Ninfa Laurenzo

Ninfa Laurenzo[edit | edit source]

Ninfa Laurenzo, also known as Mama Ninfa, was a renowned American entrepreneur and the founder of the Ninfa's restaurant chain. She is credited with popularizing Tex-Mex cuisine, particularly the fajita, in North America.

Early Life[edit | edit source]

Ninfa Laurenzo was born on May 11, 1924, in Harlingen, Texas. She was the daughter of immigrants from the Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico. She grew up in a large family and was introduced to the culinary world at a young age by her mother, who was an excellent cook.

Career[edit | edit source]

In 1949, Ninfa and her husband, Domenic Laurenzo, started a small tortilla factory in Houston, Texas, called Rio Grande Tortilla Company. After her husband's death in 1969, Ninfa opened a small taco stand in front of the factory, which she named Ninfa's. The restaurant quickly gained popularity for its delicious tacos al carbon, which later became known as fajitas.

Ninfa's success led to the opening of several other locations across Texas and eventually across the United States. Despite facing financial difficulties in the 1980s, Ninfa's remains a popular restaurant chain today, and Ninfa herself is considered a pioneer in the Tex-Mex food industry.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Ninfa Laurenzo passed away on June 17, 2001, but her legacy lives on. In 1998, she was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame for her contributions to the state's cultural heritage. In 2019, the city of Houston declared February 22 as Ninfa Laurenzo Day in her honor.