Family Legacy {Cisco’s}

Words by Sam Lauron Photos by Eric Morales

In September 2017, three weeks after his son was born, Matt Cisneros and his business partners purchased Cisco’s Restaurant. The moment was significant, not only because they were preserving the oldest Tex-Mex restaurant in Austin, but also because it was founded by Matt’s grandfather, Rudy “Cisco” Cisneros. 

Although Matt, a native Austinite, didn’t work at the restaurant regularly growing up, he knew that one day he’d have a bigger role. “When I was younger, I oddly had this inkling that at some point I would be involved,” Matt recalls.   

Since 1950, Cisco’s has been sitting at the corner of East 6th and Comal streets in the same teal brick building that longtime residents have come to instantly recognize. A staple in the community, Cisco’s has been considered more than just a go-to spot for traditional migas and warm biscuits. The establishment has served as a gathering place for the neighborhood, bringing people together from West Austin, East Austin, and everywhere in between. Whether politicians were sneaking away from the Capitol to have meetings, or celebrity figures like Willie Nelson and Darrell Royal were popping in for a meal, or regulars were claiming their usual spots, the familial atmosphere provided a comfortable space to let your guard down.  

Although everyone who enters Cisco’s comes from various walks of life, they were (and are) drawn in by the man at the helm of it all. “His energy was his allure,” Matt says of his grandfather. “[Seeing] the way he treated people definitely molded who I am today and how I run the business,” Matt shares fondly.

Rudy, who on any given day could be seen sitting at his favorite table in the restaurant with a cigar piped in his mouth, made it a point to give everyone the same experience at Cisco’s. His lasting influence is still apparent to this day. According to Matt, it’s not uncommon to walk into Cisco’s on a Saturday and see multiple generations watching a UT football game together as a tradition. Matt’s goal is to continue giving families the same experience they had when his grandfather was running the show. 

“For people to be able to say, ‘I’m ordering migas today the same way I ordered them 50 years ago’ is really cool,” Matt says. “It’s emotional because you can’t do that in a ton of places.” 

When Matt and his partners acquired the business, they wanted to preserve the traditional aspects that lie within. Everything from the decor to the recipes has remained the same, aside from a few upgrades that have helped Cisco’s adapt to its surroundings. The first upgrade they made was to get a liquor license so they could also operate a bar. Next, they added a dinner service and extended the operating hours until 10pm. With their prime location on East 6th Street, these adaptations have allowed Cisco’s to connect with the community in new ways. With his grandfather’s legacy as his guide, Matt ensures that any decision they make for the business “is as fitting as the one that would’ve been made 50 or 60 years ago.”

When it comes to passing the restaurant on to his son, Matt smiles, “There’s no pressure, but I’d love to keep that lineage going for sure.” He adds, “We’re here to stay.”

Did you know?
Family runs deep in the Cisco’s company culture. Rudy made it a point to treat his employees like his own family, resulting in some employees working at Cisco’s for more than 25 years. Even the annual Christmas party is open to all members of an employee’s family rather than limiting it to a plus one.

Contact:
1511 E 6th St.
ciscosaustin.com
@ciscosaustin