Kent’s Tex-Mex Denison: The Original Garcia’s on Woodlawn

Kent’s Tex-Mex Denison is the sit-down Tex-Mex dining room at 2900 Woodlawn Blvd that Kent Boyett opened in 2008 in the same building where he started the original Garcia’s. That’s why the sign out front still reads “Kent’s • The Original Garcia’s.” Come for enchilada plates, fajitas, a big chicken fried steak, and sopapillas, and call (903) 337-0448 before you go, since it isn’t open every day of the week.

Name: Kent’s Tex-Mex (also listed as Kent’s Tex Mex The Original Garcia’s)
Town: Denison
Category: Tex-Mex, with enchiladas, fajitas, tacos, chimichangas, and chicken fried steak
Address: 2900 Woodlawn Blvd, Denison, TX 75020
Phone: (903) 337-0448

From the original Garcia’s to Kent’s

If you grew up in Denison, you may know this building as Garcia’s. A Winter 2008 profile in Texoma Living! magazine laid out the history: Kent Boyett started Garcia’s on Woodlawn about two decades earlier, expanded Garcia’s to a building on Austin Avenue in 1996, and sold Garcia’s in 2003. In 2008 he came back to the sit-down business and opened Kent’s Tex-Mex in the same Woodlawn building where Garcia’s began. The magazine described the place as spacious and simple, and pointed out that it sits on Woodlawn, not Armstrong, as some people assume.

That history is still part of the draw. The pole sign carries both names, one Tripadvisor reviewer wrote that they’ve been eating here since it was the original Garcia’s and that grown kids want to eat here when they come home, and another reviewer noted that some of the decor dates back to the Garcia’s days.

What to order at Kent’s

Think classic Texas Tex-Mex: chips and salsa first, then a combination plate. Restaurantji’s list of customer favorites includes the cheese enchilada dinner, fajita enchiladas, chicken quesadillas, the chimichanga, burritos, fajitas, and chili. Its review summary also calls out two lunch deals: a #2 special with a beef enchilada, a taco, rice, and beans, and a pick-three plate where diners mention tacos and chicken flautas. Other diners mention the chile relleno, sour cream chicken enchiladas, and a Pancho Villa plate. Menus and prices change, so check the menu at the table.

Not everyone at the table wants Mexican food, and Kent’s has that covered too. The top item on Restaurantji’s favorites list is the house’s “Our Famous Chicken Fried Steak,” and the review summary calls it huge. Customer photos show it smothered in white cream gravy.

Save room for sopapillas and a margarita

Sopapillas are on the customer favorites list, and one reviewer was glad Kent’s still serves them the way they remember. Customer photos show a plate of bite-size, sugar-dusted pieces. If you’re having a drink, Restaurantji lists great cocktails among the restaurant’s highlights, and its review summary mentions a mango margarita with Tajín on the rim.

Good to know before you go

• Call ahead about hours. Restaurantji currently lists Kent’s as open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and closed Sunday through Tuesday. Schedules have shifted over the years, so call (903) 337-0448 to confirm.
• Easy for families. Restaurantji lists a kids’ menu and take-out, and its review summary mentions a wheelchair ramp and a large parking area.
• Find the right street. Put 2900 Woodlawn Blvd in your map app rather than looking for it on Armstrong.

On Restaurantji, Kent’s holds a 4.4 from 276 ratings, and reviewers mention friendly servers, fair prices, and big portions. Find more places to eat in our Denison restaurants guide, browse the full Gunter Grayson restaurants index for Gunter, Howe, and Denison, or plan a three-town day with Corridor Weekend Eats.

More Tex-Mex and Latin food along the corridor

• Emily’s Kitchen Denison, American and Latin plates on Main Street
• Gabriela’s Mexican Cocina Howe, family Mexican on Haning St
• Camilo’s TEX MEX Gunter, homestyle Tex-Mex on N 8th

Image source: featured collage (a taco plate, the Kent’s and Garcia’s pole sign, and the dining room) and in-body photos of Kent’s Tex-Mex are customer photos via Restaurantji.