Dallas’ West Village continues to be a hot spot for new and exciting restaurants. Hugos Invitados, a Mexican concept that originally opened in Las Colinas, is now among the establishments calling the area home after opening earlier this year.
“It was the perfect place [and] the perfect time for us,” says Matt Whiteley, the director of brands for Hospitality Inspirado, the restaurant group behind Hugos Invitados. “We’ve been wanting to be in Uptown for a long time.”
As guests step into the concept, they are quickly entranced by its airy interior featuring bright oranges, greens and browns. Greenery and soft lighting only help deepen the aesthetic decor. Meanwhile, the restaurant features a large interior dining room, a bar area and a patio — the latter of which is set to host live music.
Start the night off at the bar, which showcases dozens of different liquor choices.
“We’re proud to say we have one of the largest selections of agave spirits in the region,” Matt says. “Our entire bar is backlit, so you can get a very clear picture of what we have in stock at any one time.”
Some of those agave spirit options include familiar names like Casamigos, Don Julio and Patron Silver and other high-end labels like Tres Generaciones Plata and Maestro Dobel.
Of course, margaritas are in abundance at Hugos Invitados. The traditional margarita is made with Dulce Vida organic tequila, orange liqueur and agave, while more inventive versions include the fruity Blueberry Smash — Codigo 1530 Blanco, fresh blueberry puree, orange liqueur and agave — and the flavor-packed Spicy Oaxaca featuring Marfa Mezcal espadin, pineapple puree, habanero agave, hibiscus agave and lime juice.
For ultimate happy hour vibes, take a chance on the CBD margarita, which has a two max per guest limit and made with Casa Noble Reposado, orange liqueur and CBD-infused organic agave.
After a few drinks, it’s time to settle down for your meal — and Hugos Invitados only serves the very best for its guests.
“It’s Latin-infused, it’s Mexican-influenced and it’s very organic and all-natural,” Matt says. “We make absolutely everything in-house. Everything is fresh every day.”
The appetizer options range from avocado toast with a corn masa patty, salsa roja botanera and queso fresco to Octopus A La Parrilla, which is ancho-marinated and paired with roasted poblano mash, red onions and milpa tomatillo sauce.
When it comes to the main course, Hugos Invitados makes its carne asada with ancho chili-marinated wagyu flap sirloin and serves it alongside a poblano rajas enchilada and pearl onion guiso. Meanwhile, the pan-seared red snapper is presented alongside jumbo lump crab meat, squash blossoms, chayote, mango and fingerling potatoes in a white wine chilpachole sauce.
Guests with heartier appetites will delight in the all-natural mulato chile-marinated pork tomahawk with sauteed Swiss chard-corn salad, yellow tomato coulis and serrano chili oil, or the Mexican Cioppino seafood stew with mussels, clams, bay scallops, baby calamari, pacific shrimp, crab, fish, lemongrass rice and tomato crudo chilipachole. Taco aficionados will be just as excited for Hugos Invitados’ many selections like the smoked brisket tacos with baby kale, tomatillo-pineapple relish and avocado habanero sauce, or the pan-seared chipotle shrimp tacos with cabbage, cilantro yogurt, mango relish, avocado puree and chipotle aioli.
Even the desserts harken back to Mexico, like Hugo’s Tres Leches, a gluten-free house-made sponge cake with almond, coconut, condensed milk and flaming Spanish merengue. And if you love chocolate, the flourless chocolate cake with amaretto cherry sauce or the strawberry and white chocolate mousse cake will satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth.
And you’re missing out if you’re not stopping by on the weekends to try Hugos Invitados’ brunch. Some of the favorites include the chilaquiles, which are tortilla strips served with sunny-side eggs, serrano peppers, onions, tomatoes, black beans and a choice of either salsa or smoked Morita sauce, and the smoked brisket machaca, which includes scrambled eggs, roasted chayote squash, potatoes, peppers and tomatillo sauce.
Whether you’re enticed by the flavors of Mexico or the extensive alcohol offerings, don’t miss out on Hugos Invitados, a Latin paradise located in the heart of Uptown Dallas.
“When you come to Hugos Invitados, you know that it’s… authentic, organic, modern Mexican food,” Matt says.
