FORT WORTH, TX – Inside a modest restaurant in Fort Worth, a culinary journey unfolds that has captivated both loyal customers and discerning critics. The Cortez family has garnered a reputation for crafting some of the most delectable beef birria tacos, tortas, and quesadillas, with praise echoing far beyond local boundaries.
Five years ago, Rogelio Cortez Jr. was navigating rooftops as a commercial roofer, never imagining he would one day own a restaurant. “Never in a million years did I think this would happen,” Cortez recalls, reflecting on the surprising turn his life has taken.
As the son of Mexican immigrants, Cortez sees his story as a realization of the American dream. Personal hardship paved the way for this transformation after a debilitating back injury left him jobless and in need of surgery. “My legs were going numb. I was struggling to walk,” he says.
With only $1,000 in savings, Cortez sought a way to support himself. He began selling his mother’s menudo, a traditional Mexican soup, from their driveway on weekends. As word spread, he added tacos and set up a few tables. The lines soon snaked through the neighborhood.
The growing demand prompted Rogelio’s father, Rogelio Sr., to take a leap of faith. He emptied his retirement savings to purchase a food truck, even as the pandemic posed new challenges. “Three months later, thanks to God, I was able to get my surgery,” Cortez says, having repaid his father’s investment.
Just over two years after those initial driveway sales, the Cortez family opened Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez, their own brick-and-mortar restaurant. Despite having no prior restaurant experience, their knack for creating mouthwatering dishes quickly became evident.
The restaurant’s popularity surged, attracting families, food enthusiasts, and eventually the attention of Michelin. Initially unaware of the prestigious culinary guide, Cortez learned of their interest only three days before the ceremony. “I thought it was spam,” he admits, after discovering missed emails from Michelin.
Scrambling to submit the necessary paperwork, Cortez anxiously awaited the results. When the announcement came, Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez was awarded a Michelin Recommended rating, a recognition that left him in disbelief. “It’s truly a one-in-a-million,” Cortez marvels.
From selling tacos on the driveway to serving 6,000 tacos daily, the Cortez family stands as a testament to resilience and culinary excellence, now recognized as one of the world’s top dining destinations.