Pancho's Buffet

I remember having made two trips with my family to the Houston area, one in '78 and the other in '88. Both times our family ate at Pancho's, a mexican buffet restaurant that had chains throughout Texas. What are your memories of Pancho's, and does it still exist?

Here's the answer to your last question.

Bleah, hard taco shells.

quote:

Originally posted by enginecapt

Here's the answer to your last question.

http://www.panchosmexicanbuffet.com/

Bleah, hard taco shells.

quote:

Originally posted by FoodDude

I remember having made two trips with my family to the Houston area, one in '78 and the other in '88. Both times our family ate at Pancho's, a mexican buffet restaurant that had chains throughout Texas. What are your memories of Pancho's, and does it still exist?

Very timely question, FoodDude, because I was just telling my story to Sundance and RickF yesterday:

I moved to Austin from Springfield, MO near the end of 1980. At that time, my entire list of possessions fit in my 1969 Camaro and the smallest UHaul available. Back then, I was poor and had few possessions. Now, I'm poor with more possessions. Pancho's tasted good to me then, and I could have an "all-you-can-eat" for less than $3.00.

Two or three years ago, a Pancho's opened up in my home town of Round Rock. Mrs. Bushie and I decided to eat there one night for "old times sake". I was reminded of why I hadn't eaten there in 20 years.

As far as I know, there are still some locations that are open. I didn't realize the one in Round Rock had closed until we drove by it yesterday.

Rest In Peace...

Bushie, how did that visit go?

quote:

Originally posted by enginecapt

quote:

Originally posted by enginecapt

Here's the answer to your last question.

http://www.panchosmexicanbuffet.com/

Bleah, hard taco shells.

Thanks for the location enginecapt. Can't believe they're still around. $6.49 per person for all you can eat? Holy Guacamole, that's cheap! But then, you know better than I the quality of their product.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

Bushie, how did that visit go?

Mr. Hoffman, as always, time spent with Sundance is time well spent. Meeting and spending time with RickF was a wonderful experience. He's a helluva guy.

This was the first time that Mrs. Bushie had met The Sundancer, and the first for both of us meeting Rev Rick. They loved her, and she loved them. Worked out real good...

Wish you would meet us in Feb at Mr. Hay's place !!

There's still a couple of Panchos in Albuquerque...and they're still just about the most godawful place I've ever eaten.

I also had not eaten at one in years, but when the Mrs. and I ran across one in Sherman, TX a few years back I had to try it out. Good soapapillas and the rest was crap.

I haven't eaten there in years! We used to go when my kids were little and we lived in SE TX. The sopapillas were good.

The thing is, in TX, it's not hard to find a really good mom & pop place for good Mexican food.

We ate at Pancho's quite a bit in the mid 60s. It was only $1.49 back then. We would stand in line for over an hour many times. The lines would be out the door and down the sidewalk.

In the mid 70's when I was low on funds I would eat there very often. In fact, I once went there 8 times in 7 days, eating there twice on a Saturday.

I still eat at Pancho's on occasion, perhaps because of my fond memories of the place.

Is this the place where you run up a small mexican flag when you want more?

If so, then I ate there a couple times as a young teen. I seem to remember that the food was good but hey when your're 14 or so and weigh 200+ then everything is good.

MikeS.

Back in the 80s, we ate there as kids because it was cheap & the taste was OK except for the Sour Cream Enchiladas which were the bomb. They were worth the trip & the gas!
We ate there a few months ago & this was the only time I didnt raise the flag, in fact I laid the flag down on its side. Disappointing!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Bushie

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

Bushie, how did that visit go?

Mr. Hoffman, as always, time spent with Sundance is time well spent. Meeting and spending time with RickF was a wonderful experience. He's a helluva guy.

This was the first time that Mrs. Bushie had met The Sundancer, and the first for both of us meeting Rev Rick. They loved her, and she loved them. Worked out real good...

Wish you would meet us in Feb at Mr. Hay's place !!

Feb at Hay's---do I hear murmmurings of a glee club gathering Would love to meet you all there once again and bring Mrs. tiki along! Any chance you could get down there Mr Hoffman

tiki, unless you've replaced the van with a DeLorean, I think it already happened!

Pancho's must be what it's like to eat Mexican army food. BUT, as with all institutional food it's cheap, plentiful, and will keep you alive. They have a take out "party pack" full of tacos, flautas, chips and salsa for around $17. Of course I have to tell them it's actually going to be consumed by a "party".
If we want the real deal we'll visit one of taquerias in our town. It costs more, but authenticity has its price.

quote:

Originally posted by bill voss

tiki, unless you've replaced the van with a DeLorean, I think it already happened!

I really should DOUBLE checj the dates in a post before i reply to them!---guess i was just to wrapped up in the idea of another trip to Hays!!

quote:

Originally posted by tiki

quote:

Originally posted by bill voss

tiki, unless you've replaced the van with a DeLorean, I think it already happened!

I really should DOUBLE check the dates in a post before i reply to them!---guess i was just to wrapped up in the idea of another trip to Hays!!

In the late 60s, when I was a young, skinny, bottomless-pit teenager, my parents took me to Pancho's in Houston just to see how much damage I could do. I'd routinely eat 35-40 enchiladas, a dozen tacos...but only one sopapilla. It was okay as food, but those were my first encounters with sopapillas, and I was in love.

Today, when I have to watch what I eat, Pancho's is just a memory that I wouldn't dare sully by actually eating in one, but maybe once a year, when I'm in a place that serves hot sopapillas, butter, and honey for dessert, I'll order and remember....

For a quick bite, Panchos is okay. Better than Taco Bell

panchos is also still in metairie, la

if i were young and broke it might be ok, but the reality is panchos sucks

It really stinks. This is not a mexican restuarant more like imatation. Debbie from San Antonio,Tx.