From Tacos to Triumph: How the Cortez Family Turned Tragedy into a Michelin-Recommended Dream

In a modest restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas, customers and critics alike are praising the Cortez family for serving up some of the best beef barbacoa tacos, tortas, quesadillas, and more. What started as a humble dream has now become a sensation, with the Cortez family’s dishes considered some of the finest in the world. It’s a success story that’s still unfolding, and one that Rilio Cortez Jr., the son of Mexican immigrants, could have never imagined just a few short years ago.

Rilio, once a commercial roofer, never gave a second thought to running a restaurant. His focus was on his job, and the only time he thought about food was when he was hungry. Owning a restaurant was simply not on his radar. But after a back injury left him unable to work, Rilio's life took an unexpected turn. He was in constant pain, struggling to walk, and facing surgery that he couldn’t afford. With just $1,000 left in his savings and no clear plan for his future, he turned to a familiar source of comfort: food.

Rilio began selling his mother’s mudo, a traditional Mexican soup, from their driveway on weekends. He added a few tacos and set up a couple of tables, hoping to make ends meet. What started as a modest venture quickly caught the attention of his neighbors, and in just a few weeks, the crowd around his home began to grow. His father, Rilio Sr., who had worked as a welder, saw the potential and took a risk: he emptied his 401k, using the savings he’d set aside for retirement to buy a food truck. The family began selling tacos from the truck, and soon, business boomed.

Even during the pandemic, the business continued to thrive. Three months after opening the food truck, Rilio Jr. was able to have the surgery he desperately needed. He also paid back his father’s initial investment. It was a major turning point for the family, and the sense of gratitude was overwhelming. But Rilio’s story was far from over.

Just over two years after starting their food truck, the Cortez family took another bold step. They opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant, Bia Itara Cortez. With no prior restaurant experience—Rilio’s father was a welder, and Rilio himself was a roofer—the family poured their heart and soul into the business. They were determined to make it work. And they did. Their food was simply irresistible. “It’s just really good,” Rilio said. “I could sit here and eat so much of this.” The restaurant quickly became a go-to spot for local families, foodies, and anyone craving a taste of authentic Mexican cuisine.

But the Cortez family’s success didn’t stop there. Not long after opening their restaurant, Michelin, the prestigious guide known for awarding stars to the best restaurants worldwide, came calling. At first, Rilio didn’t know what to make of it. He didn’t even know what Michelin was. “I didn’t know anything about Michelin until about three days before the ceremony,” Rilio admitted. “A customer told me the Holy Grail of restaurants was considering adding my taqueria to its first-ever Texas guide.”

It turns out, Michelin had been trying to contact the Cortez family for months, but Rilio had mistaken their emails for spam. Once he realized the opportunity, he scrambled to get all the necessary paperwork in order, worried that it was already too late. Then, on the day the Michelin results were announced, Rilio nervously watched the online livestream, hoping for the best.

When the news finally came in, it was a moment Rilio could hardly believe: Bia Itara Cortez had received the Michelin recommendation, an honor that recognizes exceptional quality and is often seen as a precursor to a Michelin star. “I still can’t explain it,” Rilio said, his voice filled with disbelief. “It’s a one-in-a-million kind of thing. I couldn’t believe it.”

From starting with just 10 pounds of taco meat sold from his driveway to selling 6,000 tacos a day in one of the world’s best restaurants, Rilio’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to family and tradition. The Cortez family’s success story is not only a celebration of their incredible culinary talents, but also of the American dream—one that, for Rilio, began with tragedy and ended in triumph.

As the restaurant continues to grow in popularity, the Cortez family is more grateful than ever for the community that has supported them along the way. Their story is one of perseverance, hope, and the belief that with a little creativity and a lot of heart, anything is possible. And for Rilio Cortez Jr., the dream is just beginning.