Texas Tacos Soon Near You

[Troutman]

Although Texas is probably best known for its barbecue, the State’s cuisine is as varied as its cultural diversity. In south Texas, Tex-Mex cuisine and specifically the humble taco, is the State’s queen.

That said the humble taco, consisting of a variety of proteins wrapped in a tortilla, has begun to morph into its own varied cuisine elevating it to new taste levels.

Two chains in particular, Torchy’s and the Velvet Taco, began as food truck operations and have grown into multi-million dollar franchises. I’m a big fan of both but Torchy’s is my personal McDs of tacos.

Both franchises are on the verge of busting open nationwide. I wish them luck become the elevated taco, like Central Texas barbecue, needs introduction to the rest of the world

https://www.texasmonthly.com/food/torchys-velvet-taco-national-expansion/

[Jerod Broussard]

Our town (and I'm sure thousands others) is a Taco Tuesday extravaganza, and for some reason it only happens on Tuesdays.

[texastweeter]

We have so many good ones. Juniors, El Lugar, Mr Taco Jr, Ruby's, Church Tacos, just to name a few.

[texastweeter]

Yes sir. I'll have a trailer park, extra trashy.

[Michael_in_TX]

I love this....it's like a code for anyone who's familiar with them, else everyone thinks it's a bizarre social commentary.

[RonB]

A Torchy's opened ~ 30 min from us last fall. I haven't been close enough to go yet. But I did stop in one in Austin some years ago. I thought it was good - better that TB, (although that's not a very high bar ).

[mnavarre]

Interesting. I wonder how Torchy's will do in some markets. Here in San Diego I can't even swing a dead cat without hitting a taco, and we have places doing very similar things as Torchy's. Several years ago Sombrero's, a San Diego chain of taco shops, opened a shop in DFW. It failed, because Texans expect Texas-style Mexican food or Tex Mex. San Diego-style taco shops are not that. At all. I can almost guarantee that I will not be able to find anything I consider a proper Carne Asada burrito in Austin. But you can find something resembling Tex-Mex here.

OTOH, I can walk ten minutes from my house and get Bahn Mi tacos and Mexican inspired sushi, so they'll probably be fine.

[Troutman]

Oh trust me if you stood on any street corner here in Htown you could throw a rock and hit a taco shop. Barbacoa, carne asada, fajitas, carnitas, al pastor, fish you name it. Typically they are mom and pop or small chain. Torchy’s attempts to fuse non-traditional flavors to the taco experience. I think they do it well. Traditional tacos will always be desirable and available.

[Panhead John]

Oh hell yeah, there’s a ton of Taco food trucks and restaurants in Houston. And most of them are pretty darn good! Torchy’s has pretty good tacos too, but sometimes I feel they just try to be a little too “fancy”.

[TripleB]

Troutman - So. Cal needs another Taco shop like Texas needs another Burger stand. Oh wait, isn't In-n-Out popping up now in Texas? No need to say thank you, pleasure is all ours...😉

[DaveD]

Torchy's is good, for sure. There's one in the Clear Lake area that we went to several times when we lived there. But we also had a mom and pop place, Habanero's, that was just vastly superior in every way, so we typically went there instead - weekly, on average. One of the places I miss the most, no question...

[texastweeter]

I just wish there was a local place with some SPICY tacos.

[Oak Smoke]

Oh to be young again with a cast iron stomach! Enjoy while you can!

[barelfly]

Well, I guess I’ll have to find one of these someday. We don’t have either out here. Taco Cabana is one of the chains that is, but that’s a late night visit when you need to eat after being out!

thanks for sharing the article. I’ll have to register so I can read through it. Will be interested in reading about both spots.

[mrteddyprincess]

I can walk to Torchy's from where I live. Good stuff.

B

[Troutman]

Was going through my bbq joint picture files and found some of the Torchy's I used to go to in the Houston Heights when I worked over that way. I used to eat lunch there at least 1-2 times a week. Got hooked on their tacos. Again this is not your typical Mexican style taco, but I challenge you to give them a try and say they're not delicious. And hey, don't tell the boss I had a beer with my meal

Oh yea and that was my spot at the bar. Same place, same time. I was the Norm of Torchy's

[klflowers]

There is a little place in Chattanooga called Taco Roc that is really good. The only place i get Tacos from in Chatt

[RonB]

A place called The Rusty Taco opened in our area, so my wife and I gave them a try. We promised each other that we would never go back.