Viral Instagram post helps save longtime Dallas Mexican restaurant

It started with a simple Instagram post. A Dallas Mexican restaurant asked people to try their comfort‑style food out of fear they would have to close down for good. Thanks to the power of social media, their fortune is changing.

For almost 20 years, Andres and Georgina Soto have been serving up made‑from‑scratch Mexican food at Ana's in Dallas.

"You know it means a lot to them," Andrea Soto said. "They're here almost every day."

Business slowdown sparks concern

Recently, their daughter Andrea says business slowed down so much that they started worrying the restaurant might not survive.

"It's been worse than COVID when we only had to‑go orders, and we were doing okay at that time, so it's shocked us, unfortunately," she said. "The economy... gas is expensive."

She says many of their longtime customers are now working multiple jobs and can't afford to eat out as often anymore.

Social media plea goes viral

Hoping to bring in new customers, she posted a video on social media. It quickly took off and has now been shared thousands of times.

Then, local influencers started stopping by, posting recommendations and encouraging followers to support the restaurant.

"I saw it on TikTok, and the food looked really good. Everything looked really nice, so I wanted to come check it out," Breanna Galvez said.

"I just felt for the family," Mary Alonzo said. "How they've been here for 17 years, and that they were going to come to an end. I felt like I didn't want to see it come to an end."

"We're very happy about how it blew up. We did not expect it to go that viral," Andrea said.

New customers bring new hope

Now, the family says they're seeing tons of new customers.

"We definitely feel happy!" Andrea said. "You know, we've even had a wait, and we're very thankful for people who have been patient with us."

She promises the food will be worth it.