Family, fajitas and frozen margaritas

After many years of working in California's hospitality and restaurant industries, Ruben Almazan and his family moved to Northwest Arkansas' land of opportunity and finally opened their dream restaurant. Named after the sunny, beach-resort city on Mexico's Pacific coastline, Acapulco Restaurant is a refreshing reminder to enjoy the finer things in life: family, fajitas and frozen margaritas.

"I still really enjoy cooking," says Ruben. It's actually his favorite thing about owning his own restaurant. He has a passion for working in the kitchen, and it shows in the quality of his food. In addition to putting time in behind the scenes as a cook, the active owner also oversees the restaurant's catering ventures.

The restaurant has been open for over a decade on East Robinson Avenue in Springdale, and Ruben has kept it a family business, with his wife and their two sets of twins all pitching in to keep it running smoothly. The older twins, his 24-year-old son and daughter, work as a cook and waitress for the restaurant.

"My wife comes in to help when she can," Ruben says, "and the [younger] twins help out at the front counter on Sundays, taking to-go orders and hosting when we get busy."

Ruben enjoys being part of the community with his family, and uses his restaurant to give back and serve the people of Springdale.

"We give food to the church and a lot of the local schools," he says, proud of the investment in his community, with a deep sense of caring and connection.

Springdale local Josefina Ramirez lives just five minutes from Acapulco Restaurant, where she has worked for the past ten years as a server and bartender. Her favorite dish is the Grilled Chicken Breast -- smothered with mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and jack cheese.

"Everything [on the menu] is good," she says, "but I like the Tortilla Soup and the Burrito Mexicano, too."

Josefina and the other servers enjoy working there, and it is plain to see by their positive, helpful attitudes. Coupled with the delicious, authentic food their customers have come to expect from Acapulco, the friendly service ensures people keep coming back year after year.

The restaurant has quite a large selection of new and signature dishes, and Ruben's favorite creation is the Fajitas Mexicanas. A step-up from the original Tex-Mex staple, it's made with tender strips of steak, chicken, shrimp, and chorizo (Mexican sausage); mixed with grilled onions and peppers, and salsa ranchera; served with lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, tortillas, refried beans and rice. Don't forget to throw in a margarita or cerveza to compliment your meal.

Staying true to its city-by-the-sea namesake, Acapulco offers a wide variety of seafood and fish specialties; from blackened shrimp and a Red Snapper filet to catfish tacos and even scallops.

Lunch specials run until 3pm daily, followed by happy hour from 3pm-close. On Mondays, you can save $2.99 per kid's meal for kids 12 and under. Every Tuesday is Taco Tuesday at Acapulco, where any taco is $1.50 and small margaritas are only $1.99. Stop by after work, grab a seat at the bar, get a cold beer and catch the game; or bring the family, relax and enjoy the sunset while you wait for your fajitas on their outdoor patio.

Fact Box

Acapulco Restaurant

Location:

1602 E. Robinson Ave., Springdale, AR. 72764

Phone:

(479) 927-1012

Hours:

Sunday-Thursday: 11am - 9pm

Friday-Saturday: 11am - 10pm

Website:

Facebook.com/AcaRest