Looking for a cold drink on a hot Texas day? A Dallas restaurant sells the best margarita in Texas, according to food website Chowhound
Specifically: Texas’ best marg comes from Mariano’s Hacienda on Skillman Street, near Dallas’ Lake Highlands, it said
While it would be impossible to have sipped all the margaritas in our great state — though fun to try — Chowhound’s choice is a safe one. In 1971, Mariano’s owner Mariano Martinez invented the frozen margarita machine, taking inspiration from the Slurpee machine at 7-Eleven
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It was a hit: “Martinez doesn’t know the exact amount of frozen margaritas he has served over 50 years, but he thinks that number is in the millions,” Dallas Morning NewsreporterImelda Garcia wrote in 2025, telling the fascinating story of this invention
Just over 20 years ago, Martinez donated the original frozen margarita machine to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, cementing it as an essential storyline in the evolution of Tex-Mex
Now, if the margaritas are so good here, what are we ordering? The Original Frozen Margarita seems an obvious choice. Mariano’s also sells frozens in sangria swirl, mango and strawberry. Despite Martinez’s invention of the frozen margarita machine, margaritas on the rocks are also popular here. We like the his-and-hers varieties: the Mariano Margarita made with Don Julio reposado tequila and named after the restaurant founder; or Wanda’s Margarita with Herradura silver tequila, named after his wife.
While picking Texas’ best might have been a cinch for Chowhound, the list includes the best margarita in all 50 states — and that’s harder. Read the full list here
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