Our Story

What began as a relatively simple concept in 1944, a house with a few tables and chairs and casual Mexican food located on the 1400 block of Ave I, El Zarape Café has been a true neighborhood restaurant. El Zarape served tacos, tamales, enchiladas and a few other menu items you could purchase for 25 cents to the most expensive item on the menu, a whopping $1.95. When two sisters decided to become business partners, Inez Garcia and Inocencia(Ginger) Hernandez never lost sight of the big picture, the focus on family. The concept has resonated through five generations and the legacy continues to exist. Although El Zarape has always been in the same general neighborhood, the restaurant relocated a block over in 1951 to larger quarters. In 1977, due to continued growth, EL Zarape moved to its current location, 1917 13 th Street. The restaurant is currently owned by the Ray and Inez Garcia Family - Ray, Rosie, Mundy, Regina and Rita. It has become an 81-year business featuring a family dining experience 

in Bay City, currently managed by family member, Rita Martinez.

If you ask Rita or either of her siblings, customer loyalty, deep rooted traditions and genuine family unity are the

 key driving forces behind 81 years of continued success. Despite the location, off the beaten path, the restaurant is thriving. El Zarape still relies on fresh home style cooking. From sizzling fajitas to tasty homemade tamales, 

Mexican food just does not get any better. After all the changes over the years, some things 

have remained constant: our commitment to fantastic food and the warm inviting family-oriented feeling 

of our restaurant. In addition, our servers understand the value in appreciating and knowing our guests, 

while the rest of the staff simply enjoys their work.

We don’t operate our restaurant based on lessons learned in a business or cooking school. We operate with heart 

and soul, and a belief that our job at the end of the day is to give our guests a dining experience 

they’ll love and remember. That’s what we strive for each and every day.

With deepest appreciation,

The Ray and Inez Garcia Family