The Original Mexican Eats Cafe is quietly edging back onto Camp Bowie Boulevard, this time in a slimmed-down, drive-through format on its old parking lot. Crews are putting up a compact kiosk with a picnic-style patio, setting the stage for west-side regulars to swing through for the Original’s classics without committing to a full sit-down meal.
According to the Fort Worth Star‑Telegram, the walk-up, drive-through stand is going up at 4733 Camp Bowie Blvd on the restaurant’s former site. Owner Robert Self has not publicly weighed in on the project. The Star‑Telegram reports that the business has applied for a liquor license at the Camp Bowie address and that the vintage sign has been switched back on while construction continues. Employees at the North Main location say the kiosk is being designed strictly for carryout service, not as a full dining room.
Permits and the footprint
Late-2025 building filings reviewed by local construction watchers show the new structure clocking in at about 743 square feet, a size that fits walk-up and drive-through traffic better than a traditional dining room. Fort Worth Projects reported the permit details drawn from City Hall records.
City utility and pretreatment lists also place The Original at the Camp Bowie parcel, a paper trail that indicates the owner held onto the property after shifting the main restaurant elsewhere. City of Fort Worth records
What will they serve?
Staff at the North Main restaurant told the Fort Worth Star‑Telegram that the Camp Bowie kiosk is slated to offer carryout dinners, enchiladas and drinks, with the possibility of adding other items from the main kitchen. Whether headliners like the Roosevelt Special make the cut for window service is still up in the air, but given the Original’s long-running reputation for queso and traditional Tex-Mex, fans can expect familiar flavors within arm’s reach of the steering wheel.
A modest homecoming
The Original shifted its full operations to 1400 N. Main St. in 2023 after a lease dispute involving the Camp Bowie address, and the petite stand reads as a cautious way to reestablish a presence with westside diners. Earlier reporting on the closure and relocation outlined the schedule of the move and the complications that pushed the restaurant off the boulevard. Dallas News
What’s next
Construction is visibly underway, but the owner has not shared a target opening date. Local project trackers currently list the build as in plan review and note that it could wrap sometime in early 2026. Fort Worth Projects For now, the small drive-through setup promises nearby pickup for loyal customers who would rather skip the longer trek across town.
