For a lot of North Texans, the Mambo Taxi is more than just a drink. It’s part of the local culture. The man behind it, Michael “Mico” Rodriguez, has died at 68.
Rodriguez got his start as a kid, working alongside his mother at Mia’s Tex-Mex on Lemmon Avenue.
He eventually launched Mi Cocina with $82,500 from customers who believed in him.
Then came a big break. Loyal customer Juanita Miller encouraged him to expand to Highland Park Village.
Rodriguez said that move took Mi Cocina “into another plane of existence.”
The restaurant grew into a North Texas powerhouse.
But Rodriguez’s life wasn’t without struggles. He battled alcohol, his marriage fell apart, and he eventually sold his stake in Mi Cocina.
After several trips to rehab, Rodriguez said those programs helped save his life.
Today, his legacy lives on in Mi Cocina, the Mambo Taxi and the North Texas community he helped shape.
