After successfully launching a Tex-Mex restaurant in Seguin several years ago, a pair of longtime Kyle couples have brought the food of their native Mexico to the city.


Husband-and-wife duo Catalina and Alejandro Trujillo, along with their longtime friends and husband-and-wife duo Jorge H. Ruiz and Mayra Calderon, first opened Los Vaqueros Café & Grill on Feb. 14 in the former El Pueblito space on Center Street in Kyle. 


Modeled after Texican Grill and Bar in Seguin—which Ruiz and Calderon also own—Los Vaqueros, which means “the cowboys” in Spanish, is open six days a week and its menu features a little bit of everything from salads and burgers to traditional enchilada plates and tacos.


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Catalina, who previously owned a nail salon, said this is her first experience running a restaurant. She said she and Calderon became friends after Calderon became a regular customer at Catalina’s salon, she said.


“We were talking about it for a while the idea of having our own restaurant,” Catalina said, adding they wanted to open a location close to their homes.


All of Los Vaqueros’ tortillas and tamales are made in-house, and the restaurant offers breakfast all day. Most breakfast plates come with bean, potatoes and two tortillas. Breakfast tacos are available, and customers can buy three for $2.99 between 7-10 a.m. Tue.-Fri. A la carte options are also available.


Catalina said Los Vaqueros has become known for the live music provided by The Silver Mine String Band, a group from Oak Hill, on Fridays.


Since opening, Catalina said the biggest challenge has been managing a new schedule.


“[The restaurant] consumes a lot of time,” she said.


The reward, Catalina said, comes when she gets repeat customers who have turned into friends.


“We have really good customers,” she said.