Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
Torchy's Tacos was even better than we expected.
- Torchy's Tacos has won over a loyal following throughout Texas with its top-notch queso and tacos with names like "The Republican" and "The Trailer Park."
- The taco-centric chain's expansion could cut into the business of Big Burrito - especially as Chipotle struggles to regain its footing.
- We visited Torchy's to see if it lived up to its hype and were amazed to find a rare chain that was even better than its cultish fans told us it would be.
We believe tacos are our future.
For too long, the burrito has ruled supreme over the world of Tex-Mex, at least since Chipotle's tentacles spread across the United States with the promise of a mainstream Mission-style burrito. But now, the burrito's reign is coming to an end - if Torchy's Tacos has anything to say about it.
The taco chain started in a trailer in Austin, Texas, in 2006. Since then, it has grown a cult following in Texas and expanded to more than 50 locations.
To topple Big Burrito, however, it's going to take more than some Texan pride. Torchy's needs to back its heady expansion goals with food that lives up to its enviable reputation.
We visited a Torchy's location in Dallas, Texas, to see if the chain lives up to the hype. What we found is a chain that could transform the Tex-Mex landscape forever: