The Morales family arrived in Halethorpe with the desire to give a community, overwhelmed with Pizza shops, something new, something fresh. Thus, the aptly named, Fresh Tex Mex Restaurant & Carry Out, came into being as Halethorpe's first Latin American restaurant and has been steadily gaining a reputation for its affordable and fresh Latin fare. 

Inside, Fresh Tex Mex has a modest atmosphere, with only a handful of tables. Instead of the expected Mexican-themed décor, the walls are decorated with posters depicting UMBC student athletes, no doubt a friendly outreach to the local University.

From behind the register, Reina Morales, an El Salvador native, greets her customers with a wholehearted smile. Her desire, she says, is to bring the taste of her homeland to a community that has welcomed her and her family warmly. And indeed, the restaurant requires the efforts of the entire family. In the kitchen, Reina's husband and brother whip up orders as they chat to each other in Spanish. Even the kids watch television nearby as their parents serve the hungry Halethorpe locals.    

Fresh Tex Mex offers standard Latin dishes such as burritos with cilantro-infused rice, chicken or beef, black or pinto beans, Pico De Gallo, cheese and sour cream. Crispy quesadillas with generous portions of cheese and freshly grilled chicken, are served with a side of chunky, lime-green guacamole.

Prices definitely rival the competition, with $6.50 for their adobo marinated grilled steak burrito, or $6.00 for three chicken tacos, served with all the fixings. Chips are extra, but it is worth the $1.75 for crispy tortilla chips served warm from the fryer. Portions are generous and everything, as the name implies, is exceptionally fresh.

After only four months in business, Fresh Tex Mex has already established a small pool of regulars who are greeted by the staff like family. There is something refreshingly honest about this small family-operated restaurant, which makes flavor and friendliness priorities above all else. When you dine at Fresh Tex Mex Restaurant & Carry Out, it is as though you dine in the home of this enthusiastic young family, and so, you are served the best.

Fresh Tex Mex Restaurant & Carry Out is located at 5315 East Drive, Halethorpe, MD 21227. Open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., the restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner with free delivery, carry out and eat-in options.