For many of us who grew up in Texas, Pancho’s Mexican Buffet was a vacation staple. I could eat my weight in delicious queso-on-everything and sopapillas after a long day of fun in Arlington.
Depending on how old/ lucky you are, you may have even had a hometown Pancho’s to enjoy. My hometown had one, but it was sadly “before my time.”
The History of Pancho’s Mexican Buffet in Texas
The very first Pancho’s was located in El Paso, Texas, in 1958. Sadly, there are no locations there anymore. Founder Jesse Arrambide, Jr. was a Navy vet who used his skills at large-scale cooking to create this buffet concept.
The company hit a major stride in the 1980s, making millions despite an oil price collapse that affected the profit margins of many other businesses in Texas. This is likely because Pancho’s was a huge bargain- $4 for an adult all-you-can-eat? Even in the 80s, that was a heck of a deal…