Mexican food lovers in Southlake have a place to visit to eat food prepared with real peppers and spices: Chiloso Mexican Bistro.

“You notice it has nowhere in the [name] ‘Tex-Mex,’” General Manager Joe Chavez said.

Chiloso got its start in Rockwall in 2005 because of the partnership of Chavez and his nephew David Balli. The recipes are all Balli’s, Area Manager Miguel Mendoza said. After years of working in the restaurant industry, Mendoza said, Balli decided to open a different take on a popular concept. He started wanting to just have one successful restaurant.

“It turned out to be bigger than what [we thought],” he said. “So now he just wants to grow the brand.”

The local chain opened its fifth and most recent restaurant in Southlake in September 2016. Chavez took over as the general manager there in October 2017. The location has “great potential here,” he said.

“[It’s] doing really [well] for the first year, and we haven’t even scratched the surface,” Chavez said.

Chavez has begun working on increasing Chiloso’s visibility by engaging with the community and providing samples for potential customers to try.

“I think David and Joe’s model is like, ‘I’m not worried about the small things; I’m worried about just getting great food to the guests,’” Mendoza said. “That’s what I want. So if [our customers] want extra corn, give them extra corn.”

There are multiple ways to enjoy dining at Chiloso.

For customers who want to customize their meal, the casual eatery features a choice of tacos ($3.95 for one, three for $11), burritos ($9), nachos ($9), bowls ($9) or salads ($9). From there the guest can add roasted pork, traditional taco meat, rojo chicken, grilled steak, grilled chicken, barbacoa or vegetables. The only toppings that cost extra with the meat selections are avocados and guacamole.

Even the tortilla soup ($6) is customizable. The soup comes accompanied by avocados, corn, tortilla strips, green chilies and cheese. The patron can add as much or as little of the toppings as he or she wants.

Chiloso Mexican Bistro
2251 E. Southlake Blvd., Ste. 140, Southlake
817-488-7773
www.chilosomexicanbistro.com
Hours: Mon.-Thu. 6 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Fri. 6 a.m.-10 p.m., Sat. 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.-9 p.m.