The Texas Senate has passed a resolution recognizing the Ochoa family for the 20th anniversary of their family-owned restaurant, Palenque Grill. Juan Francisco "Don Pancho" Ochoa began his journey in the restaurant industry in 1975 with the opening of the first El Pollo Loco in Guasave, Mexico, and subsequently expanded his ventures to include over 100 locations in Mexico and California. In 1987, he opened the first Taco Palenque in Laredo, Texas. With the support of his son Carlos and traditional recipes from his wife Flerida, the Ochoa family realized their dream of a full-service restaurant, launching the first Palenque Grill in McAllen in 2005.

Over the past two decades, Palenque Grill has expanded to multiple locations across South Texas, including San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Laredo, and El Paso, with plans for an eighth location in Brownsville. The restaurant has become a beloved destination for those seeking authentic North Pacific Mexican cuisine. The resolution commends the Ochoa family for their significant contributions to the Texas restaurant industry and extends congratulations on this milestone, along with best wishes for their continued success. A copy of the resolution will be provided to the Ochoa family as a token of esteem from the Texas Senate.