Mamasuez moved from Michoacan, Mexico, to Fort Worth in 1911. In 1935, she and her husband, Joe T., opened a small restaurant that took his name. Nearly nine decades later, Joe T. Garcia’s is one of the best-known family restaurants in North Texas, and it is still owned by the family.
Run by the grandchildren
Today the restaurant is owned by Mamasuez and Joe T.’s grandchildren: Lanny, Zurella, Joe, Jesse, Phillip and Elizabeth. The family says it is known for scratch cooking and its margaritas, and the restaurant marked its 90th anniversary in 2025.
A garden that grew
The centerpiece for many visitors is the patio garden. According to the family, it grew into a lush outdoor space over the years, and the family pool became a fountain. The restaurant describes its atmosphere as unorthodox and a little quirky, which is part of the charm.
Famous guests, regular neighbors
The restaurant says past guests have included Michael Jackson and Fleetwood Mac, but most of the people filling the tables are Fort Worth locals who have been coming for generations.
Know before you go
- Address: 2201 N. Commerce St., Fort Worth, in the historic North Side near the Stockyards.
- Check the restaurant’s website for current hours and any wait policies before you visit.
Joe T. Garcia’s is the kind of place Texas Featured exists to celebrate: a family business, a long history, and a story that still belongs to the people who built it.
Featured photo: Exchange Avenue in the Fort Worth Stockyards by Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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