Nena’s Taquitos endures as a Plainview Institution
By Reece Nations, For The Herald
In a town full of staple eats and excellent cuisine, Nena’s Taquitos stands out as one of Plainview’s most reliable spots for great food.
Kayla Cabrera, owner of Nena’s, said she took over the restaurant a few years ago when her mother, its matriarch and namesake, Elena “Nena” Cabrera, passed it on to her. Since then, she has embraced the responsibility of maintaining a well-loved local business while honoring her family’s legacy.
Everything’s fresh,” Cabrera said. “We cut our potatoes, we make our beans, we don’t buy anything from a can—nothing.”
For this lean team of three dedicated staff members, preparing food is more than just a labor of love. As a legacy business and family-owned operation, delivering delicious meals at affordable prices has been a multigenerational calling. Cabrera said Nena’s represents the realization of one of her late mother’s lifelong dreams.
“It was one of her dreams growing up,” she said.
Cabrera said her mother worked for many years as a cafeteria employee for the Kress Independent School District and brought her passion for cooking with her when the family moved to Plainview in 1990. That passion would eventually grow into what Nena’s Taquitos is today — a staple in the community with a loyal customer base.
Cabrera said Nena’s has operated in its current location, just a block from Wayland Baptist University, for about 30 years. Today, its white-paneled building with a red roof has become one of West Fifth Street’s most recognizable landmarks.
The restaurant is located at 2010 W. Fifth St., between Travis and Smythe streets. Notably, Nena’s operates with exceptionally early hours for customers looking to grab a bite before the sun comes up.
Nena’s is open Tuesday through Friday from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Saturdays from 6 a.m. to noon. It is closed Sundays and Mondays. Cabrera said arriving early is just one of the ways the business has built its reputation for dedication and consistency.
“We get here at 2:30 every morning,” she
said.
Cabrera said there are even times when staff come in on their days off to prepare special orders for loyal customers who request them in advance. Between its early hours and its effort to keep menu prices affordable, Nena’s commitment to going above and beyond for its patrons is evident in its daily operations.
That dedication has not gone unnoticed. The restaurant has earned recognition in the community through annual Reader’s Choice awards, taking silver for best burritos in 2023 and silver for best breakfast in 2024.
Some of the restaurant’s most popular offerings include a variety of all-day breakfast items such as tacos and burritos, along with homemade salsa, chalupas and barbacoa. Other customer favorites include chorizo plates, nachos and, of course, its signature meat taquitos.
Whether customers are in the mood for a quick snack
or a full meal, Nena’s continues to serve Plainview residents with a strong sense of community and personal connection.
“I’ll always ask (customers), ‘Do you want hot or mild?’ I think everyone knows that’s our motto,” Cabrera said. “I memorize everybody. I may not know your name, but I know what you eat.”
Nena’s Taquitos is a cash-or-check-only establishment. Customers can keep up with the business’s day-to-day operations through its official Facebook page, where updates and announcements are regularly posted.
Creamery Coffee Barn serves sips, smiles for eighth straight year
By Reece Nations, For The Herald
Plainview residents are no strangers to a good cup of joe.
One of the town’s most popular spots for a caffeine fix or a satisfying bite to eat, the Creamery Coffee Barn sits nestled in the heart of town, where work commuters and students converge. There, patrons enjoy a wide variety of specialty drinks, breakfast items and lunch plates within a peaceful, charming environment.
Located at 600 Quincy St., the Creamery’s central location makes it an ideal place for a business that serves a little bit of everything. Indeed, there is something for everyone, and no customer is likely to leave disappointed.
Maritza Salcedo, the Creamery’s owner, said the business’s name was inspired by her husband’s former occupation as a dairyman. At the same time, the idea to open a coffee shop where students could gather stemmed from her children’s college experience.
“We named it ‘The Creamery’ just to keep in touch with the fact that our moving to Plainview was because of dairying,” Salcedo said. “We had purchased the building that used to be the Roaring 50's (Sandwich Shop) and we kept a few things. …
“Because our kids attended the University of Texas, and studied in coffee shops quite a bit while they were at Austin — the fact that we were across the street from Wayland made us kind of get that inspiration of having a coffee shop where students and the community could come in and enjoy a quiet, cozy place where they feel comfortable.”
Now, eight years after its grand opening, the Creamery stands out as much more than a college hangout. Over time, the coffee shop has solidified its place as one of the most well-known businesses in town, serving a wide cross-section of the community.
Customers can choose from hot drinks such as its signature drip coffee, chai lattes, macchiatos and tea, or cold beverages including iced lattes, iced mochas, smoothies, milkshakes and more. One of the Creamery’s most appealing draws is its array of flavor add-ins, including vanilla, toffee, horchata, dulce de leche, cinnamon and caramel.
“We kind of thought about keeping a little bit of the history in it, because the
Roar-
ing 50s used to sell Blue Bell Ice Cream,” Salcedo said.
“Now we sell Blue Bell Ice Cream scoops or banana splits.
Then, we decided during the pandemic that we were gonna either sink or swim, so we decided to go to San Antonio and pick up Italian ice from there.”
Beyond its drinks, the Creamery offers a menu that caters to both breakfast and lunch crowds. Morning options include loaded bagels and burritos, while lunch offerings rotate daily. Customers can order from select sandwich specials that come with a cup of soup, potato chips and a pickle, as well as a variety of salads.
“The specials also come either with tea, hibiscus tea, and water and freshsqueezed lemonade,” she said. “We squeeze our lemonade freshly every single day.”
Another aspect of the Creamery’s business that customers have come to appreciate is its friendly and outgoing staff. Salcedo said employees, including supervisor Jessica Garcia, have spent years helping the business build its reputation for high-quality service.
She spoke highly of the small-butmighty team and expressed deep appreciation for how well they serve the Creamery’s loyal customer base.
“They're amazing girls, and they take care of the place as if it were their own,” she said. “They’re told, ‘You are the faces of the Creamery and you are the girls that our customers come to see. They might come just to have their day bright
ened.’ It really makes a difference when you have a good staff, right?”
The Creamery Coffee Barn is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9
p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Readers can keep up with the latest news and offerings by following the Creamery on Facebook and Instagram.
Fun promotions to enjoy at local bars and restaurants
There's no end to the fun that can be had when enjoying a night on the town with friends. Such nights can be made even more memorable when visiting establishments hosting special events.
Event ideas attract individuals from all walks of life, which makes them a great way for bars and restaurants to welcome new customers. Such customers may come with friends but also to meet new people, making event nights a winning formula for establishments and patrons alike.
With so much to be gained from event nights, proprietors can consider these ideas to bring fun-minded men and women into their establishments.
Promote drink and food specials on social media in the days and weeks leading up to a game, and encourage fans to wear jerseys or other attire to show their support for the team.
Trivia Night Trivia nights have become so popular among people seeking to have a fun night out that some cities now host trivia leagues for individuals and teams. For example, NYC Trivia League features gatherings for trivia fans and competitors at dozens of establishments across the city.
Trivia Night need not be so expansive, but
Game Watch Game watches present a unique opportunity for fans of local or faraway teams to get together with fellow supporters and cheer on their favorite teams. Game watches typically feature reduced prices on designated beverages and menu items, but establishments can quickly regain any lost income from reduced prices if enough fans show up.
the popularity of NYC Trivia League underscores how much people enjoy showing off the breadth of their knowledge. Establishments can host different categories each week, such as Movie Trivia Night, Music Trivia Night, Sports Trivia Night, and more.
Darts Night
A darts night is perfect for those who love this ultimate bar game. Establishments can invest in some sturdy dart boards and then host local leagues or start their own league.
Promote dart nights on social media and encourage regulars to bring a friend. Food and drink specials for competitors can ensure everyone has a good time, even if their ability to hit the bullseye is somewhat limited. In-season tournaments and an end-of-season playoff for teams and individuals can make a darts night even more engaging and lucrative for local bars and restaurants.
Open Mic Night Open mic nights are a tradition at many establishments. Such events encourage local singers, performers and musicians to come and perform on designated nights each week. Bars can even host multiple themed open mic nights throughout the week to attract different groups.
For example, Tuesday night open mic comedy night can attract customers looking to laugh into the night, while a Thursday night open mic night for musicians can be perfect for those looking to tap their toes and support local musicians before the weekend begins.
Themed event nights mark the perfect opportunity for proprietors and locals to enjoy a fun night out on the town with friends and neighbors.
El Mercadito Street Tacos continues award-winning excellence
By Reece Nations, For The Herald
Few restaurants in Plainview boast a reputation as stellar as El Mercadito Street Tacos, located at 1201 W. 24th St.
There, hungry patrons have been served cuisine known for its authenticity and flavor six days a week for the past 27 years.
Owner Sonya Balderas said a great deal of hard work has gone into building the business into what it is today.
Even through challenges such as a global pandemic and rising ingredient costs, she said persistence has been key to the restaurant’s success.
“There are times where it gets kind of hard,” Balderas said. “I don’t want to raise my prices too much because I want to keep it affordable for people with lower incomes and things like that. I want to cater to everybody, not just certain people.”
Serving customers well is critically important, Balderas said. In return, those customers have rewarded the business with rave reviews and lasting loyalty over the years.
For the past three years, El Mercadito has earned Readers’ Choice gold for best tacos in town, as voted by Herald readers. The restaurant also received Readers’ Choice silver for best catering during each of those
three years, along with silver for best nachos in 2023 and 2025.
Balderas said much of the restaurant’s menu is rooted in her grandmother’s cooking, which was passed down to her in her native San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
Many of the techniques and flavors that define El Mercadito today come from those early experiences in the kitchen.
“It was like every time she would cook, I was always there with her, just watching or helping all the time,” she said.
“She would guide me and say, ‘Look, if you add this and you add that, it gives it more flavor.’ And that’s what is most important—the flavor.”
Operations at El Mercadito are very much a family affair. Balderas said that, of her nine employees, two are her daughters, Alexis and Daisy.
She also receives help from her husband, Manuel Balderas, particularly with catering jobs. She credits her staff for playing a vital role in sustaining what has grown into one of Plainview’s local staples.
“Just being able to stay open and keep the business running is very hard at times,”
Balderas said. “I can say for sure that I have great employees because I couldn’t do it all by myself.”
While tacos and nachos remain among
the restaurant’s most popular offerings, the menu features a wide array of traditional Mexican dishes. Customers can also enjoy gorditas, tortas, chalupas, enchiladas, caldo de res and barbacoa by the pound, to name just a few.
Balderas said patrons can also expect daily specials, giving them even more variety to choose from throughout the week. She emphasized her ongoing commitment to keeping prices affordable while maintaining the consistency and quality that customers have come to expect.
“One of the things people like to tell me is, ‘We tried your food, and the consistency of the flavors is always the same,’” she said. “It doesn’t taste different from day to day, and people love that.”
That consistency has become a defining trait of El Mercadito’s success, helping it stand out in a community filled with dining options. By focusing on quality ingredients, time-tested recipes and attentive service, Balderas and her team have cultivated a loyal customer base that continues to grow.
official Facebook page.
Red Door bar celebrates 15 years of keeping spirits high
By Reece Nations, For The Herald
The Red Door Bar has long offered thirsty Plainview residents a place to wet their whistle.
Located off the Interstate 27 frontage road at Grandview Drive, this secluded hangout sits behind its namesake wooden red door within the confines of the Quality Inn at 600 I-27. Given its reputation as a tuckedaway hole-in-the-wall establishment, one might be surprised by just how passionate its regulars are about it.
Now in its 15th year of business, the bar regularly offers patrons daily specials to complement its inexpensive menu as a way of showing appreciation. In addition, regulars are treated to an array of events and theme nights that help keep the atmosphere lively and engaging throughout the year.
“We have karaoke nights on Thursdays,” manager Marissa Carrillo said. “We do pool tournaments on Mondays and sometimes on Wednesdays. We also host different types of events. Sometimes we have ladies night on Fridays, and we have
other events planned over the summer. On weekends, we often bring in a DJ for the night. We also do karaoke and occasionally host comedy nights.”
Carrillo, who has managed the Red Door for the past seven years, said customers have come to appreciate the bar’s frequent cocktail, shot and beer specials, along with its themed offerings.
“We have a different special every day,” she said. “We try to keep things like Whiskey Wednesday, Tequila Tuesday and Margarita Monday going. On Sundays, we do more of a recovery day. Our micheladas are on special to help with everyone’s hangover, and we try to offer those extra touches that keep people coming back.”
Carrillo said the business is equally passionate about its community outreach efforts. This year marks the second year of Red Door’s partnership with Walmart to raise funds for Covenant Health Children’s Hospital, an initiative the staff takes pride in supporting. In the past, the bar has also participated in various local philanthropic efforts, including fundraisers for families in need.
Carrillo said owners Valerie and Robert Landeros are deeply committed to giving back and consistently demonstrate their generosity through acts of service.
“They’re very loving and caring people who help the community so much,” Carrillo said. “Valerie, especially, helps a lot with the community and with schools raising money. They’ll go to grocery stores and randomly pay for people’s groceries. They’re really, really kind people.”
That sense of community involvement and customer appreciation has helped cement Red Door’s reputation in Plainview. It is no surprise the bar remains a fixture in the Plainview Herald’s Reader’s Choice Awards each year. In 2025, Red Door brought home gold for best mixed drinks and best happy hour after earning gold and silver, respectively, in those categories in previous years.
Red Door is a 21-and-older, smoking-friendly establishment with no cover charge on most nights unless a special event is scheduled. Business hours run from 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily, with happy hour offered from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Whether someone is looking for a nightcap in a fun, energetic atmosphere or a laid-back place to play a few rounds of billiards, Plainview’s Red Door Bar offers a welcoming environment that continues to draw in both new visitors and longtime regulars alike.
