Early in her career, Chef Reina Morris was told the restaurant industry was not a place for her.
“They said I was too slow,” she recalls. “They said I didn’t have what it takes to run my own place.” At the time, she was a 42-year-old woman entering a demanding, and often unwelcoming, field while still navigating English as her second language.
“So I said, okay, I will build something myself,” she shrugs. That decision laid the groundwork for what would grow into Buenos Aires Café, a restaurant shaped as much by persistence as it is by tradition. More than twenty years later, it stands as a reflection of both her resilience, her talent, and her roots.
“I feel very blessed. This is a very tough business for anyone, but especially for women.”
Long before professional kitchens or formal training, Reina’s understanding of food began at home in Argentina, in the quiet moments she spent with her mother, watching, tasting, and learning through presence rather than instruction.
“My strongest memories with my mother are in the kitchen,” she explains. “That’s how we spent time together.” Reina carries that connection into every dish, creating food that feels personal and familiar, something that resonates beyond the plate. “I love it when people say a dish reminds them of their grandmother or their family. That’s what I want to give.”
Originally trained as a pastry chef, Reina set out to open a small bakery focused on Argentine pastries and coffee, but the concept struggled almost immediately. “We were losing money,” she professes. Instead of closing, she adapted, listening closely to what customers were asking for and expanding the menu into something more substantial. That willingness to shift became a turning point, allowing the business to evolve into what it is today.
“I love it when people say a dish reminds them of their grandmother or their family. That’s what I want to give.”
A local food critic’s visit brought new attention and momentum to Buenos Aires Café, but behind the scenes, the work remained constant. Reina’s days continue to be shaped by whatever the restaurant requires, whether that is sourcing ingredients, preparing food, or problem-solving.
“You see what needs to be done, and you just do it. You have a responsibility,” Reina says. There is no single role she occupies. One moment she is cooking on the line; the next she is coordinating repairs, managing inspections, or handling the operational details that keep the restaurant running. “There’s never a day that’s the same,” she shrugs with a smile.
Over time, that responsibility has grown to include working alongside her daughter, Paola Guerrero-Smith, who now plays a key role in shaping the restaurant’s future. Together, they continue to build on what Reina started, introducing new ideas while staying grounded in the tradition of sharing a meal.
“My strongest memories with my mother are in the kitchen. That’s how we spent time together.”
More than two decades in, Reina speaks about her longevity with a sense of gratitude rather than certainty. “I feel very blessed,” she sighs. “This is a very tough business for anyone, but especially for women.” That perspective deepened during the challenges of COVID, when the restaurant relied on its community’s support while also finding ways to give back.
For Reina, the purpose has not changed. It is still about showing up, cooking with intention, and creating something that people can experience with all of their senses.
Advice : “Never give up. Keep going. Learn and study as much as you can to strengthen your knowledge.”
Favorite Part : “I love everything about this career. Every day is a new challenge: from repairing a broken refrigerator to creating an amazing wedding cake, or a new steak. I have fun, and I enjoy what I’m doing.”
Contact:
1201 E 6th Street
buenosairescafe.com
@buenosairescafeatx
