The owner of El Patron – Tacos & Tequila, Maquiel Reyes, is excited to open the doors to his second restaurant, Los Jefes, in Southern Pines this weekend.
Maquiel and his team are feverishly working to be ready for their projected 5 p.m. opening on Friday. He became interested in the space back in April 2025 when he heard the previous occupant would be closing down. He’s been working on remodeling for about six months now. He loves the location, right off Morganton Road on the corner of the plaza.
When asked what inspired him to open the restaurant, Maquiel told Sandhills Sentinel that the area is growing quickly and he just wanted to contribute by bringing in a fresh and new place for families to enjoy, with a nice outdoor spot; somewhere that families could come enjoy their time together with good food.
Los Jefes will have a complete menu, with lots of options for everyone and authentic Mexican food. The menu will include draft and bottled beers, margaritas, and cocktails—a full bar inhabits a corner of the restaurant. It is also worth noting that their margaritas will be fresh and made from scratch, as opposed to ready-made drinks.
However, the full menu is to be kept a secret until opening night so that guests can experience the changes and discover the menu for themselves.
Maquiel wanted a name for the restaurant that was fun, bold, and easy to remember.
“Los Jefes represents the atmosphere we want to create—a place where people come together, have a great time, and everyone gets to feel like a jefe,” said Maquiel.
“Jefe” translates to “boss” in English.
He wants to invite the community to come and check it out: good, affordable food and a great atmosphere.
Los Jefes will be open seven days a week, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and will stay open until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The address is 100 Pavilion Way, Southern Pines, located in The Pavilion at Morganton Park.
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~ Article and photos by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Megan Hall.
