I asked a friend, who was born and raised in Houston, to provide food recs while I was visiting the city. Velvet Taco was high on his list. Although I didn't get to try a location near downtown where I was staying, I had a last chance to try it at the HOU airport around gates 40-50 in the SWA terminal. Velvet Taco was popping when I arrived. There was no empty seat at the bar. The queue for tacos was fast, and I was in and out of the place with my order in less than 10 minutes. Not going to lie, I was very weary of Velvet Taco. I'm a taqueria/traditional street taco kind of gal. I'm admittedly not a huge fan of Tex-Mex. That said, I'm all for, "Don't knock it 'til you try it," and found that the Velvet Taco hype was real. I got a 2 taco combo box with chips and queso. The taco flavors I got were Slow Roasted Brisket and an Asian-inspired battered shrimp (can't recall the name). The brisket was tender, but it was on the salty side. The taco had guac, corn, pico de gallo, and salsa. This honestly was like a Chipotle crispy taco. Same ingredients, same taste. Did not hate it since I love Chipotle's crispy tacos. The shrimp taco was fine. I liked the sweet & sour flavors. Appreciated the big shrimp pieces. Their queso was everything. It was the kind of viscous queso I like. Not runny or watered down in texture. read more

Velvet Taco - Tacos Near Me - Houston, Texas

Grabbed tacos and guacamole here during a long layover and it was a life saver. The guac was delish and came with blue corn tortilla chips. There are a variety of tacos available of all different types. The most unique was the chicken and waffle taco that my son got. Waffle cone shell with fried chicken inside with a great slaw. Not a lot of seating, so best to grab it and take it with you to your gate. read more

I give the velvet taco in Houston Hobby one star because zero is not an option. Ordered the cheese quesadilla, had one bite and threw it into the trash. I walked back to ask what kind of cheese they use in the quesadilla and was told a "cheese blend." I said I know that but what's in the blend. I pretty much figured out it was American cheese. The person checked with the cook, and sure enough, blend of white and yellow American cheese. I have no idea how this place gets any review over one star. Either they are sandbagging the app by employees and management, or maybe by people that have never had Mexican food before. Definitely want to run from this franchise or chain. They make Chipotle look like a gourmet Mexican experience. read more

Really enjoyed my "Bundle" with 2 beer battered cauliflower "Veg" tacos with a side of elote & chips. Came out quick and was some of the best contextualized cauliflower I've had. So many people swear by cauliflower as a miracle meat replacement that can step in for anything and usually I don't get the hype. Here I'm starting to believe. But the star of my Houston Hobby airport lunch was the Elote & chips side in my bundle. Awesome. Rich and creamy and full of corn with just a little spice. Wish this place had more than bar seating and it was kind of deserted which doesn't bode well for it sticking around - and the nice lady behind the counter seemed surprised I wanted to order - but I enjoyed my lunch for sure! read more

Velvet Taco - Veg beer battered cauliflower tacos - Tacos Near Me - Houston, Texas

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So happy they added this to the airport. I had just enough time to grab a quick bite before heading to the gate. I got my normal order chicken tinga and Mexicali shrimp and elote. They have a nice 2 taco + side combo for under $20. No bad for an airport meal. The bartender was really nice and the food was just ad good as their other locations. Theu dont have a lot of.sears but if you have time before a flight stop in for a quick drink, appetizer or taco. You'll be happy you did. read more

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Was at the airport early and decided to do a mini brisket breakfast taco face off between Velvet Taco and Killen's for fun! Descriptions: - velvet taco's hangover taco: slow-roasted Angus brisket, peppered bacon, crispy potatoes, scrambled eggs, cheese blend, red chile aioli on a flour tortilla - killen's breakfast taco: brisket with egg and cheese on a flour tortilla Taste: - velvet taco's hangover definitely won this category! Their brisket had better flavor throughout, and the additions of the crispy potatoes and red chili aioli added so much delicious flavor and texture as well as substance that the Killen's taco lacked. The eggs and tortillas were similar in taste. The Killen's taco was a bit plain and dry, and though it did come with some salsa which was nice, it paled in comparison to the red chili aioli. However, those who prefer more simple tacos might prefer Killen's. Price/value: velvet taco's hangover taco was about $7 and Killen's brisket taco was about $6. Killen's was cheaper but also much smaller with less meat, eggs, and no potatoes. Service: the Killen's employees did not seem to be morning people haha. They got the job done but without a good morning or a smile. Velvet taco's employees were friendlier. Both tacos came out fast with minimal wait. Ambiance: velvet taco's space has a small bar area where I think guests could sit to enjoy their food (may be restricted to 21+). Killen's had nowhere to sit and they appeared to be more a grab and go type restaurant. Both were quiet in the AM. Overall: I'd definitely get velvet taco's brisket breakfast taco again! They have a good variety of other yummy sounding tacos, sides, and cake too. I wouldn't get Killen's breakfast brisket taco again (or probably any of the other breakfast tacos) but might be willing to try their lunch or dinner options if I was really craving airport bbq. read more

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Stopped here for breakfast, excited to see a couple of gluten free options on the menu: brisket nachos, crispy tots & local egg However, right before I got to the cashier, saw the fine print. Very thankful for the long line. The chips and tots are fried in the same drier as items that have gluten. So they aren't gluten free. Total bummer. Order at counter, wait to pick up. Small seating area, more of a to go place. read more

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Well we ended up in the Hobby Airport. The beef taco was very good and tasty but the brisket taco last night was even better better. I wish this restaurant was located in Orlando Fl read more

Velvet Taco - Beef taco - Tacos Near Me - Houston, Texas

I typically don't write reviews for airport restaurants since they are rarely good but this hits the mark. I got their 2 taco bundle and tried their Mexi cali shrimp taco and the sweet chili shrimp taco. The tacos were really good, wonderful flavor and generous portions. The taco bundle comes with a side and I got guacamole and chips as the side which was great as well. The food was nicely packed and was ready quickly. read more

Velvet Taco - 2 taco bundle - Tacos Near Me - Houston, Texas

I frequent Velvet Taco because I think they have truly unique and delicious tacos. I had never been to the location in hobby before, but it's a nice little oasis as you wait for your flight You can either dine in and sit at the bar, or you can go through the Togo line. The menus are shown at the entrance and on the wall inside. You can order tacos, bowls, sides, and other starters. They also have beer on tap, margaritas, etc The staff were friendly and helpful. My meal arrived incredibly fast. I will say the bartender was a little distracted and I didn't get my beer until a bit after the food arrived when it should have probably arrived first. I also witnessed him add salt to a margarita when a customer specifically asked for no salt The prices aren't much higher here than at their normal brick and mortar, but the beer was almost half the bill at $13 for a modello pint Some tips: You can take your margaritas and other drinks to go. I would recommend the chicken tikka Marsala taco or bowl and the blanco queso with blue corn chips always hits the spot Cheers!! read more

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One of the last places I checked out before I left for my flight back to Chicago. This place had a fair selection of tacos and a light that they separated the sections for if you're staying and having a few drinks to dine in and there's a takeout section. I did try their Kobe Smashburger assuming that it might have came in a form of a burger but it comes in a form of a taco. I wasn't opposed I was more so interested but believe it or not it was actually really good. I will say it did have a small portion stature. There is a bit of a wait time especially if there is a line regardless of how long it is. Prices here are not too bad at all considering as more on the cheaper end of the airport Spectrum. Overall, I was fairly impressed with my experience here. read more

We needed a quick bite before our flight and Velvet Taco was the closest spot to our gate. Love the vibe and interesting taco combinations available. The counter worker approached me while I was looking at the menu board and offered recommendations, which I appreciated. They have a few seats at the bar but we opted to take our food to go. Our order was prepared quickly and packaged nicely. read more

Velvet Taco - Menu board - Tacos Near Me - Houston, Texas

Yikes! For 8.50 for very small plate of stale chips and guacamole with corn. Could have said yay! But stale chips had me had a hard NO! Drinks were 19 for a large can live with the airport prices. Taste pretty good. So maybe just drink here and don't buy the chips??? read more

Service was pretty fast and took my order right away, and food was decent. I got the combo, with a buffalo chicken taco and the blue cheese was great, chicken could've been crispier. The other was an angus taco and I didn't love it -- maybe it just needed some salsa on top of it to help the flavors mesh together better but the angus beef itself was decent. It was honestly really filling and I'd recommend getting just the two tacos instead of the combo. Ordering was also a bit confusing, the line to order was only for to-go orders but if you take a seat at the bar you can order directly there. Otherwise good pit stop at the airport if you're feeling hungry read more

Velvet Taco - combo: angus beef taco, buffalo chicken taco, guac - Tacos Near Me - Houston, Texas

Houston Hobby International Airport (HOU) has been going through somewhat of a facelift and Velvet Taco is amongst the new entries to join the roster when it comes to dining options. Located near gate 46, Velvet Taco offers travelers plenty of taco options and the choice of getting in line and taking your items to go or finding a spot at the bar for more of a dine-in experience. I opted to hop up to their bar for my pre-flight experience. The bartender was excellent; he was knowledgeable, friendly, quick, and made my overall experience an enjoyable one. I opted for a couple of breakfast tacos (no cilantro), a tots with local egg, and a local craft beer on draft. The food came out super quick, fresh, and accurate. The bartender checked in with me throughout my experience without making me feel I was being rushed along. I went for two Crispy Avocado and Egg Tacos and these, along with the tots were more than filling, I couldn't finish everything, not by a longshot. Suffice it to say that I find Velvet Taco a welcomed addition to Houston Hobby and I expect to be back next time I find my way flying out of HOU at the end of a work trip. read more

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This was some of the best airport food I've had. I wouldn't be surprised if Hobby Airport Velvet Taco is as good as their brick and mortar locations around the city. I had the chicken tikka and shrimp tacos and loved them. read more

The line to order moved really fast. The team of employees taking orders and getting them ready for take out were all working really hard. The elote was well balanced with the right amount of lime. The chips were fresh and crispy. The brisket taco is one of the best I've had in a long time. Every bite popped with a new flavor. The brisket was tender. The best was the cheese that had been fried to the outside of the tortilla. read more

Velvet Taco - Elote - Tacos Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I've been to the one in Nashville so I know this is a good spot, but airports make everything different. Food wise, this is great. I didn't get a seat at the bar. Just ordered to go and it was quick and easy. They also do to go margaritas which is nice. I will say the show stopper is the brisket taco, unbelievable flavor. The tacos is pressed with cheese on the outside, delicious avocados, and a cheesy sauce on the inside. Just wonderful! I was also happy to find the meat was leaner and I really appreciate that. The shrimp cali taco was not as good as the brisket. It wasn't bad by any means, just not as good. The queso has like a green chili and sriracha swirl and a balanced spicy and cheesy blend. Top notch. For take away at an airport, this is A+! read more

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Well it's in the airport but you know it was not bad. I got a 2 taco combo with queso and chips who's was like 16 bucks so good deal. The tacos where huge. I got a steak on and a shrimp one. Both were delicious. The frozen margarita was pretty good as well. The only thing was I felt there was way too much pico,corn ect. It kind of overwhelmed the meat in the taco. Over all I will probably dine her next time I am flying out of hobby read more

Velvet Taco - Tacos and queso - Tacos Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I've never previously been to a Velvet Taco, but I've heard of the chain. We were hungry because we had had a very unsatisfying breakfast a few hours earlier, and we were in a rush before catching our connecting flight. We ordered a combo to split, opting for the Slow-Roasted Angus Brisket taco, the Mexi-Cali Shrimp taco, and elote as the side. The wait was reasonable for the amount of people who had ordered, and the service was super friendly, which isn't common with airport food service workers in my experience. The tacos themselves were pretty good, but I guess I'm used to California tacos so I found there to be a flavor I couldn't place present in both tacos. Perhaps a creamy sauce instead of a fresh salsa? The elote was also creamier than I expected it to be, and it wasn't my favorite. But I was happy to experience something new and it did have a fun smoky flavor. Honestly, this was probably the best airport food I've had in the last couple years. Overall, this is a great dining option, especially if you need something quick and filling that gives you a taste of Texas. read more

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Absolutely loved the battered cauliflower tacos they were super fresh and flavorful! They made them very quickly - I got them in about 5 mins, making this a perfect place to order from even if your flight is pre boarding already, like mine was! I would have loved to sit down and eat there if I had more time as the ambiance was very pleasant! read more

Velvet Taco was good. We got a quesadilla to share while waiting for our flight and it was delicious. The salsas were also yummy. The service was quick and the ambiance was nice. We would've sat down but there wasn't much space at the bar. Overall I would try it again if I was in the airport ! read more

Traveling, and had a layover in Houston. Tried this place because it was by my gate. I'm glad I did! I ordered the Velvet Griddle, a taco made of tortilla-thin French toast, stuffed with tater tots, scrambled egg, and candied bacon. It was a revelation! Sitting at the bar made the food come quickly, and the bartender/server, Antonio, was working at warp speed! The price was right, too. Airport food is often quite pricey, but this delicious morsel, with coffee, came to only $10.11, plus tax and tip. What a bargain! If you find yourself at Houston Hobby Field, find this place! read more

Velvet Taco - Velvet Griddle: a tortilla-thin piece of French toast, scrambled egg, tater tots, and candied bacon. - Tacos Near Me - Houston, Texas

Let me say, shout out to the (I think) manager for giving my son some red velvet cake to try out, he felt so special for getting a treat. I enjoyed the food here, the guac was really simple, but addicting and the queso was tasty. I ordered the brisket tacos and my husband got a hamburger taco and the sweet chili shrimp taco. He really enjoyed the shrimp taco, it was very light and refreshing and the brisket taco had a lot of great ingredients! We also got a sangria which for $17 drove the price of our meal up to about $75 for 3 plates and an alcoholic beverage -- a bit steep for me, but to be expected in an airport. We also did wait a sizable amount of time for our food, to the point where people were coming up to me asking how long I'd been waiting so they could decide whether or not to order there. All in all the food was good, but be prepared to drop a some change. read more

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Velvet Taco is among the restaurants that opened in Hobby after the Pappas group vacated. It is located next to gate 46 and it has been open for about 6 months. I decided to pick up dinner at the airport before driving home and remembered that VT was open. Airport restaurants are pricier, but they're also convenient. The biggest difference I immediately noticed is the menu. It's not uncommon for airport restaurants to have limited or condensed menus. I was bummed to see that two of my favorites (Picnic Chicken and The Cuban Pig) were not offered. In fact, this menu does not offer any pork or fish options (they do have shrimp). They have one veggie option and a couple of chicken and beef options. On the other hand, this location offers a more extensive breakfast selection which makes sense. It didn't take too long to order and receive my food. I ordered a Slow Roasted Angus Brisket Quesadilla. It came with corn pico, guacamole, and sour cream. The brisket was good and they gave a generous amount, but I didn't care for the cheese. It tasted like imitation cheese and it was all bunched at the bottom of the quesadilla. The pico had a bit of a kick to it, but it was flavorful. The quesadilla was enough food for two meals. They have a bar in case you want to kill some time while you wait for your flight. The staff was nice. The gentleman who was running food orders told me to "have a nice flight" and showed me where the napkins and utensils were. Such a small thing, but I appreciated it! read more

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HOBBY doesn't have any airline lounges so I went to my gate (Gate 47) and saw tacos! Of course I had to get some, even if it was 10am in the morning! I was greeted by Maria. She was friendly and warm. And very informative - there are many rules on a Sunday! lol I ended up getting two tacos: mexi-cali shrimp and the spicy tikki chicken. Both were delicious. The spicy tikki chicken wasn't very spicy so that's good for non-spicy lovers to know. It is very flavorful though - very full of Indian spices. It was delicious! The mexi-cali shrimp was refreshing. The shrimp were juicy and flavorful. And the tangy slaw that was in the taco really enhanced the whole flavor. Overall I would totally come again! Maria was super helpful and kind. read more

Velvet Taco - Mexi-Cali shrimp taco on the left, spicy tikki chicken taco on the right - Tacos Near Me - Houston, Texas

While waiting for a connecting flight we grabbed a quick snack. We ordered the Chips & Queso and the Chips & Salsa. I've never tried the Velvet Taco before and I was surprised with the flavor of the queso & salsa. I know they is a location in OKC so I'll need to stop in and give more of their food. Since this was at the airport it was rather noisy and crowded. Typical of an airport location so I really want to try the Velvet Taco off airport locations. read more

Velvet Taco - Chips w/Queso & Guacamole - Tacos Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Got stuck on a long layover so grabbed a drink and some little bites while I waited. The margarita was ok, definitely a little too sweet for a basic marg. The chips were good with the guac but the queso kept needing to be mixed since it kept getting hard. read more

Velvet Taco - Chips, guac and queso - Tacos Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Love that this place always has such fun and creative taco ideas. Got the Fish n chips taco and the korean rice taco. The fish and chips was underwhelming. Barely any filling. Not much flavor. The korean rice taco was delicious. Briming to the top with meat and rice. Perfect balance. read more

The bundle is a good deal (by airport standards) and the tacos are a really good size. Queso as side was good and all a bigger portion than I expected. Nice spot to stop and sit at the bar and service was super friendly. read more

Velvet Taco - Mexi Cali Shrimp - Tacos Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This place is exactly what I needed to end my trip to Houston! From the flavors, to the portion size and the strong margaritas, you can be all set for a long or short trip! U got the beer battered cauliflower taco and the spicy tikka chicken with chips and guac! Of course I had the strong and delicious margarita too! This place is for sure one of the spots I hot up when I'm in town! Those two tacos are my go to orders that have never disappointed me :)! The bar and seating is right at the airport so I took mine to go. Service was fast and efficient so no complaints there! I'll be back for sure again and again! read more

Velvet Taco - Tacos Near Me - Houston, Texas

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With an early flight out of Houston, I google to see where I can get breakfast tacos out of Hobby airport. Velvet Taco is located near Gate 45 at the domestic terminal. I've had it previously in Dallas and so glad this was my last meal in Houston! They definitely stuffed their tacos here way more than my previous Dallas experience. I ordered the Crispy Avocado and the Velvet Griddle and hubby got the Farmhouse and the Hangover. I got too excited when I saw avocado on the menu and did not realize that it has red chili aioli so that was my bad and I couldn't eat the rest after a bite. It was the same sauce in my hubby's Hangover taco, however I can eat that one just fine and it was delicious. I did enjoy my Velvet Griddle which has bacon, tots, eggs, in a French toast tortilla. It also came with some maple syrup and that was a meal by itself. It definitely lasted me the whole flight home back to LA and then some! We got our tacos as take out but they do have a bar that seated about 10 people where you can dine in. It was a great meal to end our Houston trip. read more

Velvet Taco - Velvet Griddle - Tacos Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Wowza.....Holy Buckets....man these tacos are the bomb.com ... you need to try them for sho. We are at the airport on a layover and they really don't disappoint read more

At the airport this was the quickest option with terrific food. I had the chicken and waffle taco. Delicious! The coleslaw a slight maple syrup with the chicken was a wonderful combination I had never seen before. I also tried the red velvet cake just for something different at the airport. It was the best velvet cake- thick cake and double layer cream cheese frosting. Too big and 3 of us ate it. Give this place a try. read more

Second visit and equally impressed. The chicken tikki masala taco was delicious as was the buffalo chicken taco. The amount of carrots on the buffalo threw me but it was the perfect crunch combo while slightly tuning down the buffalo spice (all flavor). Also picked up a red velvet cake because I already know it's delicious. read more

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Yummy and creative. Big portions and soooo tasty. Quick and clean. Friendly service done well.

Flew home through Houston and had a 2+ hr layover, saw this little bar called Velvet Taco....figured what the heck, it's close to my gate and seemed to be pretty busy. My brother and I sat at the bar and ordered two of their breakfast tacos (amazing!), and decided that it was noon somewhere so we should have a sangria swirl margarita....WOW! They were wonderful! So we relaxed and chatted with the friendly bartender and business manager until it was time to go to the gate. The food and drinks were great, but the friendly discussion made it the best!! read more

Velvet Taco - Sangria swirl margaritas! - Tacos Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The Food is very good fast the drinks are the best too. I tried the #20 what is the Velvet Griddle wow was so good. Candied bacon, tarter tots, scrambled egg, maple syrup, French toast tortilla My husband had the hangover he said it was amazing hella brisket in it it's the #21 slow, roasted Angus brisket, peppered, bacon, crisp, potatoes, scrambled egg, red chili,aioli cheese, blend flour tortilla. My son had two #18 chicken and waffle, crisp tenders, peppered, bacon, pepperoni gravy, green, apple slaw, maple syrup, red chili, aioli scallions house made waffle tortilla. Sorry no pictures was so good read more

Best tacos I've ever had in Houston. Hard to eat because they load every taco up so much but hey that's ok! Love the Mexican Cali taco And the brisket taco. Both equally good but I think brisket a little more! Can't wait to have more. read more

Ok, velvet taco it is. I used the locals rule, and picked the place all the southwest ground crew was in line. They bang out the good stuff to take to your gate to eat. It's done up like it's a cool outdoor taco truck, but with good air conditioning. read more