A Dad’s Blessing – Don Gollito Restaurant

(This article was written by Laisa Chavez Macias and was featured in the April 2026 issue of Explore Harlingen Magazine .) It goes without saying that Harlingen has some amazing restauranteurs: owners who take pride in what they are building daily for their community; the smaller locations, with kitchens that thrive on old family recipes, a staff that makes every customer feel welcome, and food that feels like good ole home cooking. Photo courtesy of Juan Macias of J Macias Photographer Fred Uribe, co-owner of Don Gollito Restaurant, is a perfect example. Fred was raised in Harlingen, graduated from Harlingen High School, and went on to college at the University of Texas at Brownsville. After graduating, he worked at Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District (HCISD) for a few years and eventually went on to work for the Texas Department of Health for the next 22 years as a computer specialist. So how does someone go from computers to the kitchen? I wondered the same thing! Fred grew up learning to cook from his mom. She wanted to make sure that if nothing else, once he was married, that he would be able to cook for his family. Till this day he said that he still makes the same foods that she taught him. But that’s not the only reason he felt drawn to the food industry. Fred’s dad, Gregorio Uribe, was a big inspiration in his decision to open a restaurant. One of the things his father would say was, “there are three things in life you should always enjoy: what you eat, the bed you sleep in, and where you work.” Photo courtesy of Juan Macias of J Macias Photographer Wise words from a wise man. After 22 years of sitting behind a computer desk, Fred knew he was ready for a change. Then on April 1, 2019, as he drove by a vacant building on Van Buren, something stopped him, literally. He got out of the car, walked up to the building, called the number on the FOR RENT sign, and walked into his new life. He said that as soon as he stood inside the building, he could just feel it. I like to call that feeling “a hug”: confirmation in your soul. That same evening, he signed the lease. Before that day, the most Fred had ever thought about a restaurant was when he was writing a business proposal for a class in college. Since then, the one thing that never changed was the name he had given it. Don Gollito Restaurant, after his father. Growing up, Fred and his family would travel up north to work the fields. He always heard people calling his dad Golle or Gollito (it’s how you pronounce Greg or Gregorio in Spanish). Mr. Gollito would often tell Fred, “You know what mijo (son)? If you ever opened a restaurant, I know you would do good. God will bless you.” Photo courtesy of Juan Macias of J Macias Photographer Thankfully, Fred was not alone on this new venture, because although his mom had taught him well, he did NOT have any real experience in the restaurant business. Rick Silva, co-owner, had years of experience working restaurant floors and kitchens, and knew exactly what Harlingen customers looked for. Together, they created a menu with tried-and-true Mexican favorites such as enchiladas Mexicanas, chili relleno, and carne guisada, as well as breakfast all day. With that, Don Gollito Restaurant opened its doors for business. 2019 was an amazing year for the team. Everything was going smoothly as they rolled into 2020, and well, we all know what happened next. For most businesses in general, and especially restaurants, COVID was a very make-it-or-break-it time. Fred and Rick started to really think outside the box. They introduced BBQ chicken and brisket to the entrées as well as potato salad as a side. Fred had already made his mom’s homemade corn tortillas a staple as well. These changes, although small, really helped them to stand out, and the customer base continued to grow amidst the lockdown. By the time restaurants were able to reopen their doors, Don Gollito Restaurant had regulars lined up to come back, as well as new customers who had previously only had takeout, eager to finally dine-in. The words once spoken by his dad, “God will Bless you,” never rang truer. Photo courtesy of Juan Macias of J Macias Photographer They will celebrate seven years in business on April 1, 2026, and what a ride it has been. Since Covid, Harlingen has also been through a couple of freezes and a few floods that have made history. Through it all Don Gollito Restaurant has continued to serve its faithful customers and community. Fred and Rick have revamped the back patio to offer beautiful outdoor seating. They also have a small cocktail bar available. They still serve breakfast all day, AND they also serve barbacoa and menudo daily, not just on the weekends. Don Gollito Restaurant also offers catering for events and is available for parties after hours. Photo courtesy of Juan Macias of J Macias Photographer Happy anniversary, guys! You are building one of our town’s next restaurant landmarks, congratulations! And cheers to many more celebrations! Signing off until next time, your friendly local foodie, Laisa :) Don Gollito Restaurant
417 West Van Buren Ave.,
Harlingen, TX 78550
956-659-0717 Hours of operation:
Wednesday 7 am-2:30 pm
Thursday 7 am-2:30 pm
Friday 7 am-2:30 pm
Saturday 7 am-3 pm
Sunday 7 am-3 pm
Monday and Tuesday CLOSED Follow them on Facebook, Don Gollito Restaurant.