It is hard to pick a favorite line from the early seasons of the The Simpsons, the only ones worth watching, but if I had to pick I would probably go with Homer furtively offering Marge "They didn't have any aspirin so I got you some cigarettes." Serenely located next to the Briar Shoppe, the best non-alcoholic thing in the Village, Torchy's has taken over that sketchy looking pizza place that was always kinda busy but never lines-out-the-door busy so it didn't have the same cache as waiting for a table at the long-gone TwoRows and the more recently departed Texadelphia. Unlike Rebecca V.'s complaint on the ventilation, I did not smell any smoke from next door. In fact even at lunch at 11am the smell of beer being poured was much stronger inside; outside a more prominent smell was a heavy guy who likely had not showered in about three weeks by the smell of it. Therefore if you are concerned about the "smoky" smell then don't worry, it's not even present. So there wasn't any sensual Nat Sherman luxury cigarette wafting smells, but Torchy's got you the aroma of Texas beers on tap. The guy behind the counter taking my order was much more pleasant than the service I have ever received at the one on Shepherd. It reminded me of the ones in Austin where they are chillax and breaux, not the surly and grumpy messes on Shepherd. There are tacos on site gentlemen, don't be a grumpy cat. Torchy's is open nice and early for a breakfast taco option in the Village if you needed another breakfasting option nearby in addition to the fantastic Croissant-Brioche. Based on Paul D.'s reviews and just common sense about this being the Village, I decided not to come to lunch at high noon because I don't like people and I like waiting in line even less. Therefore a business lunch was scheduled promptly at 11am. So I skipped breakfast this morning so I was extra hungry. And of course pursuant to said hungriness, arrived at 10:45am. It was interesting seeing the transition of this Torchy's from 10:45 to 12:15ish. At 10:45 there were very few people inside and only a few tables occupied outside. By 11am outside was starting to fill up. Around 11:30 every table inside and outside was occupied and by noon there was a long, long line to place the order. They have only been open since Thursday. But the Shepherd location is always about this busy. And this is the Village so it will be even busier. Parking at 10:45am was simple right in front of the restaurant in the angled parking off Morningside and additional spots free in the lot in front of the Briar Shoppe. By noon there was not an empty spot and everyone was circling the block numerous times. So just be aware what you are dealing with if you come at a traditional lunching time, you come with everyone else. Come early if you want to avoid the rush. The weather was nice so outdoor seating it was. The inside gets loud and reverberatey. The guy in front of me was so loud placing his beer order at 10:58 and then he sat inside, there was no way I could talk over him, so I was sitting outside no matter what the weather was like. I can only imagine what this place would sound like after the drunken Rice freshmen stumble in after sipping their beers at the Gingerman. Good thing they have a patio even though its approaching summer rapidly, sitting outside is probably the best option. The food hit the table in less than ten minutes. That feels like such a quick turnaround when you actually have someone to talk with, rather than playing with your phone waiting for a to-go order at the one on Shepherd. I went with the brushfire, my favorite Torchy's creation, and the Dirty Sanchez because come on, they actually named a taco that and just imagine how River Oaks spoiled brat 5 year olds with iPads are having their innocence shattered much younger than we did without the benefit of the internets in the Bronze age my generation grew up in with our simple 151 Pokemon and kinder, gentler SNES and Sega Genesis consoles. What I liked about this experience: they actually listened about me wanting flour tortillas and Diablo sauce. Nothing angers the kraken more than ordering Diablo and getting to my office with my to-go order and finding some other peasant sauce occupying my cups. The Shepherd location is so guilty of that offense. But not the new shiny one in the Village, yet. For a little less than $8 you get a huge amount of food in two tacos. The food quality is far and away better than any competitor - compare what Taco Cabana gives you with humdrum options of egg and bacon and egg and steak compared to the Dirty Sanchez with fried poblano chile, guacamole, escabeche carrots, and shredded cheese smothered in Diablo sauce. Unfortunately there is no drive-thru for Torchy's so occasionally you must resort to the Taco Cabana when you don't want to get out of your car. But overall, Torchy's in the Village was pretty fantastic as long as you are willing to eat your lunch before 11am. read more

Torchy's Tacos - Brushfire and Dirty Sanchez sensually smothered with Diablo sauce - Tex-Mex Near Me - Houston, Texas

I've already written 3 other reviews extolling the virtues of Austin-originated Torchy's Tacos, so why not one more? Yes, we'll do one more. If you follow the Houston food scene at all, you already know that there are Houstonians that can't stand the ostentatious, quirky tacos of Torchy and consider them a blight on the (debatable) far superior Houston diner's market. I can't decide whether to offer a tip of the hat for being so stubbornly adamant, or a wag of the finger for decrying an Austin favorite. Either way, I really can't fathom how people simply don't like the taste of said taco. I suppose I can understand the "it's not a traditional taco!" venom or the "it's too expensive!" wallet punch. But quite simply, these are damn-good tasting tacos. This is all a circumvented way of saying you should enjoy your Torchy's experience. For those that have been reading and just feel like I've wasted two-and-a-half minutes of their time, here's my quick rundown: 1. Expect a taco proper to set you back about $3-$4. Two will do. 2. Everyone has a favorite taco. I've moved on from the Democrat (barbacoa) to the Trailer Park (fried chicken, and get it trashy with queso atop). The wife's is the Fried Avocado. 3. There's a taco of the month that will cost a pretty penny, but it's generally loaded. 4. Corn or flour is an option for every taco. 5. So is the sauce, which comes in a small container. Extra sauces are free by request. The diablo is nails for me. 6. Ordering ahead for takeout during peak times makes efficient sense. Some brief post-notes: In general, the parking at the new Rice Village location is infinitely preferable to Shepherd's (not to mention the commute time from my home, personally). I went a couple days after the official opening, and it seems like they're still working out some kinks. Service is a little slow and mildly inefficient. Seating appears more limited, with a smaller patio for sure. read more

Torchy's Tacos - Crossroads (brisket, onions, jalapeño, avocado) & Trashy Trailer Park (fried chicken, green chile, pico de gallo, queso) - Tex-Mex Near Me - Houston, Texas

While I use to get the same o' Trailer Park non-trashy and Crossroads tacos, something magical happened. I finally had a chance to order from the Sacred "Secret" menu. All I can say is that this full menu became possible by the Taco Gods. Thanks, Reddit. Torchy's released this 7-taco menu on their Tumblr page and deleted each description by the day. I'm more excited only because I was honestly over the normal choices I had. Absolutely over it -except for maybe the yummy green chile queso. I got the matador and ace of spades. Both spicy. Matador had chopped brisket with chopped grilled jalapenos that amplified heat. The ace of spades is jalapeno sausage but doesn't compare to the matador burn. Btw, the ace of spades is so huge, they use 2 tortillas to hold it up. I literally split it in half and ate it for two separate meals. Here it is. If I was able to research it, so can you. I'm just saving you some finger exercise. (Taco Gods please forgive me! Your hardwork is very much appreciated.) 1. Missionary: Style Green Chili Pork: carnitas, pickled onions, guacamole, jack cheese and cilantro, topped with chipotle sauce and wrapped in a flour and corn two-tortilla tandem. 2. Jack of Clubs: Fried egg and grilled potatoes with black beans, tortilla strips and cheese; all topped with cilantro, sour cream and Torchy's Diablo sauce. 3. The Hipster: panko-breaded fried tuna, with bacon, green chilies, and black beans; topped with cilantro and cotija cheese, and served on a flour tortilla with avocado sauce. 4. The Mad Cow: Skirt steak with black beans and corn; topped with jack cheese, cilantro and ranch. 5. Trailer Park Hillbilly Style: Torchy's gauche standby is made even trashier with chorizo and chopped bacon atop the usual fried chicken tender with green chilies, queso and ranch, served on a flour tortilla. 6. Ace of Spades: Jalapeno sausage link and grilled brisket topped with a fried egg, green chile queso, cotija cheese, sour cream, more cheese and Diablo sauce, served on a flour tortilla 7. The Matador: Chopped brisket and grilled jalapeno topped with pickled onions, jack cheese, avocado, sour cream and cilantro with tomatillo sauce on a corn tortilla. *(Do me a favor and don't ask the cashier about the menu, just order casually and I bet they won't flinch. They'll probably act cool with a smirk and look at you in a new Torchy's light. In a good way.) read more

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4.5 stars for the food, 3 stars for the cleanliness of the place. I came here twice on my visit to Houston. This location is located near Rice University, so there are a lot of students coming to eat here. Overall, service and food is great. I like how they have a variety of tacos that are so different from each other so you can come here often and always try something new. Their salsas are not too spicy, especially their salsa verde. I hardly tasted any spice in it, but the flavor was pretty good. The crispy chicken taco is amazing. They bread white meat chicken and fry it and put a bed of cabbage on top. The baja shrimp taco is good too, and it's made similar to the chicken taco. The brisket taco was very different because it was on the sweeter barbecue side, which is unique for a taco. I really love all of the food, but everything was a bit too salty. If it were a little less salty, it would hands down be my favorite tacos to eat. I don't think the place is the cleanest because it has a funky smell to it. It kind of smells like wet towel or some type of cleaning supply and the tables are pretty sticky. However, it is a fast food type of place so that is kind of expected. read more

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I came here on various occasions with different people. The line is bearable if you know what time to go. The workers here aren't friendly and can be rude; so I avoid talking and just order. The quicker I get out of line the faster I'll get my food and leave. GREEN CHILE QUESO & CHIPS- homemade chips with delicious green chile queso topped off with guacamole, queso fresco, cilantro & diablo hot sauce The queso was amazing! I absolutely love the creaminess and how it's so thick in consistency. It's packed with flavors and has a little bit of heat in it. The chips are really crisp and goes so well with the gooey, creamy queso. The crisp chips and the hot queso are the perfect combo before you start your tacos. MR. PINK- guajillo seared ahi tuna, cabbage fresca, cilantro and queso fresco with a wedge of lime, served with chipotle sauce on a corn tortilla I did not like the flavors in this taco. The tuna was overcooked and dry. I wish it had more of the fresh tuna taste and the cabbage and cilantro added subtle pickled flavors, but it wasn't enough to mask the dryness and flavorless tuna. I won't be ordering this taco again. MR. ORANGE- blackened salmon topped with a grilled corn and black bean relish, queso fresco and cilantro, drizzled with avocado salsa, then served with a wedge of lime on a corn tortilla I really enjoyed this taco. The salmon was so flavorful and I really liked the avocado salsa on top of the salmon. It gave it a nice layer of creaminess. Everything about this taco was perfection. All the ingredients melded well with each other and I loved that it had enough acidity to give the salmon some freshness. I'll be back if I'm in the area, but I wouldn't drive all the way here just to get their tacos. read more

Torchy's Tacos - green chile queso & chips - Tex-Mex Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I don't know about you, but the first thing I notice when going to a new place is the crowd. Well, to my complete surprise, the line was out the door. That vision made me even more curious about the food. After much review of my choices, I decided to order the beef fajita and democrat tacos with a side of guacamole. The tacos were DELICIOUS! I have never really closed my eyes when taking a bite out of my food, but this time it happened! Both tacos were excellent. They were over stuffed, which can never be a bad thing. The democrat was with barbacoa meat and it was lean and not greasy. The fajita was seasoned just right! I highly recommend those two choices. A must here is their guacamole. It has a special spice that gives it a nice kick. Not too spicy and it is just mouth watering. Makes me wonder if they have special guacamole cooks who pick the fresh avocados from the avocado tree in the back! The atmosphere is relaxed and family friendly. Although it was super busy when I went, parking was not bad at all. The staff is friendly and they being the goodness to you. The prices are very decent and you get your money's worth. I high recommend you try this at least once. I will be going back soon and try as much of their menu as possible. read more

Torchy's Tacos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Houston, Texas

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"Not that it wasn't bad, it just wasn't great. " My friend raved about this place being that it was laced with awesome sauce. I was not disappointed here. It brought a lot of flavors that i did not expect to get from it. Nonetheless, it was not the greatest. I felt that there wasn't any contrast in each taco. I think that was something I felt like it was missing. Overall they were good tacos; a great mix of flavors with an interesting taste on my palette. Recommended. Pros: Variations, Tacos, Prices are okay Cons: Expect lines Stars: 3.75 read more

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I have been wanting to try Torchy's tacos for a while now. One of my coworkers keeps talking about how great the tacos are, so I had to try it for myself. Picked up lunch to go. This place was packed and very noisy. It took almost 30 minuets to get my tacos. I ordered the green Chile pork taco and a brushfire chicken. The green chile pork was loaded with meat and quite tasty. It was my favorite of the two. The brushfire taco was spicy and had a nice flavor but the chicken was dry, don't think I would get this one again. Service was Ok but did have one small snafu. I had ordered it to go and they brought it out in the dine in basket. Had to wait anther 5 min for them to take it in the back and wrap it to go. Parking in the village can be a pain around lunch, but I was fortunate enough to find a parking spot right out front. Yea! I would go back, but not on my lunch. Will probably wait until the weekend when I have more time. read more

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Man, this location is really starting to bum me out!! Last time I came, we had a non-empathetic manager who didn't care his paying customers were getting pooped on by birds. This time, it was so-so food that lacked in flavor and quantity. We ordered the queso and chips (very good, as usual, just a little heavy on the cilantro). And I also got my usual, the Baja Taco (very delicious combination of fried shrimp and slaw). For something new, I tried the Mr. Pink. This was not that good! I was expecting the tuna to be seared, but it was over-cooked, and the seasoning on it was very spicy and overwhelming. The fish had a "fishy" flavor to it, and there wasn't enough of the other ingredients to even the flavors out. The hubby ordered his usual, Trailer Park, and they skimped him on the chicken! There was like 1/3 of meat of what normally comes in the taco. So, he was bummed too. I used to love it here, but the more I come, the more I notice the quality going down little by little. Follow me on my way to foodietown! http://britneygfoodie.yelp.com read more

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Torchy's basically serves dressed up tacos that are stuffed with all kinds of amazing to create a beautifully satisfying eating experience. When I first came to Rice, Torchy's was new to Houston and all the rage, but the parking and crowds at the Shepherd location were daunting. Luckily for us, a new location has opened up in Rice Village, which is extremely convenient (even if parking is sometimes a struggle). My personal favorites are The Democrat, Fried Avocado, and the queso. I've tried several of the other tacos (The Republican, The Independent, Dirty Sanchez, Brushfire, etc.), but I'm a sucker for barbacoa & avocado, so those two tacos are the best in my opinion. And that queso...hands down the best I've ever had. The tacos range from $3-4, which adds up quickly, but the tacos are much more filling than typical street tacos, so it's somewhat justifiable (or maybe I just use that as an excuse). read more

I finally found a way to dodge the massive lines during peak hours at Rice Village... Go later in the evening after work!!! We needed some well done comfort food after a kray kray day at work!!! And Torchy's hits the spot. We inhaled the freshly fried chips and salsa as we waited for our dishes. I ordered The Independent and Mr. Pink's. The Independent is always satisfying and balanced in terms of flavors and textures. The earthy mushrooms and black beans went well with the sweet corn and carrots. The queso fresco gave a nice bite while the cilantro added some freshness. The fatty avocado gave some richness and body and the garlic aioli drizzled over the entire dish united all the ingredients. Mr. Pink's reminds me of SoCal. A delectable meaty tuna, accompanied by crunchy cabbage and cool cilantro. Hit it with a little bit of acid from a lime wedge and BAM!!! You're in Malibu! Thanks Torchy's!!! read more

Torchy's Tacos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Houston, Texas

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So after reading all the rave reviews, Hubola and I decided to check out Torchy's Tacos. I was really taken aback by the line down the sidewalk and the fact that there were NO available tables. After all, I was hangry and could bite someone's head off at any minute if I didn't eat. The good news is, the line moved fast and tables soon cleared! YAY! I have spared another victim from my hangry, bad attitude! Once inside, I opted for the Mr. Pink and the Brushfire, both on corn tortillas. Hubola wanted queso so we ordered some and found a table. For those of you not drinking beer while you're here (like me because I had afternoon client appointments), you'll find a nice variety of Maine Root beverages from the soda fountain, as well as sweet/unsweet tea. But I digress, back to the food! The queso came out and it was VERY good! I know it has green chiles but I swear there was some avocado in there, too! They gave us way too many chips, so I would prefer they lighten it up just a bit on this. Once my tacos came out I dug in! I have to admit, I enjoyed the Brushfire way more than the Mr. Pink. I know tacos are generally 2 corn tortillas per taco so they don't turn into a soggy mess, but I typically don't eat the outer tortilla because it's way too filling. I am assuming it was diablo sauce that it came with, too, which was ok but nothing special. The Poblano sauce looked way better (that's what Hubola got). So next time I return, I'm going to try the Mr. Orange, the Crossroads, and what the hell, I may get a Dirty Sanchez while I'm there! Hey, gutter brain, that's the name of the taco!!! LOL. read more

Torchy's Tacos - Mr Pink & Brushfire - Tex-Mex Near Me - Houston, Texas

Food somewhat matches the Shepherd location in terms of quality. I think the fact that they don't make their tortillas will always hold them back. Their vegetarian options are okay but I prefer Taco a Go Gos breakfast tacos. The Independent is more interesting with its crunchy texture and bold flavours compared to the mushy fried avocado. Service here is somewhat slower but it is to be expected since this is their first month and I certain remember what the Shepherd location was like when it first opened. Parking is certainly a lot easier at this location. read more

I'm going to retain my 4 star rating for Torchy's, but we did have a couple of not-so-great experiences: 1) We stopped in for a late lunch one weekend (Sunday, I think?), and we were told that it would be a ~20 minute wait for our order because of them needing to catch up with catering orders. That was a little annoying! We decided to leave and grab lunch somewhere else. 2) We went another time and grabbed some chips and guacamole, and the guac was way too lime-y. I know that the preferred amount of lime in a guacamole might be sort of subjective, but I seriously think this guac was too lime-y for almost anyone, and it's normally delicious. We took the order back and explained that it was super lime-y, and apparently all of the guac they had left was going to be like that (since they make it in batches). That's a reasonable approach, but then we were screwed - the manager (I think) offered us queso instead, and I sounded sort of unenthused (we wanted guac, darnit!). He took my waffling to be a "yes, please bring us queso," which was a bit of a strange interpretation since I never actually agreed to it (and in fact mentioned that my fiancee didn't like queso). Anyway, the queso was fine, but definitely a bit disappointing after expecting the guacamole. Still, somehow, the restaurant seems better than 3 stars, so I'm going to retain the 4 star rating :) read more

If you don't really care about authentic Mexican tacos and want to try some more American-friendly fusion fare, this is the place for you. Torchy's serves up large, fresh, tacos that are a mix of traditional offerings and seemingly proprietary combinations, usually with odd political names or cultural references. Given the wealth of taco options around Houston, you can definitely find cheaper tacos of more authentic or Americanized variety, but some of the options at Torchy's just can't be beat. Political leanings aside, I'm partial to their Democrat, essentially a barbacoa taco with a slice of avocado on top. The Republican has smoked jalapeno sausage (tasty by itself but not conducive to a good taco), and the Independent is a mess of a vegetarian taco. Out of the breakfast options, the Ranch Hand (egg, cheese, beef fajita) and Wrangler (egg, cheese, barbacoa) are both solid options, but there are cheaper simpler tacos as well. The best piece of advice I can give is to try to avoid the busiest parts of the day. The people at Torchy's hustle, but with high volumes, mistakes are bound to be made, tables aren't flipped fast enough, and the drink station becomes a mess of unavailable beverages and wet sticky surfaces. If you catch them between traditional meal periods, the lines are shorter, the drinks are stocked, and you can find a table without much trouble. read more

I think the tacos used to be better, unless the deteriorating service is making the whole experience less enjoyable. It was 1:20 pm and they were already out of a bunch of things! I went with a friend for lunch and her order was so messed up, it was decided next time we should use the app and just pick up the order. The catfish on my Alabama Shake was really dry, fyi. Also, it took 25 minutes to get our tacos and by that time we were too full of queso and chips to really want the rest of our order. It took over an hour for a fast food lunch and since you have to pay for parking, it's not really worth the hassle and expense. Sorry guys, y'all need to go back to your original quality. read more

Torchy's Taco is probably one of the best Tacos I've ever had... but in it's own category. Their taco's aren't like normal tacos. They offer weird to interesting selections such as fried avocado and Jamaican Jerk Chicken. It's so good though! This time I got the dirty sanchez and Mr. Orange. I highly recommend the dirty sanchez. It's probably my favorite since it comes with this white sauce that goes so well with the eggs and spices in the taco. One taco would make you want another... so order a second. This location though, like the one on Sheppard, has very limited seating and parking spots (especially when crowded during lunch or dinner time). read more

I'm a health nut. I avoid GMOs and work out five times a week. Torchy's is my fast food guilty pleasure...super clean and well run, I love everything about this place. Decor and ambiance are casual, cool and fun. In true casual form: you order, get a number, take a seat and wait for your goodness to be delivered to your table. Boy will you be pleased with what's to come! This is by far my favorite taco place...period. I always bring friend who are visiting from out of town and they are always impressed and satisfies. Menu even offers vegan options! read more

Torchy's Tacos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The customer service was amazing. I was able to try taco combinations that I never though of. Word of advice, make one of your taco decisions something out of the ordinary. Mine was the trailer park taco. My tacos were seasoned with a kick of heat and After eating, we were able to walk around rice village and shop a little bit. If your visiting Houston, or live in the area, I recommend you try it. read more

Torchy's Tacos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Houston, Texas

1. A line that extends out the door 2. Delicious and flavorful tacos 3. The naming of the tacos Consumed: The democrat The republican This place is pretty amazing! Don't let the long line scare you, it goes pretty quick! The tacos are so goood!! I liked the democrat and republican equally. ;) They were each pretty unique. I couldn't completely finish both of them, since they are really filling! They certainly pile the meat on! I definitely want to go back to try the other tacos!! read more

Torchy's Tacos - Trailer park - Tex-Mex Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This is one of my favorite lunch spots. It gets crowded with lines out the door but if you go about 11am during the week then there's no line. Parking and seating can be a problem. The queso without the diablo sauce is amazing. I could live off of it and Nookies are divine. Prickly Catus is my favorite drink. The calories are not sparse so don't go if watching what you eat. read more

Torchy's Tacos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Soft opening= 2 free tacos, 2 free beers, loud music, and alot of fun! You know a business takes pride in what they have when they offer a soft opening with nothing but FREE stuff! Of course it was BEYOND packed, and for some people it was hard to find seating if any at all. The staff was on their toes and made sure every customer they encountered was happy. For it being such a busy evening, they did great! read more

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Went here again to bring a non Houston person and they loved it! On a Wednesday at 7ish no line and fast service! Even when I go and there is a line it goes very quickly! Their chips that come with salsa/guac/queso are delicious!!! Im pescetarian and I have many options when I go there - fish , veggies, and eggs! My favorites are the "independent" which has fried portobello, the dirty sanchez (egg and fried poblano pepper), and the tuna! I'll get two tacos and be absolutely stuffed! It's seat yourself And sometimes the tables are kind of in disarray which is my only complaint. Will always take guests here! read more

Torchy's Tacos - Left is "the independent" which has black beans and a fried portobello. On the right is the tuna taco without cheese :). - Tex-Mex Near Me - Houston, Texas

I've driven past the Shepard Drive Torchy's, and there is always a line out the door. On an early Sunday morning I was thinking about some breakfast tacos and noticed that the new Torchy's opens early and is close by. Score! The design inside is sort of exposed-wood/modern-industrial looking. You order at the register, get a tag to hang on the tree at your table, and you're away! The cashier was really nice; for 8:15 a.m., I was impressed. I ordered three breakfast tacos (I'm a fatty, no judging): 1. the bacon, egg, and cheese 2. the potato, egg, and cheese 3. the jalapeno sausage, egg, and cheese. They came out quickly after, and I devoured them. The flour tortillas are great and large. Each one has a good deal of egg inside, a good sprinkling of cheese, and nice fixings. Each one came with red salsa, which had a little kick, but wasn't too spicy. It appears that you can upgrade your salsa to something more atomic, if you want. My favorite was probably the jalapeno sausage, followed closely by the potato. I'll have to be back to try their non-breakfast tacos. read more

Torchy's Tacos - Bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast taco on the left, potato, egg, and cheese taco on the right and red salsa with each - Tex-Mex Near Me - Houston, Texas

There comes a time in every student's life when he looks at an insanely long line to a restaurant and forces himself to become a pawn of conformity and wait in line instead of going to another restaurant. For me, that time came when I approached Torchy's. I've heard this place hyped up many Many MANY times and finally decided to give it a go. I have to say, I'm not the biggest fan of Tex Mex, but I enjoyed almost everything I ate. The queso had a delicious spicy kick to it and the corn was a nice, spicy palate cleanser. My fav was the baja shrimp though. They don't skimp on the amount of shrimp they give, and as a whole it's pretty solid. The one thing I didn't enjoy was the Mr. Pink. The fish was SUPER dry and honestly, its taste paled in comparison to the other dishes. I'll admit that Torchy's won me over. Not the best tacos I've ever had, but definitely worth trying at least once in your life! read more

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I am not sure what everyone is on about for this location. Go to the Shepherd one. Never had a bad stop there. The last few times the wife and I have been here have been borderline atrocious. Usually the wife and I order the queso. Which this last time apparently translated into hipster as "Please drown my melted cheese in cilantro." That is all you could taste. And salt. My trailer park came with a pathetic 1oz nugget of fried chicken and was also smothered in cilantro. Really. Does everything here translate to cilantro? Usually you cannot even close the tortilla around the chicken. This time I had to traverse the jungles of vege and cilantro to locate my 1 little morsel of meat. I could have complained. But I feel this would have been as effective as giving myself cholera to solve the situation. I just couldn't be bothered. Don't sit outside unless you would like to be assaulted by birds and pooped on. Yes this happened to me. When we complained we were met with indifference as though the managers and owner know they are milking this close-to-college hipster hangout for all it is worth. Remember, if you keep telling young heads full of mush something is good, they will believe it, instead of think for themselves. Which it isn't. Good that is. read more

This is probably my friends' favorite Tex-Mex joint (though I think the place is just good, not that amazing). It's pretty much always crowded (the line sometimes goes out the door), but the service is really good. My favorite taco here is of course the Trailer Park (Trashy). The fried chicken combined with everything else is pretty good. The portion (along with the other tacos) is a little small though so you have to order like 5 or more to actually get full. The Democrat is also really good. The beef is really tender, and there's a lot of it. The Green Chile Queso is the thing that everyone raves over here, and it's definitely not overhyped. You get unlimited chips and a good sized bowl of dip. All I can say is that it's really good and has a good kick from the chile. Definitely not a bad place to go. Good food and a good atmosphere, it's a place my friends and I go back to a lot. read more

Torchy's Tacos - Green Chile Queso - Tex-Mex Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Go to Torchy's. I ordered the trailer park and the mr pink with a side of chips and salsa. Both my tacos were unique flavor and straight up delicious. Now, this isn't some authentic Mexican spot, this is tacos gone wild, done right. In addition to the tasty fare they also have an interesting supply of beers and sodas. The fountain has some Mexican sodas as well as some cactus juices, pretty cool stuff, all good. Finally, they also have a cool cheese quesadilla for kids that are too young for the spices and flavors of the main menu. So, go at least once, order a trailer park, and sit back and enjoy. It can get crowded so be prepared to maybe eat outside. read more

Torchy's Tacos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Houston, Texas

Totally DISAPPOINTED!!! WORST experience at all!!! I ordered 2 tacos to-go yesterday through their online ordering form. I'm gluten and dairy intolerance so I was happy they offered options to make their food gluten and dairy free - by using corn tortillas and no cheese or dairy product . But when I took it home, i opened the tacos which were wrapped nicely, I looked at them... WHAT? THEY WERE FULL OF CHEESE!!! And the cheese was melt into the food so I could not separate it from the tacos!!! I checked the receipt to make sure I ordered them correctly. Yes There was nothing wrong in my order. The fact was they ignored my order and put whatever they wanted!!! I paid $10 for the "food" I could not eat - more correctly they were trash to me!! I was so hungry and I would not spend 15 mins driving back for the MISTAKE they made! Dairy is "poisonous" which will make me really really sick for a week! Torchy's, you should train your staff better by paying attention to the order receipt - which is marked in red!!! I have no idea why you mark the details in red but none of your staff care! You should refund me $10!!!!!!!!! read more

Torchy's Tacos - They lie!!!! No cheese? No! It's full of cheese!!!!! - Tex-Mex Near Me - Houston, Texas

This place is still AWESOME!!! This was my second time to dine here. I work in the Medical Center so Torchy's is very closeby. But this place is ALWAYS packed! You have to get there early to avoid the long lines and to find a parking spot. Today we lucked out because we drove up, found a spot immediately and the line was NOT out the door for a change! And there were actually tables available, inside and outside! We got there around 11:30am or so. We opted to sit outside on this nice Fall day. This time I ordered the Mr. Orange Salmon taco. It was SOOOOOO GOOD!! I actually prefer grilled fish tacos because they are not as heavy as the fried fish. Although I did try the Baja Shrimp taco too which is the battered shrimp. It was really good too but I liked the salmon taco better. Both came with the queso fresco cheese which gave the tacos added flavor along with fresh cilantro. YUM!! The sauces can be too spicy for some but I didn't mind it. It's not called "Torchy's" for nothing! Prices are a little high for tacos. I ordered the two tacos listed above along with a drink (Vanilla soda) and it was $12.18. That seems a bit high to me but I don't mind paying that much when I'm getting high-quality food! So far, I've enjoyed all four tacos I've tried from here. I'd definitely recommend this place to all taco lovers! read more

Flour tortillas were raw and not cooked, messed up me and my girlfriend's stomachs. Trash build up near the trash cans was very messy. Employees stood around not doing any of their duties, on their phones. The restroom (ladies) had dead roaches on the ground. Not a great experience for such a great location, likely wont be back. read more

Edit: such a horrible place and I'm so disappointed because we ordered for a company lunch one day and I actually liked one of the tacos. So anyway I ordered today 8/16/18 and I'm waiting in the "Order ahead line" behind someone that's checking out so as I'm sitting there waiting a random white woman walks up on the side of the cashier and he asked her what did she have and proceeded to try to check her out. so I had to tell the cashier who is Black by the way that either you're going to check her out are you going to take my order and cancel it because I've been waiting here for 10 minutes and there's no way you will put this white woman ahead of me when I've been in line(you do know we're free right "brother"?)So anyway he reluctantly takes my order and checks me out without apologizing but I will never again ever go to Torchy's Tacos smdh Stay away from this place if your lunch is an hour or shorter because inevitably you'll be there for an hour waiting but never receive your food. They might be a good place to go to on an off-day when you have all day to wait but if you only have an hour stay away from this place. read more

This may be blasphemy to the folks that will wait 15 or more minutes in line for a "decent" taco (you are aware there are many less hipster but authentic taco spots...). We are regulars when we don't want to drive to Chiloso's or other places. However, we have noted a significant drop-off in quality and service in our last few visits. Namely, - always some mess going on when you order. Only one register open, etc. - the coffee area is constantly a mess. Spilled milk, trash, running out of coffee - yesterday our tacos came out cold. This was early Sunday with no crowd. We were in a hurry and told the waitress but could not wait to get replacements. Time for the management to observe and improve? Or maybe the popularity outweighs this less than expected service??? read more

Breakfast tacos are the real deal. While any cardiologist would be horrified at the idea of queso and tacos for breakfast I have to say the meal was worth any long term damage that came with it. These tacos are HUGE, beware of ordering more than a couple. My friend and I could barely finish the three apiece that we tried. There are a couple dozen taco options, all more delightful than the last. I will certainly be back to try them all as long as my heart doesn't stop first! read more

Let me just start off by saying wow. And I mean WOW. I like to consider myself a connoisseur of the Torchy's Trashy Trailer Park (I get it at every Torchy's I go to!!) and this was BY FAR the best one I've ever had!! Words cannot even begin to explain the ecstasy that my mouth experienced upon consuming this fine work of taco art. I'm not sure if it was the fresh ingredients or maybe the love the chef poured into it, but I really believe this may be the best taco I've ever had. I'm in tears. I don't know why anyone would order anything else aside from the absolute bliss that is the Torchy's Extra Trashy Trailer Park. I have to think that there is a limited supply of deliciousness in the world and that the employee complaining about how everyone only orders the Trailer Park and nothing else on the menu when I ordered the Trailer Park was only trying to save me from myself as that's the only food I will ever eat from now on Best taco EVER. 10/10 would Trailer again!! read more

Josh and I crossed the street after a wine tasting event into spice heaven! :) I had always wanted to try Torchy's but there are so many awesome Mexican food choices in Houston--sooo much food, so little room in my pants! ;P Torchy's really lived up to all of its hoopla for me!!! Between the two of us, we tried 4 of their specialty tacos: the green chile pork, the trailer trash (fried chicken), the democrat (Barbacoa) and the brushfire (spicy jerk chicken)!! I strongly recommend the BRUSHFIRE!!! It is served with one if the most satisfyingly spicy, kickass sauces I've had in a long while....the diablo sauce! Man alive!!! My tongue was set ablaze and my taste buds were doing a dance around the fire! This particular taco was dressed with mango and fabulously grilled jalapeños that joined the fire dance in my mouth :-) The other tacos were pretty good as well but I really did not want to share the brushfire taco with Josh! ;) The place is very tight...maybe it was just this location. There was a constant 5-8 person line and tables did not clear up as quickly to accommodate the crowd. Nobody seemed to mind, all smiles, lots of laughter and chatter! I will most definitely come back for that brushfire taco! read more

Torchy's Tacos - Yummmy tacos! The brushfire is the one sitting on the right side in all its glorious spiciness!! - Tex-Mex Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I already loved the Houston Torchy's on Shepherd - but this one's even better because its CLOSER to me and they have beers on TAP!!! Always get the Independent and Queso/Chips. Delicious! read more

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I had the chips and chili queso & guac, the Democrat taco, and the beef fajita taco. I think it's overpriced for what you get but I do have to say that the tacos were tasty. The beef fajita tasted like what I would get at pappasitos on Wednesday's (better deal) while the Barbacoa and avocado in the Democrat was good. The queso and guac were a little underwhelming for me personally. read more

I enjoy this location better than the first one in Houston. I always keep coming back for their tacos. My favorites have become the Fried Avocado, Trailer Park - Trashy, and the Democrat. But their drinks get me to order something besides water. The Doppelgänger soda and their Sweet tea are delicious. I've had more luck finding parking here than the one in Montrose. The service overall seemed better, but my only complaint is that there is absolutely no cell phone service. read more

After torchy's in Austin, I had high expectations for this. I got the democrat and a friend got the monk special. The democrat was super dry and bland, the monk special was unspectacular, the corn tortilla it came on was dry and dusty tasting. Very disappointed. The person who took our order was also quite unenthusiastic when taking our order. Don't go. read more

Torchy's Tacos - Democrat - Tex-Mex Near Me - Houston, Texas