Cougars Cafe

Updated: July 6, 2023

A New Restaurant in Santa Maria

Emilio Flores
LFN

Santa Maria, Texas — On Wednesday, June 28, Mike (Miguel) Zavala and Serena Portugal had their soft opening, proudly unveiling Cougars Cafe. Located at 10660 US HWY 281, the restaurant stands between La Feria and Santa Maria.

The decision to open Cougars Cafe was driven by a desire to provide more employment opportunities for the community while shining a spotlight on Santa Maria. “We wanted to open it so the community can have more employment,” explained Portugal. “Also, for Santa Maria to be noticed as more than just a small town. It’s a good investment to stay local with the opportunities Santa Maria offers.”

With their new restaurant, Zavala and Portugal hope to enrich the lives of Santa Maria’s residents by serving the community and generating wealth within the community. The couple emphasized their commitment to working as a team to achieve their goals.

Portugal, a La Feria native, shares that she lived in San Diego, California, for several years only to return “home” where she returned to Santa Maria, bringing her three daughters – Kaylie, Natalie, and Laylanie – with her. Portugal herself is a proud graduate of La Feria High School. Zavala, known by most as Mike, is the fourth child out of seven siblings and a graduate of Santa Maria High School. He also is owner of Mike’s Car Wash here in La Feria. Together, they are excited to offer their new restaurant to the community.

Expressing their gratitude to the city of Santa Maria, Zavala, and Portugal eagerly look forward to creating memorable experiences for their customers. They are excited about the prospect of building connections with the local residents and welcoming visitors from other cities.

As Cougars Cafe opens its doors, the community of Santa Maria and La Feria. Portugal says she’s, “Looking forward to seeing and knowing the residents from Santa Maria and new individuals from other cities.”