Don Chilito’s in Johnson County is closing, but has a plan for the menu to carry on

Update: Here’s what’s moving into the Don Chilito’s building. Story here.

Don Chilito’s Mexican Restaurant, a Mission mainstay for more than 50 years, is saying goodbye on Friday.

But fans will still be able to get their chili con queso dip and other favorites — by making them at home.

The restaurant, at 7017 Johnson Drive, has a new cookbook, “Don Chilito’s Secret Recipes” — 40 pages that cover the restaurant’s history and 16 recipes including the dip (known as The CCQ by regulars), refried beans, salsa and spice mix, along with cooking tips the owners have picked up over the decades.

And Barry Cowden, second generation owner, says he would like to continue selling some Don Chilito’s products online.

Cowden announced in mid-September that he decided to retire and close the restaurant on Dec. 10, saying, “It’s been a great ride, a great 50 years.”

Since then, longtime customers have rushed in to dine and say goodbye to the Cowden family. The restaurant recently stopped offering carryout and delivery, just to keep up.

“There’s a lot of emotions. Mainly I’m really humbled and astounded at the response,” Cowden said Thursday. “Last night there was a line down the side of my building. Saturday night there were probably 300 people waiting. It’s been great, though.”

He said customers have reminisced about their first dates at the restaurant, marriage proposals and family reunions held there. He gets cards in the mail, thanking him and wishing him well.

“It’s much more than a restaurant,” he said.

For its final day Friday, Don Chilito’s will be open from 3 to 8 p.m. for dinner, and it also will sell commemorative T-shirts.

Don Chilito’s cookbook can be shipped directly or picked up at the restaurant from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 12, 18 and 19; and from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 22. It retails for $30.

Cowden is auctioning decor and equipment through Equip-Bid.com (which ends Sunday), and he plans to donate a couple of signs to the Johnson County Museum and The Lumi Neon Museum.

Three generations of the family plan to be onsite to say goodbye to customers, including Barry’s father, Don, and his three daughters. It was their first job as teenagers, but they now work in the medical field.

“It’s been in my family for 50 years. I didn’t want to sell the name. I want to keep my opportunities open in the future,” said Barry Cowden. “I hope to keep the brand and the name and start selling products on the internet. I just need to close this chapter and start anew. But Don Chilito’s will live on.”

This story was originally published December 10, 2021 at 5:00 AM.