Drink News

Fun colorful boba shop from Oregon makes Texas debut in Fort Worth

Colorful beverage at TeaCupFuls

TeaCupFuls

A new boba tea concept has debuted in Fort Worth: Called TeaCupFuls, it’s an Oregon-based chain that has opened its first location in Texas in north Fort Worth, in a former nutrition shop at 5800 N. Tarrant Pkwy. #106, where it opened on May 31.

TeaCupFuls is a unique boba tea shop specializing in boba tea, coffee, and candies. They rotate in seasonal specials and appearance is important, with drinks boasting bright colors that present nicely on Instagram. The company is women-run and young, with a fun and fanciful vibe.

"At TeaCupFuls, we’re not just serving drinks—we’re creating moments," says founder Loana Perez in a statement. "From bold flavors to eye-catching toppings, every sip is a sweet adventure."

Perez was inspired by her Vietnamese heritage and desire to build community to open her first cafe in Bend, Oregon in 2017. There are now four locations in Oregon. Fort Worth is the first to open outside the state and is being brought to Texas by franchisee Danny Campos, who is their first franchisee to sign on.

There are teas, smoothies, slushies, some brightly colored thanks to the use of butterfly pea flower, an ingredient that leaves a blue tint. Drink additions include tapioca ball boba, popping boba, or fruit-flavored jellies.

Drinks often come topped with unexpected ingredients such as cotton candy and Nerds candy, and have free-spirited names like the Staycation, a coconut and peach smoothie with peach popping boba and Pocky sticks. They're served in either a 24-ounce cup or a cup that's shaped like a light bulb.

There are also energy drinks with anime characters, like Dragon Ball Z, printed on the can and Italian sodas. The candy and snacks menu includes cotton candy, imported matcha Kit Kats, hard candies, wafer cracker fish cookies, and Yan Yan, which are chocolate-dipped cookie sticks in a cup that come in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.

Prices are under $10, ranging from $5 for a basic tea without boba or add-ins to $9 for a smoothie or specialty tea. And unlike some drink chains, TeaCupFuls has actual dining rooms where you can consume your drink and snacks on-premise.

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Closure News

Paco's Mexican Cuisine shutters location in Sundance Square Fort Worth

Paco's Mexican Cuisine/Facebook

Paco's Mexican Cuisine will host a five-course tequila-pairing dinner.

A buzzy Fort Worth Mexican restaurant has closed: Paco’s Mexican Cuisine, shuttered its location in Sundance Square at 156 W. 4th St., after three years.

According to a post, owner-chef Francisco "Paco" Islas said the closure is due to the lease ending. Their website has already been taken down.

"Given the climate in the service industry, it has been difficult to keep two concepts going with 100% effort as a small family-run business," the post read.

It also gave a nod to its location, stating that "Sundance Square has been an important part of our story — a place where we’ve grown and shared countless unforgettable moments. We thank this organization and Mrs. Bass for the opportunity."

The restaurant opened in 2022 in a space that was previously Taco Diner. It was a second location for Paco’s Mexican following the original on Magnolia Avenue in the Near Southside neighborhood, which opened in 2016. Islas closed that Magnolia Avenue location in January.

They offered a menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, tortas, tacos, and quesadillas. Some of the signature items included tlacoyos— a stuffed corn cake dish with tomatillo, crema, and fajita steak— and birria tacos.

With both locations of Paco’s closed, Islas will focus more attention on Shogun Taqueria, the Mexican-Japanese fusion concept he opened in March in the former Paco’s on Magnolia Avenue.

"This isn’t a decision we made lightly, but rather one rooted in a strategic refocus on the next phase of our journey which is Chef Paco’s new concept, Shogun Taqueria, located in the Near Southside," the post said.

Shogun is bringing something new to Fort Worth, although it doesn't completely abandon the Mexican cuisine diners came to love at Paco's, with a few familiar items like tacos and birria. There's also ramen, gyoza, and parilla with meats like Wagyu and pork cooked on a hot stone tableside.

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