The second generation of Montrose's beloved La Mexicana restaurant is readying a new Tex-Mex concept scheduled to open late 2019 in the Ella Oaks shopping center, 3315 Ella Blvd., in Oak Forest.

According to Zulema Gonzales, general manager of La Mexicana on Fairview, she and her siblings, Dante Trevino and Briseida Trevino will be the owners of La Mex, a fast-casual restaurant built on many of the favorite recipes of the restaurant her parents – Eduardo and America Trevino – opened in 1982. The elder Trevinos will not be a part of the endeavor (although they gave their blessing, Gonzales said), and will continue to operate the Montrose restaurant at 1018 Fairview.

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La Mex will be open for breakfast and lunch, serving a condensed menu of La Mexicana comida. "It's the same recipes, the same food," Gonzales said.

The location in Oak Forest (the former Heights Cleaners) became an option after the siblings couldn't secure a spot downtown where they originally hoped to open La Mex.

"We spent a good year – all of last year, pretty much – trying to find a space downtown," Gonzales said. "For some reason we couldn't get anything going."

Gonzales said that La Mexicana customers will continue to get the same food and service in Montrose. The siblings intend to replicate that same level of hospitality in Oak Forest.

"Everyone is family here. We know everyone and have seen families grow up," she said. "We want to bring our authenticity and that genuine bond there too."

Greg Morago writes about food for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter. Send him news tips at greg.morago@chron.com. Hear him on our BBQ State of Mind podcast to learn about Houston and Texas barbecue culture.