Mission taqueria owner named James Beard winner

MISSION, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Ana Liz Taqueria in Mission is now a James Beard award-winning restaurant.

Owner Ana Liz Pulido was named the Best Chef in Texas at the James Beard Foundation awards ceremony held Monday night in Chicago.

The prestigious awards are considered the Oscars of the food industry in the United States.

Last year, Pulido was a semifinalist in the same category.

Pulido was up against chefs from Dallas, San Antonio and two well-known Houston restaurants.

Two years ago, Texas Monthly called Ana Liz Taqueria a pilgrimage-worthy spot.

Pulido opened her taqueria in 2021 after attending the Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio.

She told ValleyCentral last year she offers a variety of tacos that are favorites with customers.

“The star is the “Vampiro. It’s a tostada with guacamole, cheese, and the meat of your choice, my preference is fajita and salsa,” Pulido said.

The restaurant serves more than just tacos, but she said what makes her business stand out are the tortillas.

They are made from scratch, as she uses a nixtamalization process. That process allows her to make her own masa to make the tortillas she serves in her restaurant daily.

“It’s organic, it doesn’t have GMOs. It’s just calcium, water, and corn,” she said.

Although the process is labor intensive, she said it makes her food unique.

Ana Liz Taqueria is located at 215 N. Conway Ave. in Mission.

Las Ramblas Bar located in downtown Brownsville, was nominated for outstanding bar for the second year in a row.