If you're driving north on I-35 toward WinStar World Casino & Resort, Gainesville, Texas is your last exit before you cross the Red River into Oklahoma — and it's worth the one-mile detour off the highway for a sit-down meal at Los Mariachis before the slot machines and buffet lines take over. We've been feeding this stretch of I-35 since 1998, and plenty of our regulars are folks who stop on their way to or from Thackerville.
How far off I-35 is Los Mariachis, really?
Not far at all. We're at 319 North Commerce St, right off the historic courthouse square in downtown Gainesville, about a mile from I-35. If you're already making the drive up to WinStar, or coming back down after a night at the tables, it's a small turn off the highway, not a detour that eats into your trip. Cooke County isn't a big place, and downtown Gainesville is easy to find — old brick storefronts, the courthouse, and us just off the square.
We're closed Mondays, so plan around that if you're a regular on this route. Otherwise we're open Tuesday through Sunday, with Friday hours running latest (11 am to 8 pm) if you're timing a stop on your way up for a weekend.
What to order before a night at WinStar
You want something that sticks with you longer than a bag of chips from the gas station. Our sizzling fajitas are the thing reviewers mention most — chicken, beef, shrimp, or a combination, all grilled with onions and bell peppers and brought out still sizzling on the skillet. If there are two or more of you, the Fajitas for Two ($30.99) is a full spread of two set-ups plus a skillet of double meat, and it's built for sharing before you head across the river.
If you'd rather eat fast and get back on the road, the #17 Enchilada Dinner ($13.49) or the #49 Carne de Puerco ($13.99) — tender pork simmered in red or green sauce, another dish our regulars ask for by number — will get you fed without a long wait. And if you're the type who needs a margarita before facing a casino floor, we do pour a full bar, margaritas included, for the 21-and-up crowd, strictly in-house.
Why locals trust this kitchen over resort food
We've been in this same building since 1998 — 27 years now — and most of what keeps people coming back isn't a secret. It's homemade queso, guacamole made fresh daily, and a kitchen that hasn't tried to reinvent itself every year. Reviewers on Google and TripAdvisor point to the chicken enchiladas, the chimichangas, and our salsa as much as the fajitas. We're not claiming to be fancier than a resort buffet. We're claiming to be a real plate of Tex-Mex made by people who've been doing it a long time in a small Texas town.
If you're new to Gainesville and want a broader sense of what we're about, our post on our full menu and signature dishes covers the greatest hits, or you can read the Los Mariachis story if you're curious how a small downtown spot lasted almost three decades on this stretch of I-35.
Skip the wait — order ahead for the road
If you're tight on time between exits, you can order pickup right from our website and have it ready when you pull off I-35. It's an easy way to grab a real meal without losing the momentum of your trip north or south. Walk-ins are always welcome too, and we've got a kids' menu if the whole family's in the car for a WinStar weekend.
Traveling with a bigger group — a bachelor party, a birthday trip, a bus load of regulars headed to Thackerville? Take a look at our catering options if you want food set up ahead of time rather than trying to seat a crowd on the fly. Either way, we'll be here just off the square, one mile from the highway, for the drive up or the drive home.