Tia’s Tex-Mex BBQ — Restaurant in Valley View

I thought about maybe four stars but I just couldn't do it. Maybe after my next trip.... This trip I walked in right about the tail end of the Friday lunch rush and took a seat right up near the front counter. There were about four tables occupied when I arrived. It's in the old Dairy Queen building so it was kind of strange walking in there for the first time. I'm not certain but I think the table arrangement is pretty much the same. I suppose it's possible that they had the old DQ tables resurfaced. Anyway, fair job at the remodel I guess. The old Corona salt and pepper shakers are a bit outdated and, honestly, pretty useless. I noticed a fellow at a nearby table was having trouble getting anything out of his as well. The menu looked pretty good really. There are some more items that I want to try. This trip I opted to keep it simple and went with the brisket chimichanga with cheese sauce. I went with the cheese sauce because when I asked the waitress what kind of sauce I can get she snappily stated "cheese sauce" (the menu states, "topped with choice of sauce"). It came with rice and beans, of course, as well as some shredded lettuce, diced tomato, guacamole and sour cream. I thought the menu said pico but there was none of that. That would have been a plus because I love some good pico. The salsa wasn't bad. A little bit of warmth would have really brought the chips to life. And, speaking of warmth, my food arrived pretty quick. A little too quick, as it turns out. You know how when a waitress or waiter brings you your plate and they warn you that the plate is hot...................... no, I didn't get that warning. I'm not going to say the food was cold, but I wouldn't say it was hot either. It really wasn't even so warm that I had to blow on it to cool it down. The food was tasty I guess. I'd say probably about average. The cheese sauce on the chimichanga was kind of a letdown but the brisket inside seemed to be nicely done. I would have really liked to have tried a red or green sauce. The guacamole was almost flavorless and the rice and beans were, well, rice and beans. Definitely not a $30 meal. My waitress..... well, after she dropped my food off I didn't see her again until she brought the check. I did notice that there was one, maybe two other waitresses in the place and they seemed to be a bit more attentive. I'll give em another shot and see how it turns out. I want to try the barbacoa, spare ribs and maybe the...

Every small Texas town boasts that one restaurant where the locals swear “it’s the best around.” In Valley View, that’s Tia’s Tex-Mex & BBQ — a name that promises smoky brisket and bold border flavors. Unfortunately, on my recent visit, the experience felt more like a dress rehearsal than opening night.

First Impressions & Drinks The evening started with a wait — not for a table, but for a drink. When my margarita finally arrived, it looked the part but tasted thick and syrupy, as though someone mistook “mix” for “mash.” It wasn’t undrinkable, but it was far from the crisp, balanced refreshment a Texas margarita should be.

Appetizers & What Wasn’t We first ordered the “Twinkle Jalapeños” — a promising name that hinted at something playful and spicy — only to learn they were out. Fine. Plan B: the brisket elote. Again, no brisket. So, we settled for plain elote, which turned out to be just that — plain. More “corn cup” than “street corn.” It lacked the creamy, smoky punch that makes true elote worth chasing down a food truck for.

Entrée: The Fajita Fix We decided to split the combo fajitas, expecting steak, chicken, and shrimp — the Tex-Mex holy trinity. What arrived was a duo: steak and chicken only. No shrimp in sight. To make matters worse, the guacamole that typically crowns the platter was also unavailable.

Still, the plate wasn’t a total loss. The steak had a nice char and decent flavor. The chicken, however, was dry — a crime against the sizzling skillet. There was no shortage of peppers and onions, though, which filled the void both visually and texturally.

The Verdict Tia’s isn’t without potential. The vibe is casual, the staff friendly, and the location convenient for travelers passing through Valley View. But between the missing menu items and uninspired execution, it felt more like a restaurant finding its footing than one ready for prime time.

Would I return? Not in a hurry. But if I were in the area, hungry, and craving fajitas that at least try to deliver, I might give Tia’s another shot — with a cold beer this time, just to be safe.

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5) Plenty of charm, but short...

My friends I have found a gold mine in small town America. Welcome to Valley View, Texas, home to Tia’s Tex Mex. My coworker and I stopped at the Shell Gas Station for drinks and a quick snack and hidden in the back corner of the station is this gem. Ran by cousins Josh and Fred and named after their aunt Tia, you won’t find more love and passion for their craft than you will with these guys. I decided on the Pastor Taco plate (3 tacos and rice and beans). The meat was overflowing the taco, which isn’t typical for these type of tacos, and the onions and cilantro come on the side so you can add as much or little as you like. The meat is amazingly flavorful and the side of salsa provides just the right spice and kick. My friend had the Pollo Quesadilla plate. He said they were absolutely fantastic - hot and fresh as well. And as a closer we tried the churros. Wowzers. They are covered in cinnamon and sugar and filled with caramel, so mouth beware - they are hot but delicious. Do yourself a favor if you’re traveling I-35 through north Texas and give this place a try. We were informed by Fred that they have just purchased a closed restaurant down the road here and will be opening a full restaurant serving Tex Amex BBQ along with margaritas hopefully by the end of the year! Can’t wait to come back and visit this...