The Sanchez family celebrated its restaurant’s five-year anniversary by opening a second location.

The new El Chaparro began welcoming customers at the beginning of May at 1501 Centerpark Road near the Nebraska State Penitentiary.

Fortunato Sanchez, whose mother, Victorica, owns both places, said there was demand for a second operation.

The original, opened in February 2000, seats just 40 people and is constantly busy.

The new place, sharing the same building as the Road House Bar & Grill, can seat 160. Plus, there is a bigger parking lot.

El Chaparro is known for its authentic menu. The family comes from Guerrero, Mexico, and the recipes are from Sanchez’s mother.

You will find standard Mexican fare of enchiladas, tamales, burritos and tacos, but in addition to typical fillings, the menu also includes cow tongue and tripe.

El Chaparro also has several entrees featuring shrimp.

The new restaurant has a bigger, more extensive menu to go along with its more spacious dining room.

There are about 40 items, ranging in price from $4.75 to $14.99. Several choices come with Spanish rice and refried beans.

On my visit, my companion and I shared a small quesadilla ($5.50) with seasoned ground beef. It’s served as an entree, but we ate it as an appetizer.

Not that we needed one; we just wanted to try it. El Chaparro begins each meal with chips and a semi-spicy salsa, so an appetizer isn’t necessary.

For entrees, I ordered the burrito grande ($5.99) with spicy sausage, and my companion went with five tacos ($5.75) with a different meat on each one.

The burrito definitely was grande. It was filled with the sausage, rice and other fixings and topped with sour cream and avocado slices.

The tacos were small flour tortillas with meat and fixings, including healthy doses of cilantro. Lime wedges were provided for squeezing.

The food came out fast. Of course, we were one of three tables. Sanchez said the family is working to get the word out about the second restaurant.

He hopes to have a sign within the next couple of weeks, and the family is in the process of applying for a liquor license.

I was a fan of the original El Chaparro, primarily because it’s one of the few places I can get tortas (sandwiches) or tacos with cow tongue.

The second place is much nicer, and I think has a chance to catch on once people realize the Sanchezes have another location.

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.

Dining out

El Chaparro

1501 Centerpark Road

Atmosphere: Casual

Specialty: Mexican

Payment: Cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard

Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily

Phone: (402) 421-8226

Notes: Parking, takeout, no alcohol