Ajó is a family-run restaurant that focuses on farm-fresh flavor.

“We make everything in-house to order,” owner Mary Estrada said. “We are a family operation; my husband Albert [Benitez] and his brother Ernest [Benitez] are the chefs.”

Ajó, which is Spanish for garlic, opened in December 2015. Business has been growing ever since, Estrada said, adding that a word-of-mouth recommendation is the best review a restaurant can get.

“Anybody can walk in and find something they’ll want to eat,” Estrada said of the menu. “There are a lot of people with food restrictions or just particular personal preferences, and we have everything from quail, duck and scallops to veggie plates, soups, salads, burgers and half Reubens at lunch. You can bring everybody.”

Estrada’s two daughters make the perfect test palates, she said, as the oldest one loves to try new, high-end foods, and the younger daughter likes to stick with burgers and chicken strips. Like their parents, the girls have come to know a lot of Ajó’s regulars, which is one of the best parts about owning a restaurant, according to Estrada.

“We know our regulars, and they know us and our kids by name,” she said. “That’s what we love about this business—you get to know some great people, especially in this area. Round Rock is needing more and more restaurants, and that’s what we’re trying to do—offer something that you can’t get anywhere else.”

Ajó has been so successful that Estrada and Albert Benitez just purchased the storefront across the street. They are in the process of opening a second restaurant, Swank.

“We like to describe Swank as casual upscale,” Estrada said. “Not so fine dining you need to wear a suit and tie—a little more on the casual side—but high-end food.”

The Benitez brothers’ main goal is flavor and quality, Estrada said.

Ajó will ensure a dish is vegan or suits any other needs.

“The biggest thing we take pride in is always saying 'yes' to requests,” Estrada said. “There’s a way to do anything for anybody; 'yes' is always the answer.”

Popular Orders

• Dishes
  Fried chicken thighs with green chile gravy
  Snapper
  Ribeye


• Desserts
  Bread pudding
  Chocolate rolls
  Mango cheesecake
  Sweet corn cheesecake
  Bacon cheesecake
  Black garlic cheesecake
  Raspberry lemon cheesecake

Ajó Restaurant
121 E. Main St., Round Rock
512-992-2335
www.ajorestaurant.com
Hours: Sun.-Thu. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.,
Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m.