I have the pleasure to live 45min away from Zapata...believe me there is no words to explain how delicious the chicken fried steak cheese AND gravy is...if I was in death row that would be my last meal.
Spent my summers in Zapata, falcon lake, crossing over to Mexico for some good times. Zapata Tx is a must visit again. Shout out from Corpus Christi TX..
I ate at El Paraiso a few times when I lived there in the original restaurant. It tended to be known as "Tencha's". I loved the taste of their big 'home style' cheeseburgers! So when I would visit Zapata that's what I would get when I would eat there. But when I visited in 96 I ordered a chicken fried steak in which it was so big that it took up the whole plate but it did not have cheese. One of Zapata's best! I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Hortencia in late 95 when I went to eat there, telling her about having eaten there before, after having heard so much about her many years earlier. RIP Hortencia, you built a great restaurant!
Proud and former lifetime Laredoans , we now live a block away from El Paraiso Restaurant and I can proudly say all the food is amazing there! Thanks for making this video Texas Bucket List! Proud to represent Zapata ! El Paraiso has also made it to the Texas Monthly Magazine as one of the Best Small Town Cafes out of 40 places back in 2013.
I dream of tencha burgers; they were the BEST!! She would toast the bread on the griddle. And I am forever gratefull to for her kindness and generosity 💝
My wife and I have eaten at restaurants thru out the united states and without question this place has the best chicken fried steak we have ever had. The negative comments sound like competitor BS. We ride our Harley several hours a few times a year to eat here and have never been disappointed.
@@getsomezs Some dark times if you want you can visit Zapata and go see for yourself its peaceful nice little town but you dig deep you'll see the dark truth
It looks good. I went through Zapata last month. On my way to McAllen from Laredo. It looked like there was nothing out there. Just a tiny, rural poor town. I saw the dirt roads. Something you see in few places in this country. I was hungry. But I left after stopping for gas. I wish I knew about this place. The food looks good. Gringo but good. I'll definitely check it out. The next time I'm in Laredo.
I used to live in Detroit Michigan but now i live in Laredo the first time i had chicken fried steak crispy tacos enchiladas rice and beans I thought it was awkward now I'm hooked on it from time to time I go visit this famous restaurant it's Great..one time years back me and a bunch michiganders they came in motorcycles from Ann Arbor Michigan we had a good time and good food..
It's these Mom and Pop resturants that seem to have some of the best food. Chicken Fried steak is such a Texas tradition, I just never thought about it smothered with gravy and cheese, but it looked so good, especially the quacamole. The only thing I would add are some homemade flour tortillas.
We drove from McAllen to Zapata to eat at El Paraiso. The food is delicious and great customer service. My husband and I had friends from McAllen and the had a lake home in Zapata and we'd spend weekends there...sweet memories.
What I like about this channel is just the out of the way places that serve such great food. As for that plate, I would not say no to it but I know my Blood Sugar would spike big time, diabetic but it might be worth it never the less. Another place I am going to have to get to one of these days.
Everything on the menu is delicious but the chicken fried steak is the best and you can top it however you like. Definitely a place to not miss if you’re ever in Zapata. Breakfast is also great.
I used to work in Zapata for Golden he would always take us driver's there, awesome boss and friend, he took me to alot of good places to eat in Zapata, I still can't forget about Z-Wings best wings in the whole valley, cool breeze, rincon de angeles, el jaracho or something like that, so many you won't get bored lots of restaurants in Zapata. Shout out to the Villareal family good people. Will someone please buy El Cowboy Cumbia another shirt besides the American flag one, you all know what I'm talking about.
I went 1 time Really wasn’t what I expected rice was reheated and dry steak over cooked But the fideo soup 🍜 they give you arriving was more than excellent And watching this video I KNOW I SHOULD GIVE ANOTHER TRY 🔜
My brother Gonzalo used to work in Zapata Hospital. I was staying with him for some days and I wanted to sample the famous chicken fried steak. I went to the diner and I was about to order when I happened to see the waitress with a load full of plates to be served. As I looked on, suddenly she lost control of the plates and one of them came tumbling down to the floor. I did not order my chicken fried steak. I left the place and felt sorry for the waiter. I hope she did not get fired. It could happen to anyone.
I'm only here to put my two cents in and let everyone reading know about a real hidden gem that deserves just as much credit as paraiso which is Diana's on hwy 16. Try their chicken fried steak, mexican plate and/or burgers. They have more stuff but those are my top three picks when I go or pick up.
I grew up when Tencha and her sister ran the place . They always gave me a lollipop when we paid & a hug and beso on the head. (Probably because we were the only butter blondes around in the 80’s😜). This food shown looks nothing like the goodness from back in the day. Linda was our main waitress on our almost daily visits. Man I miss my home town Zapata at times!
