Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

Column Corner: Food

Torchy’s Tacos, a quirky Austin chain restaurant, is rumored to open up any day now in San Antonio.

The location will be at 999 E. Basse Road. What started out as a food truck with a devil mascot is now an established taco restaurant with great prices and tasty food.

You can find Torchy’s establishments all over Austin. The Torchy’s on The Drag near UT Austin has exemplary service, a wide variety of tacos and a unique college atmosphere. Torchy’s Tacos is spreading out all over Texas with locations in Houston, Katy, Dallas and now San Antonio.

There are numerous tacos to choose from. The Dirty Sanchez is made up of chili, cheese, guacamole, and – get this – fried eggs. Other innovative tacos, including the Democrat, Republican and Trailer Park, are stuffed with everything from queso to pork. There is about every meat imaginable—brisket, sausage, chicken, beef, pork, steak, bacon, chili, shrimp and tuna.

Every taco is absolutely delicious and priced under five dollars. Have to drive to early classes? Stop by Torchy’s Tacos for a variety of breakfast tacos. There is also a secret menu that features past “tacos of the month.” All you have to do is Google the secret menu, find an intriguing taco and order it directly at the counter or on the phone.

One of the most gratifying secret tacos is called The Ace of Spades. In this colossal masterpiece, you will find a large flour tortilla filled with a jalapeno sausage link, grilled brisket, a fried egg, green chile con queso, cilantro, cotija cheese, sour cream, mixed cheese and diablo hot sauce.

Not really a taco person? That’s okay because Torchy’s whips up other treats as well. Street Corn, “fresh- roasted off-the-cob corn topped with ancho aioli, queso fresco, cilantro and dusted with New Mexico red chile powder,” is a delicious addition to the menu.

There are also classic choices such as Chips and Green Chile Queso. And to satisfy your sweet tooth, try Lil’ Nookies—deep fried chocolate chip cookies topped with cherries.

The food is not the only unique perk that this restaurant exhibits. Torchy’s Tacos locations include bars with numerous drink options and has a unique atmosphere you will not find anywhere else. Each chain finds a way to embody the food truck charm that put Torchy’s Tacos on the map in the first place. Its little red devil cartoon mascot is displayed in each individual chain. The décor screams “uniquely Austin.”

The fountain drinks stray from the norm. If you’re thirsty, you can drink a glass of natural cane soda such as Mexican Cola, which differs from normal, mass-production sodas such as Coca-Cola.

If you’re hungry, thirsty, and want a genuinely good time, drive over to Torchy’s Tacos once it opens for a taco experience you will not soon forget.

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