DeSoto’s Ojeda’s Isn’t as Famous as Its Older Sibling, but It’s Equally Worthy

When it comes to Tex-Mex, Ojeda's is a household name in this town. Observer food critic Chris Wolfgang once called Ojeda’s "a cheese-stuffed monument to the American dream.” At the Dallas location on Maple Avenue, the Ojeda family has been satisfying the palates of Tex-Mex-loving Dallasites since 1969. This Tex-Mex OG has been lavished with attention – they’ve been covered by virtually every publication in the area that follows the Dallas culinary scene (and even USA Today). It's been visited by the likes of actors Jack Nicholson and Owen Wilson, TV personality Dr. Phil and former president Bill Clinton. In recent years, our readers voted Ojeda’s Best Tex-Mex Restaurant (2023) and Best Salsa (2024) in the Observer’s annual Readers’ Choice awards.

Ojeda’s sister location in DeSoto, which has quietly been churning out stellar Tex-Mex for decades, doesn’t receive a fraction of the glory. But it meets (and some DeSoto locals would even say surpasses) the vaunted reputation of its more famous sibling. While there for lunch, we spoke to DeSoto Ojeda’s regular Kevin Morris, who has been frequenting this location since the early '90s.

“We’ve been to the Dallas location, but there’s just something about this one," says Morris, who attended DeSoto High School. "We love it here. I’ve been all over, and you won’t find better Tex-Mex or margaritas anywhere. Whenever there’s a special occasion, this is our spot.”
The menu mirrors the Dallas location. Breakfast favorites like huevos rancheros are served all day, and every Tex-Mex classic in existence is found somewhere on its massive menu.

We started with a heaping bowl of tortilla soup ($10.75 for a large), which comes in traditional Mexican broth and not the tomato paste-based broth we’re accustomed to (the traditional broth is even better). It overflowed with shredded chicken, Monterey Jack and tortilla strips.

Brisket tacos ($16.45) came next. Three flour tortillas stuffed with tender shredded brisket, sauteed onions, sliced avocado and poblanos, served with rice and excellent charro beans.

The atmosphere is old-school authentic, and the margaritas at Ojeda’s deserve an entire article on their own. We counted at least 10 different margaritas on the cocktail menu. Being Michelada fanatics, we ordered the house option, and it was one of the best we’ve had at a restaurant.
Our last order was the steak fajitas for two ($34.95), which arrived tableside still sizzling. This dish comes with grilled peppers, tomatoes and onions, rice, beans, a stack of tortillas and the whole gamut of guacamole, sour cream and cheese. It’s the consummate Tex-Mex dish and perfect for a couple of hungry eaters.

Even if they bear the same name out front and the same menu inside, we all know restaurant locations aren’t created equal. In theory, they should – but it’s just not the reality. Though in the case of this longtime DeSoto Tex-Mex haunt, it's every bit the equal of the more heralded Dallas location. Just ask the regulars.
Ojeda’s, 2109 N. Hampton Road, DeSoto. Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.