Herrera’s Cafe #1, the Harry Hines outpost of a multigenerational Dallas Tex-Mex family, quietly shut its doors at the end of 2025, leaving regulars who came for tamales and the classic “2B” plate wondering what went wrong. Longtime customers say that this week the dining room sat empty and the storefront was dark, a jarring sight for diners who grew up on Herrera’s chili-topped enchiladas and expected the lights to stay on late.
As reported by Dallas News, the Harry Hines location at 8014 Harry Hines Blvd. opened in early 2023 across from Brook Hollow Golf Club and quietly folded at the end of 2025. The outlet notes that the restaurant served Herrera family staples such as the “2B” Mexican dinner (cheese enchiladas, a beef taco, rice, and beans) and that the owner did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
The Herrera name stretches back to Amelia Herrera’s first restaurant on Maple Avenue in 1971, and at least three generations of the family have run Herrera-branded spots across D-FW, according to earlier coverage. The Dallas Observer and previous reporting documented several moves and closures over the decades, including a Sylvan Avenue location that shut down in 2022.
Diners Say They’ll Miss The Tamales
Regular Brook Busbee, who ate at the Harry Hines spot on its last day of business, told Dallas News, “I don’t know where I’m going to get my tamales now.” For many patrons, Herrera’s meant continuity more than novelty, a place where familiar recipes and a visible family presence anchored the neighborhood. The sudden closing is a reminder of how fast long-standing local institutions can disappear.
The Herrera Name Still Operates Nearby
The Herrera brand has not vanished from Dallas altogether. Two locations continue to operate under separate ownership, including Herrera’s Oak Cliff on West Illinois Avenue and Cafe Herrera in downtown Dallas, according to earlier local reporting. With that split ownership, the name still pops up around the metro area even as individual storefronts open, move, or close.
Why Small Restaurants Keep Getting Squeezed
Industry data show the pressure has not let up on restaurant operators. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the food-away-from-home index rose about 4.1% over the year ending December 2025, and the National Restaurant Association’s menu-price tracker points to sustained menu inflation that cuts into margins for smaller operators. Those trends, including higher food and labor costs combined with tight staffing, have made it increasingly difficult for family-run places to stay afloat…