Tag Archives: Lun’s Tortilla Factory

by | April 14, 2025 · 8:50 am

A True Gem, El Pocito in McAllen, TX

Located in a quiet alley between South 16th and 17th Streets in McAllen, Texas, lies a culinary gem known as El Pocito. This unassuming establishment, officially named The Tortilleria Factory, has been delighting taste buds for over a century. Worth a long journey for lunch? We think so.

El Pocito’s story begins in 1935, founded by Aurelio Balli Tijerina and Herminia Gonzalez Balli. The couple’s dedication to authentic Mexican cuisine led them to establish a tortilla factory that would become a cornerstone of the community. The name “El Pocito,” meaning “the little well,” evokes images of a humble wellspring—a fitting metaphor for the rich flavors and traditions flowing from this establishment.

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by | July 18, 2019 · 10:06 am

Tortilla Factory and Restaurant is Filled with History

luna1by Steven Doyle

In a time when women were kept at home and away from the workplace Maria Luna, who at the time was a single parent, rose from the kitchen to create her mark on Dallas history with Luna’s Tortilla Factory. A strong and devoted woman Luna gathered local women to crush her nixtamal , or corn that would become masa. Once gathered from Luna had the masa formed into tortillas and tamales which became a business that is now 95 years old and run by her son and grandson, both named Fernando.

Maria Luna ran her business, originally located on McKinney Avenue near downtown on a block that Luna purchased in 1938 for about $50,000 and shared with the original El Fenix. There the family worked, living above the tortilla factory. This meant dedication. Maria never turned away a stranger in need of fresh tortillas regardless of the hour. The building has since been remodeled to accommodate Meso Maya, and is considered a historical landmark.  Continue reading →

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