Pancho's/Emiliano's/Spanish Galleon Restaurants

[Ashikaga]

Back in 1981, I worked for a brief time in Houston for Pancho's Mexican Buffet. They were part of a company called Pamex foods. Their two other restaurants were called Emiliano's and Spanish Galleon. Are any of these places still around Houston?

[TJones]

Back in 1981, I worked for a brief time in Houston for Pancho's Mexican Buffet. They were part of a company called Pamex foods. Their two other restaurants were called Emiliano's and Spanish Galleon. Are any of these places still around Houston?

I am pretty sure all but one Pancho's remains, it's over on I-45.

Edited November 28, 2005 by TJones

[sevfiv]

there are about three pancho's in houston - never heard of the other two

this guy's the one who's in control these days, though:

http://www.panchosmexicanbuffet.com/corporate.aspx

Edited November 28, 2005 by sevfiv

[northbeaumont]

In 1981 Pancho's Mexican Buffet opened in Beaumont. I remember going to one in Houston and to one in Pasadena way back then. I think that it was up on IH-45 (North Freeway) around Tidwell Road (someone out there will tell me if my memory is correct or not). My uncle told me that he went to one in Bellaire.

Pancho's was part of a chain that also included Emiliano's and Spanish Galleon Mexican Restaurants. Are any Pancho's still in Houston? Have there ever been any Emiliano's and Spanish Galleon's?

[Willsatx]

In 1981 Pancho's Mexican Buffet opened in Beaumont. I remember going to one in Houston and to one in Pasadena way back then. I think that it was up on IH-45 (North Freeway) around Tidwell Road (someone out there will tell me if my memory is correct or not). My uncle told me that he went to one in Bellaire.

Pancho's was part of a chain that also included Emiliano's and Spanish Galleon Mexican Restaurants. Are any Pancho's still in Houston? Have there ever been any Emiliano's and Spanish Galleon's?

I remember in SA there was a Spanish Galleon's with the shape of a big boat, then it closed and become a pancho's.

According to their websites- their locations in Houston.

Houston

10900-A FM 1960 West

281-890-2285

Houston

11560 Gulf Freeway

713-946-4600

Houston

5442 North Freeway

713-697-2713

[johnfinley]

http://www.panchosmexicanbuffet.com/

I can only eat there right when they open, because that's when it's fresh, and not been sitting out. Their headquarter's isn't too far from my house, but I had no idea that they've been in business for so long. I absolutely love their flautas. For a cheap, hot meal, you can't beat Pancho's, unless it's the $1 menu at Mickey D's.

[houstonmacbro]

I remember in SA there was a Spanish Galleon's with the shape of a big boat, then it closed and become a pancho's.

According to their websites- their locations in Houston.

Houston

10900-A FM 1960 West

281-890-2285

Houston

11560 Gulf Freeway

713-946-4600

Houston

5442 North Freeway

713-697-2713

Wasn't/isn't there one on Stella Link as well?

[northbeaumont]

I remember in SA there was a Spanish Galleon's with the shape of a big boat, then it closed and become a pancho's.

According to their websites- their locations in Houston.

Houston

10900-A FM 1960 West

281-890-2285

Houston

11560 Gulf Freeway

713-946-4600

Houston

5442 North Freeway

713-697-2713

The last one you listed must have been the one that I went to 26 years ago.

http://www.panchosmexicanbuffet.com/

I can only eat there right when they open, because that's when it's fresh, and not been sitting out. Their headquarter's isn't too far from my house, but I had no idea that they've been in business for so long. I absolutely love their flautas. For a cheap, hot meal, you can't beat Pancho's, unless it's the $1 menu at Mickey D's.

The website you posted doesn't show one here in Beaumont. Maybe it closed and I didn't notice it. It was on 11th Street just up from the Monterey House. I don't go down that street much anymore.

[gnu]

I remember going to one in Houston and to one in Pasadena way back then.

We used to to the Pasadena Pancho's often (when i was a kid).

It was in the old Pasadena Mall at Spencer and Shaver.

They had HUGE circular multi-colored booths and a conveyer belt for dirty dishes (like some Wyatts - but i may be confusing my memory). There were also some booths that had "windows" that opened onto a small "alley" (it was inside the mall - down the side of the restaurant). There was a barber shop down the alley that you could see from your seat. I remember that probably because I thought the electric barber pole was cool.

[EatSleepMOD]

Pancho's started in the 60's. My mother in law said she started taking her son to the Almeda Mall area location when he was a baby

in the early 70s... The guy is 38 now and the same lady still works there as a waitress. I used to go to the Pasadena Plaza location a lot as a kid. I loved that place! I know it is not REAL mexican food, but I usually go once every year or so. Raise the flag!

[northbeaumont]

Pancho's started in the 60's. My mother in law said she started taking her son to the Almeda Mall area location when he was a baby

in the early 70s... The guy is 38 now and the same lady still works there as a waitress. I used to go to the Pasadena Plaza location a lot as a kid. I loved that place! I know it is not REAL mexican food, but I usually go once every year or so. Raise the flag!

That's what I've always wondered. In Old Mexico, do they actually make and eat tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tostadas, etc.?

[Firebird65]

That's what I've always wondered. In Old Mexico, do they actually make and eat tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tostadas, etc.?

Yes, but they're not the same as here. Lot's of corn tortillas in Mexico. Few, if any flour tortillas. And the crispy shell taco or tostada is almost nowhere to be found.

I went to one restaurant where I ordered a taco and my friend ordered a burrito and the ONLY difference between what we got was the way the corn tortilla was folded. My taco was rolled like a common soft-shell taco (but no lettuce, tomato or cheese, just meat and chilies) and my friend's burrito was the same thing, save it was folded and tucked in on each end. That was it. If if you unfolded my taco and his burrito and laid them flat side by side (which we did), there was zero difference.

Edited June 22, 2007 by Firebird65

[Fringe]

There used to be a Panchos in Bellaire on Bissonnet (in the center where CiCi's pizza is). It was a great place for Tex-Mex.

Edited June 22, 2007 by LunaticFringe

[EatSleepMOD]

Yes, but they're not the same as here. Lot's of corn tortillas in Mexico. Few, if any flour tortillas. And the crispy shell taco or tostada is almost nowhere to be found.

I went to one restaurant where I ordered a taco and my friend ordered a burrito and the ONLY difference between what we got was the way the corn tortilla was folded. My taco was rolled like a common soft-shell taco (but no lettuce, tomato or cheese, just meat and chilies) and my friend's burrito was the same thing, save it was folded and tucked in on each end. That was it. If if you unfolded my taco and his burrito and laid them flat side by side (which we did), there was zero difference.

Ummm hum...and chile con queso is totally gringo...

Like you say, the flour tortillas are almost no where to be found in Mexico.

They cater to us gringas y gringos here.

I love Mexican Food/Tex-Mex, whatever. Love it!!

[Hunter]

The last one you listed must have been the one that I went to 26 years ago.

The website you posted doesn't show one here in Beaumont. Maybe it closed and I didn't notice it. It was on 11th Street just up from the Monterey House. I don't go down that street much anymore.

The one in Beaumont Closed sometime in '02 or '03. No reason given. It was open one week and closed the next. It was one of our favorite places to go and eat and was always packed. It was a real surprise when it closed.

[Willsatx]

Don't forget the sopapillas, you want to eat at pancho's once or twice a year. If not your stomach will not like you.

[TheBez]

We used to go there all the time when I was really little (we lived in SA). I would have to say it was in the 70s. Do any of y'all know if they still have the Panchos glasses filled with the red and green jello ? At one point I had a fine set of 6 when I lived in Denton while at TWU. (They had a location in Lewisville and I needed glasses for entertaining)

[Heights2Bastrop]

My first Pancho

[EastEnd Susan]

Pancho's started in the 60's. My mother in law said she started taking her son to the Almeda Mall area location when he was a baby

in the early 70s... The guy is 38 now and the same lady still works there as a waitress. I used to go to the Pasadena Plaza location a lot as a kid. I loved that place! I know it is not REAL mexican food, but I usually go once every year or so. Raise the flag!

My friends father is from Mexico and when he ate there he always raised the flag. Well of course the waitress would come over to see what he wanted. When he didnt want anything she would lower the flag.. and Mr. Valdes would raise the flag again. This went on about 3 times until one of his kids explained to the waitress that he thought the flag should be raised all the time and it made him sad to see it down. The waitress smiled at him and left his flag raised. Everyone was happy.

[flyingman]

I know there's a Pancho's still there by Almeda Mall.

LORD do not even compare that mess to real Mexican food lol. I used to go when in elementary they would give us eat free coupon rewards. A couple years ago my mom and I decided to go just on a whim. Yuck. It was like eating cardboard, and the watery cheese smelled like vomit. None of the food has any real flavor.

Anyway when it comes to real Mexican food, there are so may different kinds, since there are so many different regions through out the country. Also just as the same foods differ from house to house within the Hispanic community... as any other category of food within any different cultures.

Who didn't love raising the little flag though

Happy eating

Edited June 22, 2007 by flyingman

[SpaceAge]

There used to be a Panchos in Bellaire on Bissonnet (in the center where CiCi's pizza is). It was a great place for Tex-Mex.

Pancho's in Bellaire was located next to Chapman's Young World at 5317 Bissonnet. It was in the corner of the center, on the first floor of the two story portion of the building. About 1970, a friend of mine ate at Pancho's and almost died from the encephalitis he contracted from the horse meat they served. The entire chain was closed down for months but eventually reopened. I am surprised Pancho's survived that event and is still in business.

Amegy Bank now owns that center. They have lost almost all their tenants including CiCi's Pizza. Amegy also demolished the landmark modern bank that stood in front of the center and replaced it with a generic box designed by the Kirksey architecture firm.

[Heights2Bastrop]

. . . from the horse meat they served. The entire chain was closed down for months but eventually reopened. I am surprised Pancho's survived that event and is still in business.

That's just not true. There were stories about them serving horsemeat, an investigation was done, and Pancho's was totally exonerated. They even had a copy of the health report posted in the restaurants stating that. They weren't "closed down for months", either.

It's comments like this that perpetuate the myth about Pancho's.

[texianjoe]

The one across Almeda Genoa from Almeda Mall is still going strong. I ate there over the weekend. Every once in a while I crave Tex Mex and it is as good as it gets.

joe

[Fringe]

Pancho's in Bellaire was located next to Chapman's Young World at 5317 Bissonnet. It was in the corner of the center, on the first floor of the two story portion of the building. About 1970, a friend of mine ate at Pancho's and almost died from the encephalitis he contracted from the horse meat they served. The entire chain was closed down for months but eventually reopened. I am surprised Pancho's survived that event and is still in business.

Edited June 26, 2007 by LunaticFringe

[Heights2Bastrop]

But it was really GOOD horse meat!

That's just what I said when the story broke - that if it was horsemeat, it was the best horsemeat I ever had. Their green chili stew was my favorite item there. I now make my own, and it is close to Pancho's, and I think even better. Mine is more spicier!

[Firebird65]

That's just what I said when the story broke - that if it was horsemeat, it was the best horsemeat I ever had. Their green chili stew was my favorite item there. I now make my own, and it is close to Pancho's, and I think even better. Mine is more spicier!

I got that green stew (and the red) last time I went to Panchos. Quite good. My wife makes something similar to the red. When I was a kid, all I ever really ate there were tacos (which I loved) and sopapillas. Shoot, look what I was missing.

Another poster earlier deried Panchos as not being real Mexican food. I won't dispute that. And he also deirided it as not being good food. Well, to each his own. It sure ain't Hugos... it's along the lines of Taco Bell. But I've always enjoyed going there, and that's all that really counted.

[northbeaumont]

But it was really GOOD horse meat!

Did you gallop away?

[sevfiv]

Amegy Bank now owns that center. They have lost almost all their tenants including CiCi's Pizza. Amegy also demolished the landmark modern bank that stood in front of the center and replaced it with a generic box designed by the Kirksey architecture firm.

that was awful...way to go amegy/southwest bank of texas

http://www.houstonmod.org/buildings.aspx?sub=mnm&id=15

as far as Pancho's - i have only eaten there once many years ago, and i don't remember ANYthing about the food

[Heights2Bastrop]

Yeah, that green chili stew was one of their stable dishes

[northbeaumont]

Yeah, that green chili stew was one of their stable dishes

[EastEnd Susan]

The only thing I could stomach at Panchos was the chili rellenos and the sopapillas with honey. When I first saw National Lampoons Vegas Vacation I was reminded of Panchos when cousin Eddie was getting food in a buffet line at a cheesy casino and told the guy in the serving line that he would have some of the blue and some of the yellow. You couldn't tell WHAT the food was, just the color.

Edited June 26, 2007 by EastEnd Susan

[northbeaumont]

The only thing I could stomach at Panchos was the chili rellenos and the sopapillas with honey. When I first saw Vegas Vacation I was reminded of Panchos when cousin Eddie was getting food in a buffet line at a cheesy casino and told the guy in the serving line that he would have some of the blue and some of the yellow.

I don't get it. What was some of the "blue" and "yellow"?

That was similar to the scene in the newer version of "Fun With Dick & Jane" starring Jim Carrey. They went to eat at a buffet and Dick piled a plate sky high with food.

The only thing I could stomach at Panchos was the chili rellenos and the sopapillas with honey. When I first saw Vegas Vacation I was reminded of Panchos when cousin Eddie was getting food in a buffet line at a cheesy casino and told the guy in the serving line that he would have some of the blue and some of the yellow.

I wonder if this is that Spanish Galleon restaurant?

[Jermaine]

I live in Manitou Springs, Co. now, but yes, the Panchos on 1-45 and Tidwell is still open.

I grew up around Parker Rd. and 1-45, so I went there many times in my life. The sopspillas are amazing.

True story: I moved up here about a year ago. On the way out of Houston, I pulled the moving truck into the parking lot there on 45 and Tidwell and ordered 4 flautas with chili and queso and a root beer to go.

I sat in the parking lot...and enjoyed one last time.

[EastEnd Susan]

I don't get it. What was some of the "blue" and "yellow"?

That was similar to the scene in the newer version of "Fun With Dick & Jane" starring Jim Carrey. They went to eat at a buffet and Dick piled a plate sky high with food.

I wonder if this is that Spanish Galleon restaurant?

Eddie couldnt order his food by name since there was no way to tell what anything was. Everything looked the same except for the color, so he pointed through the sneeze guard at what he wanted and said.. "I'll have some of the blue... and some of the yellow." He also stated that the bread pudding looked especially good... extra runny.

Edited June 27, 2007 by EastEnd Susan

[northbeaumont]

Eddie couldnt order his food by name since there was no way to tell what anything was. Everything looked the same except for the color, so he pointed through the sneeze guard at what he wanted and said.. "I'll have some of the blue... and some of the yellow." He also stated that the bread pudding looked especially good... extra runny.

Some "runny" foods aren't bad.

[acamarillo]

There's a Pancho's across from woodlands mall. I've been meaning to go there but haven't made it yet.

As for the other restaurants in the thread title - the Spanish Galleon in Houston was in the sam center with the Windsor. Very kitschy interior, but I liked it and miss it some. But not as much as Emiliano's in Memorial City. That was the first "real" Mexican restaurant my wife and I started going to when we began dating in 1974, and we kept going as long as it was open. The food was good, and it was hard to imagine it came from the same people that owned Pancho's. THey had a great bar, where one of Houston's finest local female tv reporters could ofter be seen hanging out downing margaritas, and Larry and Marilyn and the Brass Connection was the "house band" and played there for several years - this was in the old days when they still used live musicians for all parts instead of beat boxes. Marilyn had an amazing voice, three octave range, and did a kick-a** version of "Me and Bobby McGee". One of my friends knew them, and we got to go to a recording session for an abum they put out at the Gilley's recording studio one night.

Last I could find out, I think Marilyn is now a high-end realtor in SW Houston. I wish I could see that band one more time, like they were in the old days.

[Jermaine]

just went back to houston to help out some family after the hurricane.

everytime i go back...me and some family have a tradition...as tacky as anything we've ever done.

it's called PANCHO'S SATURDAY.

we go...and eat. and raise the flag...and eat.

sadly, i cant do it anymore...the way i once could. ive come to terms with the fact that buying ALL YOU CAN EAT buffets...its just a waste of money for me. i barely get through one Panchito platter before im full. it's sad...so much Pancho's food to be had...

OH...but there WAS a time....my flag was in constant movement...and the sopapillas, enchiladas and flautas lived very short lives...

[Zarec]

Hey Panchos was great when you were 19 or 20 and stoned and had the munchies or so I have heard...

[ddavenport]

LOL