HACIENDA LAS GLORIAS

10/13/2026

𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿, 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗮𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀, 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗼𝘄𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱!

Each year, the Iowa Restaurant Association’s Board of Directors reviews candidates from across the state and selects 11 outstanding individuals in the hospitality industry. Edgar is among this year’s honorees! Approximately 600 hospitality professionals will gather at the Celebrating Excellence Awards Ceremony, part of the Iowa Hospitality Showcase and Grand Tasting Gala, to recognize and celebrate these exceptional leaders.

The 𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 honors individuals who have achieved success in the restaurant industry through resilience, determination, and perseverance in the face of significant challenges.

𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧!

Congratulations to Edgar Barrios of HACIENDA LAS GLORIAS in Cedar Rapids, the Iowa Restaurant Association’s 2026 American Dream Award recipient!

Edgar didn’t come to Iowa from Mexico planning to become a restaurant owner. He came hoping to pursue his education. When those plans changed, he took a job washing dishes—and discovered an industry he loved.

“I was a happy dishwasher,” Barrios says. “Then the cooks brought me into the kitchen, and I fell in love with working with food and learning the recipes.”

Curiosity and a willingness to learn kept moving him forward. Edgar went from washing dishes to cooking, then began bussing tables and hosting in part to practice his English. He bartended, served, became an assistant manager and manager, and eventually purchased Hacienda Las Glorias.

More than 20 years later, that same willingness to do whatever needs to be done remains at the heart of his leadership. “One day I might be doing paperwork, and the next I’m washing dishes,” he says. “Whatever needs to be done, I do it so we can keep moving.”

Along the way, Edgar and his team have persevered through floods, fire, lightning, snowstorms and COVID. Today, Hacienda Las Glorias has also become a family legacy, with Edgar’s daughter working alongside him and other family members going on to own restaurants of their own.

For building a life, a business and a legacy through hard work and perseverance, we’re proud to recognize Edgar Barrios with the 2026 American Dream Award.

Thank you to Performance Foodservice, sponsor of the American Dream Award.

Join us October 19 at Prairie Meadows to celebrate Edgar and all of our 2026 Celebrating Excellence honorees at the Iowa Hospitality Showcase & Celebrating Excellence Awards.

10/13/2026

We have been keeping a secret since July! Keep your eyes on our socials! We are spilling the {refried} beans SOON!

10/09/2026

NOW FEATURING FOR A LIMITED TIME:

Pupusas! 🫓

A thick, hand formed masa-dough, filled with cheese and chicharron. Served with a special salsa and coleslaw on the side.

Give it a try while you still can!

DISPONIBLE POR LIMITADO TIEMPO:

Pupusas! 🫓

Pruébalo mientras puedas!

10/08/2026

We want to take a moment to share our deep appreciation for our COOKS. They are truly the backbone of our restaurants. Without the skill, dedication, and hard work of our cooks, we simply would not have our doors open.

Our cooks do it all — preparing food for dine-in, take-out, baseball games, and catering. It all comes from the same kitchen, with the same core team of talented people making it happen every single day, no matter what comes their way.

There are moments when we have a full restaurant, a take-out order called in for a family dinner, and an office catering order all happening at the same time. Our cooks are the ones who juggle it all.

They work hard, they keep things moving, and they make sure the food our guests love makes it to the table.

Please join us in showing our gratitude and appreciation for our amazing cooks! ❤️

10/06/2026

FIRST AVE LOCATION ONLY.

09/21/2026

Something we hold very dear to us at HLG is supporting all Active and Veteran service members. We partnered with Kennedy High School Student Government to donate 10% of sales to their Presents for Patriots program. The money we raise today will go towards holiday shopping for Veterans in our community. Stop in both locations! Let’s work together to bring a little cheer to people who more than deserve it.

Help support Kennedy Student Government’s Presents for Patriots!

09/18/2026

Happy BrewNost!! The Haci team is always happy to take part in this yearly event. Thank you National Czech Museum & Lbry!

09/16/2026

FUN FACT! Did you know that Mexico and Guatemala both share our Independence Day celebrations within 24 hours of each other?

Guatemala’s celebrations take place on the 15th, while Mexico’s officially takes place the 16th, but kicks off the night before.

So while we celebrate our freedom, we also want to tip our hat to our sibling Guatemala, as well as all of our other fellow Latinos who are celebrating their independence in the surrounding days.

¡Feliz Día de la Independencia de México! 🇲🇽¡Feliz Día de la Independencia de Guatemala! 🇬🇹

🇲🇽¡Mexicanas! ¡Mexicanos! ¡Viva México!🇲🇽

09/13/2026

A note from Hacienda Las Glorias ❤️

We know the photo circulating on social media has raised concerns, and we completely understand why. Nobody wants to see a mouse anywhere near a restaurant — and neither do we.

What people may not see behind the scenes is the ongoing work that goes into pest prevention in a busy restaurant. With customers, vendors, delivery drivers, open doors, and a patio entrance constantly creating opportunities for an occasional uninvited guest, pest prevention is an ongoing part of restaurant operations.

In addition to our own in-house prevention and mitigation practices, Hacienda Las Glorias has a professional pest-control company that services both restaurants, inspects all areas, monitors for rodent activity, checks and resets traps, and addresses potential entry points and other vulnerabilities.

Our most recent service report documents that all areas were inspected, interior rodent service was performed, all traps were checked and reset, and no rodent activity was noted during that inspection or service. No other pest or facility-preparation issues were noted.

A copy of our pest-control service report is available for review at the restaurant upon request.

We take food safety, cleanliness, and public health seriously. We have been serving our community for 30 years, and we will continue doing the work necessary to provide a clean, safe, and welcoming place for our customers and employees.

We would also ask those who chose to photograph the incident, post it anonymously, and then widely amplify it through comments on social media to consider the very real impact those actions can have on a locally owned small business, its employees, and their families. We absolutely welcome legitimate concerns and believe they should be addressed through the proper channels, where they can be taken seriously and acted upon. Using an isolated incident to publicly damage a local business, however, is very different. If the intention is to harm rather than to raise a legitimate concern, perhaps supporting another establishment is the better choice.

To the many customers who continue to support us, reach out, ask questions, and give us the opportunity to keep doing what we do — thank you. Your support means more than you know. ❤️

09/12/2026

We’ll have the game on! See you tonight! 🏈🏈

🖤💛❤️💛