Permanently Closed
· Operated 2011–2019 · Part of Houston's culinary legacy
El Real Tex-Mex Cafe
About El Real Tex-Mex Cafe
El Real Tex-Mex Cafe was Bryan Caswell’s Montrose love letter to traditional Tex-Mex, opened in 2011 with partners Bill Floyd and food writer Robb Walsh. Housed in the former Tower Theater on Westheimer — a marquee-fronted Art Deco landmark — El Real championed the old-school Tex-Mex canon: hand-cut fried tacos, chili con carne, lard-laced refried beans, and tamales from long-retired neighborhood recipes. The restaurant drew both nostalgic Houstonians and national food press during its run. Facing declining traffic, Caswell closed El Real in October 2019.
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