the TEXAZ Grill standards that our regulars have come to love over the past 40 years is pretty special.”
The eatery debuted its all-new menu with Chef Hinojosa’s new creations joining longtime customer favorites on Friday, Oct. 24, and the eatery held an official 40th anniversary celebration on Oct. 25. But residents can still celebrate through the end of the year and experience the new menu creations – or enjoy TEXAZ Grill favorites that have stood the test of time – all while enjoying live music, food and drink specials, prizes and plenty of fun. The November special includes two fried chicken or pork sandwiches, plus wine or beer, and the December special offers chicken fried chicken dinners plus two desserts.
For more information, call 602-248-7827 or visit www.texazgrill.com.
