Articles about Tacos

Get Fuel City Tacos for $1. Offer Lasts Until Midnight

This one’s pretty straightforward. Fuel City is offering $1 tacos until midnight today to celebrate its recent partnership with Gulf Oil.

Taco Bueno to Open in Allen Tomorrow. People Are Camping Overnight

1st in line, Gilbert Gonzales, Richardson, arrived 12:30 p.m. 2nd in line, Judy Sulak, Richardson, arrived 1 p.m. 3rd in line, Todd Johnson, Dallas, arrived 3:45 p.m. 4th in line, Tom McAndrew, Plano, arrived 4:45 p.m. 5th in line, Joel Watson, Anna, arrived 5 p.m.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at this news: The new Taco Bueno in Allen doesn’t open until 9:30 tomorrow morning, but fans have already started camping out. And these fans plan to stay where they are  overnight!  The the first 30 people in line get a $100 gift card. If you’d like to join the party, the address for the Allen location is 1709 N. Greenville Avenue (just South of Stacy Road).

Taco Bueno has 178 locations in seven states with the majority located in Texas, and Oklahoma. Following the Allen, Texas opening Taco Bueno will add a second location in Owasso, Oklahoma later this year. Stay tuned for future editions of Camping at Taco Bueno.

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Taco Vendors Converge at Bryan Street Tavern for Tacopalooza 2012

D Magazine intern Erin Ahlfinger files this report.

If you’re wondering how many different tacos make a tacopalooza, the answer is twenty one.  Five of the most popular purveyors of tortilla-wrapped delights in town rolled into Bryan Street Tavern Saturday afternoon for Tacopalooza 2012. They brought with them an assortment of nearly two dozen taco types to be devoured by a full house of Cinco de Mayo revelers, as well as a group of discriminating judges to determine which taco was tastiest.

For the purists in the crowd, there were plenty of takes on the traditional street taco on hand, including Rusty Taco’s smoky, sweet namesake creation of achiote marinated pork, pineapple, and cojita cheese, wrapped in a corn tortilla. Fuzzy’s Taco Shop served up Baja-style tacos, while the Dos Paisanos food truck proudly presented their tacos al carbon. Though you won’t normally find street tacos on the menu at Bryan Street Tavern, the house kitchen rose to the occasion and presented a delightfully tender pulled pork taco of its own.

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Alternative Ways to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Nightlife Editor Raya Ramsey just listed a bunch of places to get your drink on for Cinco de Mayo, but I can barely hold down my liquor, so I’m celebrating Cinco de Mayo the only way I know how: with food and more food.

Here are my destination picks for May 5:

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Torchy’s, Nodding Donkey, and World of Beer Opening on SMU Blvd. This Summer

Bradford Pearson made me aware that three new restaurants (Torchy’s Tacos, Nodding Donkey, and World of Beer) have just signed leases at the new retail space called BLVD, at SMU Boulevard and Greenville Avenue.

“We are excited to add three such strong restaurants to those already in the area,” said Taylor Stone, Managing Director, Multifamily, for Prescott Realty Group. “Nodding Donkey, Torchy’s Tacos and World of Beer will liven up the pedestrian experience along SMU Boulevard and will draw people from the greater areas to the neighborhood to live and play.”

BLVD is supposed to have 417 residential units along with 9,100 sq. ft. of commercial space. God help the kids who move in there. How’re they going to get any studying done with all those beers and tacos to distract them?

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Rusty Taco Out at Main Street Garden in Downtown Dallas

Last week it was announced Rusty Taco was taking over the Lily Pad space at Main Street Garden.  Moments ago, Robert Wilonsky reported the deal is dead. John Crawford, CEO of Downtown Dallas, has some splaining to do. It sounds like they caved in to DRG’s owner Mike Hoque, operator of Wild Salsa across the street. In Wilonsky’s story, Crawford says he has reevaluated the situation and has “decided to spread the wealth.” Maybe it will be a burger joint? No, Hoque’s got Chop House Burger. Steak Shack? Nope, Dallas Chop House is down the street. Hmm, too small for pizza. Do you live downtown? What would you like to see in the space?

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Urban Taco Debuts its New Brunch Menu Starting March 31

Chilaquiles- crispy tortillas garnished with choice of homemade salsa, scrambled eggs, queso fresco, Mexican crema, red onions & cilantro (photo by Micah Nunley)

Customers had been bugging Markus Pineyro, owner of Urban Taco, about creating a brunch menu for a long time, but it wasn’t until he visited his family in Mexico that the idea started formulating in the back of his mind.

“A lot of things we do at Urban Taco are very personal,” said Pineyro, whose brunch cuisine (a mix of modern and traditional) draws inspiration from his trip down south.

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Eat This Now: Pork Guisado from La Nueva Fresh and Hot in Dallas

I’ve done a decent amount of travel around Dallas as part of my own personal taco crusade.  But unfortunately, my taco radar is pretty much dark across the taco dense region just east of Harry Hines and north of Northwest Highway.  A few establishments have crossed my path in this area, but one experience in particular which involved a tiny, no-name roadside taqueria, lack of electricity and refrigeration and a putrid, spoiled pork barbacoa taco, has left such a sour taste in my mouth that I rarely adventure there these days.

Luckily, I was redirected back to the area by the highly respected taco tycoon, Jose Ralat-Maldonado of Taco Trail fame.  When this dude tells you to make a trip somewhere, it’s best not to question his authority.  This particular outing brought me to a previously unheard of joint called La Nueva Fresh and Hot.  I am a sucker for fresh, I’m a sucker for hot, I’m even a sucker for neuva.  How could I go wrong? I couldn’t.

Read on amigos…

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Taco Trail Guides the First Walking Taco Tour through Dallas

Little taco ducklings

Last weekend was rainy, wet, and gross. But did that stop the nine of us from dropping out of José Ralat-Maldonado’s (aka Taco Trail) first-ever Taco Tour? Nope. Gloomy Texas weather could not prevent the consumption of glorious, glorious tacos.

If you could measure taco obsession on a scale from 1 to 10, I would be a 7. Maybe a 10 when Cinco de Mayo rolls around. José ranks a solid 12 every day. (I once asked him if he ever gets tired of eating tacos. His answer was “no.”) It is little wonder, then, that he became the tour guide to a band of misfits united by a common love for all things taco. José gathered us little taco ducklings at 11 AM outside La Banqueta, a hole-in-the-wall taqueria that gives you free suadero (cow breast) tacos if it’s your first time visiting, for our first stop.

Jump for a guide to Dallas tacos. Continue reading "Taco Trail Guides the First Walking Taco Tour through Dallas"

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Asador at Dallas Renaissance Hotel: Better Than Ever. Why Don’t Locals Eat There?


David Trubenbach's takes his Farm-To-Fire cuisine seriously. The shape of the hotel whips winds into a vortex.

It’s been  a year since I wrote about the opening of Asador, the restaurant in the Dallas Renaissance Hotel. The report announced the arrival of chef/proprietor Dean  Max and, a young, talented and energetic chef with a focus on farm-to-table (or “farm-to-fire” as Asador would rather term it) principles. Ditto for onsite chef David Trubenbach. I also noted Marriott corporation’s commitment to a destination restaurant in the Dallas Renaissance Hotel, a promise they backed up with an extensive Tequila collection. As downtown Dallas restaurants convert, seemingly like flies, to steak houses, I decided to check-in, so to speak, at Asador to see if they are staying true to their original mission. Here is what I found.

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Lazaranda in Addison: Less Authentic, More Open Than Other Dallas Regional Mexican Offerings

Rib Eye Chicharrón (photos by Micah Nunley)

Mid to upscale Mexican cuisine is on a roll. Since last year (and despite the recession), this area has seen additions like Alma (RIP), Komali, Mesa, and Mesomaya added to main stays like Javier’s and Maximo. Four months ago, Lazaranda came to Addison Walk’s restaurant row on Belt Line in Addison. Each of these restaurants is different in terms of its influences, so a media event last week afforded me the chance to put this new entry in context.

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Jack Perkins’ ocaTaco is Finally Open

Brisket taco with cheese, pico, salsa, cilantro, sour cream

The Palindrome (pronounced oh-ka-taco) by Maple and Motor’s Jack Perkins officially opened last Thursday for lunch. Even though the menu is short, it’s good for people like me who can’t really decide what to order. Three meat options – tender brisket, pulled pork, and chicken – are plenty enough, thank you. And, of course, I’ll take mine with a side order of chips and salsa.

Jump for more ocaTacocaTacocaTaco.

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Who Eats Alone Anymore?

Observer’s Scott Reitz named his five favorite places to eat alone in this week’s print edition. Local, Mesa, Bolsa, Yutaka, and Taco Stop made the Lonely List, but who actually ventures out to a restaurant by themselves these days? Anyone who does is either a sketchy guy picking up chicks or glued to their iPhone 4s screen and secretly talking dirty to Siri.

“Siri, how do you like the steak?”

“What do you think of the waiter, Siri?”

“Siri, your microphone icon is lookin’ sexy tonight.”

A better title for your column, Mr. Reitz, would be “Five Places to Take Your Phone Out on a Date.” That means you need a fifth restaurant, though, because it’s pretty impossible to eat tacos and touch your phone at the same time.

Editor’s Note: Please come back after you pick up your sense of humor from the dry cleaner’s! Have a nice weekend.

SideDish @scottreitz I question people who eat out alone and commenters are bashing me for it. bit.ly/y6COek #nobodycantakeajoke

Scott Reitz @DSideDish Siri is a shit date anyway. She doesn’t put out.

SideDish @scottreitz Sounds like you have some experience, eh?

Scott Reitz @DSideDish try. It’s funny. She’ll tell you “she’s not that kind of assistant.”

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Taco News: Rusty Taco and ocaTaco in Dallas

A taco-loving Disher asked me about two new taco spots. He writes:

What happened to the two taco places that were supposed to open at UT Southwestern? Rusty Taco and the Maple and Motor version? Are they still in the works?

The Rusty Taco location is already up and running. They opened at 5350 Harry Hines across from UTSW last October. They are also open in College Station and St. Paul, Minnesota.

I asked Jack “Harvey” Perkins of Maple and Motor for an update on ocaTaco. He replied: “We hope to take possession next Tuesday at the latest. If that happens, we can open Monday the 13th. We will open for lunch only for the first four weeks. After that it is breakfast and lunch with a full coffee/espresso bar M-F. This will be the only location we will be doing at UTSW. There will be a friends and family night some time the week of the 6th. I would invite you, but you wouldn’t come.”

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Taco Review: Moto Taco in Dallas Provides Cubicle Cuisine

My little, fat Filipino chicken taco of stewed chicken, tomatoes onions, and peppers.

Yesterday I mentioned Moto Taco, a new breakfast and lunch taco delivery operation. We placed an order and Mac, who calls himself the Chief Taco Jockey, showed up with tacos. After his arrival was announced over the intercom, Mac was surrounded by 30 hungry workers. I felt bad for him. He was obviously overwhelmed at the response. Not only did he take orders, he processed payment. And he ran out of food. Needless to say, Moto Taco is still working out the kinks of their new business. (They have partnered with the kitchen at La Hacienda on Henderson.) I asked my office mates to send in their reviews which are listed below. I tried the carnitas and, other than the soggy flour tortilla which I see as an inevitable problem with their vision, the filling was tasty. However, I love the concept of office delivery and what I shall now refer to as “cubicle cuisine™.”

Jump for more details from Mac and the relentless reviews written by my colleagues. Continue reading "Taco Review: Moto Taco in Dallas Provides Cubicle Cuisine"

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More Tacos in Dallas: Moto Taco Delivers Tacos by Motorcycle!

Another day, another taco joint in the news. Hark, this one has a hip, cool twist. You check out their menu, which changes daily, place your order online, and one of the three groovy dudes at Moto Taco jumps on his motorcycle and delivers them. They offer breakfast and lunch tacos and pickup tamales from La Popular.

Here’s their pitch:

We’ve spent many long hours wishing for food we didn’t have, settling for scraps at the office canteen, rushing out to hit a crappy drive-through or waiting hungry for a cold, expensive, and late delivery.We figured there were quite a few other poor bastards stuck in cubicles, feeling the same pain so we decided to do something about it.

Brilliant! We placed an order for today and will report our findings.

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Mind Your Head: Incoming Taco Restaurant, Taco Republic, in Richardson

Ron Guest, the nice man who gave us Café San Miguel on Henderson Ave. (R.I.P.), is back in business in Richardson. Natch Teresa “GubbShoe” Gubbins is all over the story like truffle oil on fries. Gubbshoe writes Guest’s new spot, Taco Republic, is “an intriguing new spin on gringo tacos.” Expect catfish tacos, “smoky brisket with chipotle barbecue sauce topped with fried onion rings,” and other “whimsical” tacos. Always on alert for the underdog vegetarian diner, Gubbshoe assures us all they don’t have to worry. Quotes and more details here.  Taco Republic in located in the space formerly known as La Paloma at Central and Spring Valley. (Next up: Taco Republican. Now, there’s a concept.)

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Taco Joint on Peak Adds a Second Location at Mockingbird and Abrams in Dallas

Last April, Kristy Albert reviewed Taco Joint at the corner of Peak and Gaston in East Dallas. Today a diligent Disher reports Taco Joint is opening a second location in the former Sol’s space on Mockingbird and Abrams. “Yes, we just signed a lease last week,” says Corey McCauley. “We have a great team in place here and have been looking for the right place.” McCauley and his partner Jeffrey Kowitz plan to operate the new location 7 days a week . They will serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and breakfast ALL DAY along with beer and margaritas.


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Gas Station Tacos: Habaneros in Valero Station in Arlington

Christopher Baccus loves cars and gas station tacos. We find that very attractive.

Christopher Baccus is  a taco junkie and blogger. Not just any kind of taco, primarily those found in or near gas stations. In his last report he took you here. This week he presents…

One night after a Texas Rangers game I passed a gas station with a bold sign with a red habanero pepper announcing: Habaneros, Taco Revolution.  Several weeks later I returned to find out what the revolt was all about.

The weekday lunch crowd was active with people stopping by just for the tacos which is always a good sign. I found plenty of graphics and promotional signage inside the taqueria. Someone spent some good money at Kinkos giving Habaneros a professional, almost fast-food chain look. Fortunately, the staff didn’t consist of teenagers asking if I wanted fries with my order.

Jumpo.

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Stop the Presses: Fuel City Gets a Patio

Fuel City is destined to become the second most famous grassy knoll in Dallas.

And it took them this long because? Fuel City, once the most undiscovered street taco in Dallas, is now the most overrated street taco in Dallas. And they have a patio and a PR agency to prove it.

Did you know the recipes for the tacos originated in Durango, Mexico? Read all about it. (Bonus point: Do we still have presses to stop?)

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