Dallas restaurant Encina scores in HEB competition

Encina Restaurant, located in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, was recognized as one of the best in the state by the HEB supermarket chain.

The restaurant’s blue corn caramel pancake mix took third place in the San Antonio-based chain’s Quest for Texas Best, an annual competition highlighting the best Texas-made products produced by small businesses.

In addition to a $10,000 cash prize, the selection means Encina will have the opportunity to see her product on HEB shelves across the state.

Encina confirmed this in an Instagram post.

“This has been a top secret for the past few months, but @heb has been in talks with us to distribute our blue corn pancake mix,” the Aug. 10 post read.

Encina wasn’t the only Dallas-area company recognized by HEB. The region accounted for half of the 10 finalists, and five local companies made the Best of Texas list. Other finalists included BeeKing’s honey powder, HydroNation’s natural sports drinks, Marasi Food’s frozen stuffed naan bread and Sarape Treats’ chamoy candy.

This was the 11th edition of HEB’s Quest for Texas Best competition. According to a press release, this year’s competition evaluated proposals from 470 entrepreneurs from more than 100 Texas cities.

The $25,000 grand prize went to Austin’s Birria Queen, which created birria seasoning bombs, and San Antonio’s Hess Street Foods, the maker of a chorizo ​​seasoning paste, won $20,000 as the first-place winner. Another business from the state capital, Certified Country Lemonade’s frozen lemonade and sweet tea offering, also based in Austin, took home the $15,000 second-place prize.

HEB awarded a total of $70,000 to the four winners.

“A big Texas-sized congratulations to each of this year’s winners and our finalists – small businesses that keep our communities vibrant and drive innovation across our state,” said James Harris, HE-B’s Senior Director of Diversity & Inclusion and Supplier Diversity.

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