Torchy's Tacos Has Sugar and Spice

While street tacos attempt world domination, Torchy's Tacos dishes up its own unique version of the handy food. Located in a busy shopping center at Preston and Forest Lane in North Dallas, the Austin-based taco restaurant is somewhat small and easily becomes as crowded as Starbucks on a cool day.

Thanks to a people-shaped partition, the line always appears to span the length of the restaurant. Press onward because the service is quick. Since people are not sucking up free Wi-Fi while slowly sipping beverages, the dining area also clears relatively quickly.

Tacos, Burritos, Fajitas $2.00 and Up
Despite offering migas and barbacoa, the food is more Austin-style than taqueria or street food. The menu ranks the award-winning sauces' heat factor and generously describes each item in detail. The selection ranges from basic breakfast tacos ($2.00 to $2.50 each) to innovative combos, such as the Brush Fire ($3.75) with Jamaican jerk chicken, grilled jalapenos, diced mango, sour cream, cilantro and diablo sauce on a flour tortilla. Be prepared because the diablo sauce and jalapenos pack the heat.

Torchy's Fried Avocado ($3.25) includes fried, battered wedges of fresh avocado, vegetarian refried beans, pico de gallo, lettuce, cheese and poblano sauce on a corn tortilla. The refried beans are uncharacteristically smooth and resemble bean dip.

Mr. Pink ($4.00) features crisp seared Ahi tuna with a pink center alongside cabbage, cilantro, queso fresco, chipotle sauce and a lime wedge atop a corn tortilla.

The Trailer Park ($3.25) pays homage to Torchy's food trailer roots and features fried chicken tenders with green chilies, lettuce, pico de gallo, shredded cheese and poblano sauce on a flour tortilla. Order a Trashy Trailer Park and they will replace the lettuce with queso.

A fajita plate ($7.75) and a burrito plate ($6.50) are also available. Check out Torchy's website for the special taco of the month.

Dine-in tacos seem to have more filling than take-out orders. Grab a fork and feast on the filling until your tortilla is light enough to roll closed. Compared to the bundles of cheapie tacos available throughout Dallas, the menu prices seem expensive, but the thoughtful flavor combinations deliver and the full menu is available all day.

Desserts $2.25 to $11.95
Torchy's offers Little Nookies, fried chocolate chip cookie bites, ($2.95 for three, $11.95 for twelve). Topped with powdered sugar and cherries, the nibblers have a crunchy exterior with warm, soft center.

CIA trained chef Joel Haro's brownies, LovePuppies, have names and flavors rivaling the unique taco selection. At $2.25 each, Torchy's offers three flavors of LovePuppies: Make Mine a Double Chocolate (dark chocolate and dark chocolate bits), Who Cares about Dinner Mint (dark chocolate with Jr. Mints), Peanut Butter Nutcase (dark chocolate and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups).

Brownie perfection, LovePuppies have a thin, crisp exterior with a moderately soft, almost fudgey center. The flavor is more complex than sweet thanks to ingredients such as Mexican vanilla.

Although Torchy's serves the brownies from a refrigerated case, the label boldly proclaims, "Happiness is a warm brownie." Consider taking these dark chocolate LovePuppies home for a midnight snack fresh from the microwave.

Attention Chocoholics: The expanded flavor roster is available for purchase online at LovePuppiesBrownies.com and includes You Mocha Me Crazy (dark chocolate with ground coffee beans), Hunka Hunka Burning Love (with ground Chipotle peppers), Trailer Park Chic (blond brownie with dark chocolate chips and pecans) and Kentucky Screwdriver (dark chocolate with bourbon and orange liqueur).

Beverage Selection $2.00 to $2.25
In addition to the requisite Coke and Diet Coke, the fountain drink selection includes Dublin Dr. Pepper and three flavors of Boylan gourmet sodas, also sweetened with pure cane sugar. Other drinks include coffee, tea, punch, Sprite and lemonade. Bottled Topo Chico and Mexican sodas are also available.

The Last Bite
Torchy's Tacos is casual and comfortable, but the crowds and small dining area make this more of a pit stop than a hang out. Dine in to relish the fountain drinks and find out if "damn good tacos" is a boastful slogan or honest statement.

Torchy's Tacos
5921 Forest Lane
Dallas, Texas 75230
Phone: (972) 720-9200

Business Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.