History

Dallas restaurateur Mariano Martinez claims to have invented the first frozen margarita machine in 1971 at his restaurant Mariano's, adapting a 7-Eleven Slurpee machine to dispense a pre-blended margarita. The machine is in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. The frozen margarita subsequently spread from Dallas to every Tex-Mex restaurant in the United States.

Make it at home

Yield Serves 2Hands-on 5 minTotal 5 minDifficulty Beginner

Ingredients

  • 90ml blanco tequila (100% agave)
  • 45ml triple sec or Cointreau
  • 60ml fresh lime juice
  • 15ml simple syrup (adjust to taste)
  • 2 cups ice
  • Coarse salt for the rim
  • Lime wedge for garnish

Method

  1. Run a lime wedge around the rim of two glasses and dip in coarse salt.
  2. Combine tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and simple syrup in a blender with ice.
  3. Blend on high until smooth and the consistency of a slushie.
  4. Pour into the prepared glasses. Garnish with a lime wedge.
  5. Taste; add more simple syrup if too tart, more lime if too sweet.

Tip from the editors. Fresh lime juice is not negotiable. Bottled lime juice produces a flat, bitter margarita. Pre-squeeze juice and refrigerate if making a batch; it keeps 24 hours without losing brightness.

This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.

Where to eat frozen margarita

Frozen margarita in Dallas

Mariano's Hacienda Ranch ★ 3.8

Tex-Mex$$lakewoodTue 4pm-9pm, Wed-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-9pm

Mariano Martinez invented the frozen margarita machine on May 11, 1971 at his original East Dallas restaurant. The Skillman location carries that legacy forward with Tex-Mex combination plates and the signature frozen margarita.

Order: The frozen margarita, made from the tradition of the 1971 original machine invention. Combination plate with cheese enchiladas.

Tip: The history of the margarita machine is on the wall. The original machine is now in the Smithsonian, but the recipe continues here.

6300 Skillman St, Dallas, TX 75231 Book →

El Fenix ★ 4.1

Tex-Mex, historic Dallas chain$uptownMon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-9pm

The oldest Tex-Mex restaurant in Dallas, operating since 1918. The enchiladas and combo plates come in at under $15 and represent the unbroken lineage of Dallas Tex-Mex cooking over more than a century.

Order: Combo plate: enchiladas, tamale, taco; cheese dip; sopapillas

Tip: The McKinney Ave location is the most accessible. The Tuesday special is the best value night. No reservations needed; the turnover is fast.

1601 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75202

Herrera's Cafe ★ 4.2

Old-school Tex-Mex brunch$10-$18oak-cliffMon-Thu 8am-10pm, Fri-Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 8am-10pmWalk-in

Herrera's Cafe on W Illinois Avenue has been serving Tex-Mex breakfast since 1949, making it the oldest continuous Tex-Mex brunch counter in Dallas. The huevos rancheros and breakfast tacos are unchanged from the original recipes and the red salsa is made from scratch each morning.

Order: Breakfast tacos; huevos rancheros with house red salsa since 1949

Tip: Cash preferred, card accepted. Go early; the line builds from 9am on weekends. The breakfast taco with chorizo and egg on a fresh flour tortilla has been the standard since 1949.

2853 W Illinois Ave, Dallas, TX 75233

Mia's Tex-Mex ★ 4.4

Tex-Mex$$uptownMon-Sat 11am-9:30pm, Sun 11am-9pm

The brisket taco at Mia's costs around $6 individually, making it an affordable way to experience Dallas's most iconic Tex-Mex taco. Two brisket tacos and a house margarita stays under $25.

Order: Two brisket tacos; house margarita (happy hour); rice and beans

Tip: Happy hour runs daily from 4-7pm with discounted margaritas. Two tacos and a drink is the sweet spot for a budget Mia's visit.

4334 Lemmon Ave, Dallas, TX 75219

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