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Click above for a photo tour of Torchy's Tacos
I was halfway through my Holy Diver taco at Torchy’s, the sacred Austin joint transplanted to South Shepherd, when a young floor manager approached me. He stared meaningfully at the laminated menu lying on my table amid stray squiggles of queso fresco and escaped squares of mango.
“Are you through with that?” he asked.
“No, I’d like to keep it,” I told him. He didn’t look happy about that, but I was going to order another taco up at the counter, and besides, I wanted to check out the offerings and see what was new, and how the lineup compared to what I remembered fondly from my visit to the iconic Trailer Park edition of Torchy’s in Austin.
The Dirty Sanchez. Photo by Alison Cook
I was a few bites into my next taco, a guajillo-seared ahi tuna extravaganza known as Mr. Pink, when the manager guy appeared again.
“Can I take that now?” he asked, emphasizing the last word in a way that sounded, well, highly judgmental.
I had had enough. “You really want that menu, don’t you?” I said, trying to keep my tone light. “It’s a pet peeve of mine,” he replied.
“A peeve?” I exclaimed. “Really? What on earth is wrong with me sitting here looking at your menu?”
“I’m supposed to keep everything in order,” he told me. “And that,” he said, indicating the menu, “is out of order.”
I ate a few more bites and left without finishing. I might have written off the bizarre experience as a fluke had my dining companion not reported a similar incident in front of the soda machine on another visit.
As people clustered around trying to get their drinks, she heard a staffer shoo them off the rubber mat with a pointed, “People! I’m trying to clean up here!”
All I can conclude is that Torchy’s has a peculiar employee training program, directed mostly at keeping the place tidy and not so much at making the paying customers feel comfortable and welcome.
And that’s not the only problem afflicting the expanding company’s first Houston outpost. The rather grim industrial dining room, with its hard surfaces and downbeat colors, is about as welcoming as a day room in a low-security Club Fed.
When it’s full, as it often is, with young families and 20-somethings in surfer shorts, the human din combines with the thump of bass over the sound system in a way that’s fairly hellish, especially when someone drags a metal chair heavily over the distressed concrete flooring, producing a noise like an enraged elephant.
I could forgive all these shortcomings if the food lived up to my idyllic memories of the Torchy’s Trailer Park mothership. It doesn’t.
Certain items are terrific: the fresh guacamole with its just-so balance of creaminess and chunks is one of them. So is the unusually spirited queso, loaded with roasted green chile and bite, that’s one of the best in town. I could drink the basic salsa roja, with its distinctive herbal tinge, as if it were soup. (Except for the fact that I’d have to stop frequently to cope with the heat buildup.)
It’s the tacos that disappointed me. I’m not sure anything could have lived up to my first taco from Torchy’s in Austin, consumed at a picnic table under the oak trees surrounding a raffish cluster of food trailers on South First Street. In 2010, I wrote that the Dirty Sanchez (the raunchiest of Torchy’s jokey taco names) might have been the best taco I ever ate, and I meant it.
I loved its frizzly thin omelet layer, the dark vegetal tone of poblano chile fried in a filmy batter, the rich softness of grated cheese and guacamole against the sharp tingle of pickled carrot shreds. No salsa was required to make this taco taste great.
Lightning didn’t strike twice when I ordered the Dirty Sanchez in Houston. The flavors were a washed-out shadow of what I remembered, the guac and cheese seemed chilly rather than voluptuous, and the egg texture was listless, with no beguiling frizzle. I wished desperately for some salsa to wake things up — just not the unsuitable cuplet of ranchy poblano/mayo salsa that came alongside.
The Democrat. Photo by Alison Cook
And I deplored the characterless flour tortilla that cradled all this. If you’re going to serve commercial tortillas, at least pick good ones. These have all the verve of clammy plastic. Corn is the way to go — so be sure to specify corn tortillas when you go through the service line, as each of the tacos has its own designated tortilla type.
It’s not that you can’t get a decent taco here. Torchy’s has a talent for ingredient combinations that add up to more than the sum of the taco parts. Had it not been for those miserable flour tortillas, I would have loved my Holy Diver taco — the special of the month, with a $5 price tag — with its nicely cooked achiote-grilled shrimp in a spirited dialogue with pickled onions and jalapeños, cabbage, chopped mango, cilantro and a snowstorm of queso fresco. A jalapeño tartar sauce made the effect even brighter.
The chile-seared tuna in the Mr. Pink taco was a little too cooked for me, but I admired the way it went with its crunchy garnishes and chipotle salsa, and the corn tortilla saved it.
A Crossroads taco of beef brisket was smokier than I expected, the beef hacked into chunks and baptized with a seriously good tomatillo sauce that had deeply roasted tones unusual in a green salsa. Nothing really wrong with the so-called Democrat taco of soft-shredded barbacoa with avocado, cilantro and onions except its too-aggressive bloom of fatty beef grease taste — and the fact that at $3.75, it is priced so much higher than other worthy versions around town, many of them at Mexican taco trucks or taquerias.
There’s no getting around the fact that Torchy’s serves gringo tacos.
Nothing wrong with that, either, when it’s done with style and wit enough to justify the gringo prices. But the appeal of Torchy’s famous Trailer Park taco — which involves fried chicken and pico de gallo under a thicket of iceberg lettuce and tomato — was lost on me here. The white-meat chicken was cut thin, and it was neither juicy nor particularly well seasoned. Maybe the combo would have worked for me if I had ordered the taco “trashy style,” which subtracts the lettuce and adds some of that excellent queso.
But I’ll probably never know, because I just didn’t care enough for the food or the experience here to return. It gives me no pleasure to report that. I still have vivid memories of that perfect Torchy’s lunch under the oaks in Austin, as the summer heat hinted that it might soon unclench and give way to fall.
It’s hard to replicate an idyllic interlude like that. An unlovely, hard-edged restaurant rehab (the Houston Torchy’s has housed everything from two Italian places to a taco joint to a Scandinavian spot) can’t soften the edges of any mistakes or service irritations the way the shade of ancient trees and the soothing chirr of cicadas can.
Even Torchy’s chipper ingredient magic seems to have flagged in the face of rapid expansion. There are eight locations in Austin now, along with two in Dallas and the one in Houston. I found myself wishing the Torchy’s brain trust would slow down and focus lest they lose their celebrated mojo.
I may be a voice crying in the wilderness, though. The Houston place is doing land-office business. There’s a line out the door at peak hours, the tricky parking lot is a clogged nightmare, and you’ll be lucky to snag a seat on the patio overlooking the Shepherd Drive traffic. It feels ever so far from South First Street.
Torchy’s Tacos
No stars
2411 S. Shepherd
713-595-8226
torchystacos.com
Key
Ω a good restaurant that we recommend.
ΩΩ very good; one of the best restaurants of its kind.
ΩΩΩ excellent; one of the best restaurants in the city.
ΩΩΩΩ superlative; can hold its own on a national stage.
i tend to agree. to me the food is slightly above average (for fast casual), but so are the traffic, prices, and line to order. i'd go back if others wanted to, but i enjoyed it less and less over the 4-5 times i went in the month or so after it opened. i think tacos la bala is more enjoyable.
Allison, you hit the nail on the head. The tacos from Torchy's in Austin are out of this world and the place has that hip, cool, "Keep Austin Weird" vibe. The tacos in the Houston location are fine, but definitely not up to the flavors of the Austin location. And the atmosphere is a sterile, Austin wanna-be. I had the same bizarre customer service you experienced. In the middle of placing my order, a young man walked up behind the one taking my order and said "I'll be taking your order now." Okay - what was that about? And when the soda machine completely broke down, there was no urgency of fixing it and apparently no one on staff knowledgeable in how to repair it. I guess I'll just wait until I can get back to Austin where I know I will savor the original!
Tacos Tierra Caliente
Tierra caliente is the best!
I searched high and low for Tacos Tierra Caliente when they left their Montrose location. Overjoyed when I drove by and saw it on W. Alabama one day about a year later. I had been looking the entire time. They are incredible tacos.
This place is not all that....the taco truck across from W. Alabama Ice House, name escapes me are $1.50 and ten times better.....
You eat from that "Roach Coach"? Dude, you are sick!!!
David - please stay in Pearland.
Yes. Please stay in your sterile Pearland neighborhood.
Food trucks have to maintain the same sanitary requirements as non mobile eateries.
I find your location and comment utterly shocking. No I do. Please keep your xenophobia out of the loop.
Xenophobia? Do you know the meaning of the word? It doesn't appear so. It is laughable that you call a person a xenophobe and then make a snooty comment about those who live outside the loop. I bet you are an insufferable person. I will not wait for your response where you call me racist.
Xenophobia? Do you know the meaning of the word? It doesn't appear so. It is laughable that you call a person a xenophobe and then make a snooty comment about those who live outside the loop. I bet you are an insufferable person. I will not wait for your response where you call me racist.
What a dim comment.
I know the family that runs that Taco stand by the W. Alabama Ice House. They are truly wonderful people and they so appreciate the business. There's another trailer parked by the ice house but it seems as if the taco stand does more business.
The taco truck at W. Alabama is Tierra Caliente and has some of the best barbacoa tacos EVER. The other truck is run by the brother of the owner of W. Alabama, named for their father "Papou Jerry's", it serves Greek/American food and is also delicious. We live around the corner from the icehouse and are treated like family there, so we gladly eat delicious food-stuffs at either for lunch on beautiful Saturdays.
I have to 2nd that!
The Tacos Tierra Caliente at the Alabama Ice House was named among the Top 100 Food Trucks.
W. Alabama taco truck >>> Torchy's.. Never had the one is austin though. Additionally, BOTH times I went to Torchy's, I experienced the weird/RUDE service during ordering and at the soda machine. Yeah, stay ya a$$ out the loop PearlandDave.
Houston David > Pearland David.
I concur.
I had a very similar experience at Torchy's. We went during the winter, and it was quite obvious the door was left open in the back of the kitchen.. Most of the protein was not room temp, but actually cold. We tried 6 different tacos, we liked only one of the 6. The line when we went was out the door, and we waited 20-30 minutes, but curiously the inside dining room was at half capacity.(The patio was empty as it was cold out)After we ordered the food came out instantly.. I mean as we were sitting down after waiting in a line for 30 minutes the tray was brought out to our table. Obviously sand bagged food slopped together when the order comes in. I write the management and got a laughable response. We spent 40 dollars on 6 tacos, queso, and a drink (we were marathon training) and both agreed we would much rather have gone to El Rey, or basically any other taco truck. Worst run restaurant in Houston and it is a mathematical certainty the curse of that location will continue with this dump. Back!! BACK TO AUSTIN HIPPIES!!!!
And yet the line has been out the door everyday since day one. I visited the Austin hub for the first time a few months ago and had the Trailer Park (trashy) taco. I've been to the Houston hub 3 times now and got the same taco. Tasted the exact same. I'm glad I don't have to drive 170 miles to get it. Yes, the two stores have very different feels, I don't care. "Keep Austin Weird" and "Keep Houston Normal", that's how I see it.
Houston "normal" that's a laugh!!
Everything has been delicious everytime I visit this location. I just moved from Austin 4 months ago, so I've had my share of Austin comparisons. Everything is the same. The food quality, the service, the type of music.
To those people who comment of the decor of this Houston location, pining for the "shade of the oaks" outside the trailor, try and remember that that is just one of the 8 locations in Austin, and most of them, if you care to compare, have a VERY similar feel to the one here.
So maybe to a few nay-sayers, this location has been an abyssmal disappointment, but to the scores of people who bombard the restaurant every single day (I live on the street right behind it, so I know it to be true), they're obviously doing something very right.
About the menu thing, seriously, get over it. Was a manager asking you for your menu really enough to warrant taking up such a large part of a review on what people would assume to be about the food?
I agree completely with Candice. Anyone who has ever been to the Torchys on the drag will find the Houston location a vast improvement. Yay no death metal!
Hey Candace, a manager not making you feel welcome and acting like a jerk does indeed impact a review of a procedure. Perhaps you know the owner or something but seeing as you're the only one with a good experience you should stop trying to claim everyone who says something negative is wrong. I got one, you get over the fact that nobody but you likes this location.
Candice,
Seriously? Torchy's Tacos in Houston BLOWS GOATS. You must have lost all of your taste buds. They have NOTHING on ANY OTHER taco joint here. The tacos are bland, boring, the tortillas have not taste.
The staff are for the most part, rude and condescending.
Torchy's truly sucks bal1$.
Here's the original complaint. It has been a few months so I had forgotten a few details...
To whom it may concern,
I am following up on your request for contact information received on Twitter. I want to give you my thoughts on our experience as a small business owner, and former long time restaurant manager, I really do hate to complain, especially in a public forum like twitter, but after getting home I felt compelled to let you know about our evening. I will explain our issues in bullets for easier reading.
We arrived to a long line with approximately 15-20 people ahead of us. The patio was empty, as it was cold tonight, and the dining room was about half occupancy. There was 1 woman manning the order station for the entire 25-30 (actual minutes) we waited. It seems there was no sense of urgency at all. It took 1-2 minutes to take and process each order in front of us.
While still waiting, I was noticing food coming out very fast from the kitchen. Guests that had ordered when we were walking in, were now leaving and we are still in line. And the dining area was still half occupancy. We finally get to next in line, when 2 new customers walk around the line and get served before us. They had called in a to go order, but after waiting this long it was very frustrating to get an unapologetic "one minute" from the front of the house personnel.
We finally order 5 different tacos and some chips. Just really wanted to try a little of everything. Surprisingly the food came out very fast..
Food issues: Shrimp for the tacos were not room temperature, but actually cold. As we had ordered and received our food 2 minutes later, the only explanation is sandbagged food that sat too long. Furthermore, the kitchen must have had the door open or super high AC because they were actually below room temperature.
Chicken on the jerk chicken taco was obviously grilled some time ago, which is fine, but at least give it a courtesy dip in a warm flavored liquid so its not bone dry....
The vegetarian taco "Dirty Sanchez" tasted off. It seems as though the eggs were cooked on the same grill or pan as shrimp or fish... Just tasted very much like seafood which was off putting.
Being fair the 2 tacos we tried with fried chicken were good.
Look, I am usually understanding of restaurant issues. Especially of new places, or on "off" days such as Sundays, or holidays, or days after holidays. But 20 minutes into waiting, I looked at my wife and said "These better be really really good tacos. I-we don't mind a line, in fact it adds mystique and anticipation of a great meal. Usually long lines mean better food and service. But in this case, the line was a lack of management, or a failure in systems. If you would like more information you can contact me by email or phone. Thanks for your concern and time.
.................................................................
This was my form letter response.
Hello Jeff, my name is Forrest Harrell and I am the General Manager
here at Torchy's in Houston. I would like to thank you for your
informative comments on the food quality and customer service issues you
experienced the day you visited our restaurant. To serve cold food is
unacceptable and I am addressing this issue immediately with my staff.
Please know that we are on this and thank again for your helpful comments.
Here, let me translate that for you:
This was my form letter response.
Hello Jeff, my name is Forrest Harrell and I am the General "Don't Give a Rat's Ass" Manager
here at Torchy's in Houston. I really don't care about your
informative comments on the lack offood quality and non-customer service issues you
experienced the day you visited our Hipster restaurant. To serve cold food is
unacceptable, and we will continue to do it and I am never addressing this issue with my staff.
Please know that we are in now way on this....
Bahahaha!
wow, that's kind of a rude thing to say.
Nothing about the response led me to think he wouldn't address the issue with his staff.
What did you want, a 10 page letter, begging for your forgiveness? For him to grovel at your feet, pleading for you to come back and let him buy you anything you want to compensate you for your sufferings?
Get over yourself...
CJ, I will have to go with "you first" on this one....
TEXMEX01,
Have to agree with CJ...get over yourself.
Nope, dont' agree with CJ. The letter clearly addressed multiple issues and the manager only responded to the Cold Food area which shows he really didn't get it. So to say GET OVER YOURSELF like CJ said is basically just like that response letter, meaningless and worthless. No one asks for free food, simply an acknowledgement of issues and a brief statement to say it is being fixed, otherwise what compells you to go back?
He could have apologized for the bad service and cold food. It's the least he could do for someone who had a legitimate, bad experience at his restaurant; from the response, he didn't really seem to care.
CJ, I ordered lunch to go from the Jason's Deli near our office, and my potato was cold/dry & the soup tasted old. I took the online survey, mainly for the free cookie & so they'd stop serving that soup, as my experiences there are normally positive & I knew I'd go back (which I said in the survey). The manager called me w/in an hour of submitting the survey, apologized & said that if there was ever a problem to call right away & they'd deliver the food free of charge if I couldn't go back to the restaurant. He said that the next time I came in to the restaurant, either to eat there or to go, to ask for him & he would comp my meal. I met my grandmother for lunch there a few days later, and he took care of both our meals. So yeah, the Torchy's manager could have done a little more than say "Thanks for writing; I'll tell my employees not to serve cold food." At the very least, he should have apologized for the terrible service and food.
Nothing in this form letter leads you to believe that this was no more then a form letter with my name changed plugged into it?
Dont want my ass kissed, Don't want or need free food. But when my shit experience was followed up by this lame form letter, it became personal to me. SO now, I will take every opportunity to trash that dump.
On another note, a friend of mine who insisted I try Torchys again after I told him how shit it was brought me a few tacos by my house a month or so back.. Guess what?? They were still awful..
IMO Torchys is like 5 guys, or In N Out burger. For some reason it is cool for people to say how good it is. I think these companies pay people to walk around spreading that nonsesne. Because, Honestly they arent good. Not even a little. They just aren't good.
Torchys is just another poorly run, over extended lame, dead concept (Joe' Crabshack TGIF of the 90s) That will be out of business here in Houston within a year. They'll go crawling back to Austin with their tails tucked between their rotten legs.
I've been to Torchy's about three times since it's opened. I've TRIED to go to Torchy's more than that, but parking issues combined with the line out the door and our level of hunger, drove us to Chipotle. We've learned to get there well before the dinner or lunch rush.
I personally don't have a problem with the "rather grim industrial dining room." It's no different from most other trendy counter service places and doesn't detract from my dining experience.
I do like the food at Torchy's. I usually get the Mr. Pink and the plain chicken soft taco. I prefer the former, as the latter was just too dry, which is something I find common here, even at "better" restaurants (I'm looking at YOU, El Real). What I will say is the food here is better than other walk-up service places, and it's certainly better than Grateful Taco was. Is Torchy's worth the hassle? For me? Not usually, which is why I've only been there three times, and each time we planned to get there early.
I guess it comes down to taste - but for me, Grateful Taco was at least a level above Torchy's. Torchy's - pretty good. GT - very good.
I've not had the tacos at Torchy's yet, either from their Houston location (no way I'm waiting 20 minutes to order tacos) or any of their Austin locations. More of a Taco X-press guy anyway, when I'm in Austin.
I did think the Grateful Taco offerings were very good, and not that expensive for the quality. Owner seemed, well, 'eccentric' was putting it mildly, but the food was very good the couple of times I went there.
I've not had the tacos at Torchy's yet, either from their Houston location (no way I'm waiting 20 minutes to order tacos) or any of their Austin locations. More of a Taco X-press guy anyway, when I'm in Austin.
I did think the Grateful Taco offerings were very good, and not that expensive for the quality. Owner seemed, well, 'eccentric' was putting it mildly, but the food was very good the couple of times I went there.
I've not had the tacos at Torchy's yet, either from their Houston location (no way I'm waiting 20 minutes to order tacos) or any of their Austin locations. More of a Taco X-press guy anyway, when I'm in Austin.
I did think the Grateful Taco offerings were very good, and not that expensive for the quality. Owner seemed, well, 'eccentric' was putting it mildly, but the food was very good the couple of times I went there.
I've been several times. I thought the tacos were pretty good (above average but not great) and not too pricey for being from a sit-down restaurant. Noise is very loud. Line is sometimes too long - I just time when I go to try not to hit a rush time.
I've had the same annoying experience with customer service - taking my menu for no good reason (many were available), rushing me away from the beverage area (was told it was a "code" issue?), cleaning my table too early. I guess people in Austin just put up with poor customer service easier than those in Houston?
After 3 not so good dining experiences at Cafe Adobe, I went the other night. I had a taco/enchilida combo with rice and beans. It was fantastic. I licked the plate clean. It was VERY good. The parking is more than adequate and the atmosphere is relaxed.
Here's hoping "licked the plate clean" was meant figuratively and not literally. :)
Torchy's provides an OK taco. But, why pay more money and deal with more hassle when there is a certain delicious taco truck parked at a nearby icehouse where one can grab a couple great tacos and a beer for around $5 total and sit outside on a picnic table?
Amen. Accept you're looking at $6 total plus tip (always tip the lovely Tierra Caliente ladies!), assuming you're drinking a Lonestar.
Oh,no...
Oh how I miss the Greatfull Taco. The decor and food were so much better. I hate that they replaced it with this Torchy's. It just doesn't compare.
I liked Greatful more too, and it had a MUCH better beer selection.
like I said the Taco truck across from W Alabama ice house is real deal...you won't find anyone in Houston close to what they put out, sorry I does not exist, as i've tried them all..Torchy's is another example of a broad base of customers who really just don't understand average from really outstanding. Places like this have lines all the time but it is just so average why go back? Well, people do go back b/c of douche bag comments like 'dude you eat out of that ...' I laugh as the places I go tend to fall under the radar and I feel good spending my dollars on a far superior product.
Kinda hafta agree. Nothing special and extremely salty.
I don't know how to explain it, but sometimes there is something that drives me to go to a place that I know is subpar. Every once and a while, my wife asks me if we can go to our go-to Chinese takeout spot for some General Tso's, and I happily oblige, knowing that there is better, more interesting food available in Chinatown. It's sad, but I'm being honest.
I know what you mentioned about Torchy's to be true, however, I will probably go back. However, when I do go back, I will definitely bring a menu to my table, just to irk them.
<3
Do it!
I been there before the place is pretty chill good food n a beer can't beat it. Parking well if you haven't noticed anywhere on Westheimer is like that. I'd rather pay a couple bucks for a taco then 50 dollars for a pitcher of margaritas at cafe adobe a block over.
Glad to see someone else noticed the gawd awful store-bought tortillas. Those have zero business being on any restaurant menu. The items on the menu are very interesting-sounding, but their execution is just off; I've tried four of their tacos, and they were all lackluster. No excuses for those tortillas, though. Avoid at all costs.
The story about the menu and the "pet peeve" goes beyond any training and surely points to a personality problem.
Perhaps he was trained to be obsessed with cleanliness and order on the tables, but this is something you don't do when a customer is sitting there. I suppose he's moving sauce bottles and napkin dispensers at full tables too?
I've been to crowded "fast casual" places where they're clearly hurrying diners along and taking away finished plates and trays at the first sign of them being finished. But your experience is silly and I expect it will be corrected after this article.
Doubt I'll try it since the "overpriced trendy taco with the funny name" style isn't to my taste. There's a "Pink Taco" place in Vegas (maybe some other southwest locations too) and a "Chronic Taco" in SoCal. So I've seen that act before.
Isn't this location the one that has consistently had restaurant FAILURES?! Like any one here is SURPRISED?!
wow, clearly you haven't been there...
the restaurant is far from failing... there's a line out the door EVERY day and night... something tells me they're doing okay
I haven't actually tried to go because every time I drive by the line/parking looks atrocious...but to be honest, I'd heard similar statements. Not that it's bad, but just not worth it or special enough to justify going there instead of somewhere with better prices/personality. I do love the original Torchy's in Austin, but that's its own thing. I would rather go to a taco truck - or, if I want gringo tacos, to Tacos a Go Go.
I guess I feel the same about it as I do about El Real - if I was in the middle of Nebraska with no other Tex Mex options, I would be perfectly happy with it. But with so many other amazing (and often cheaper) options available, why go somewhere mediocre?
I can only speak for my own experience at torchys tacos and the few times I have dined there, yet I can agree on the level of volume coming from the speakers is a bit much. I can not however agree on the quality of the food and service. The first time I dined at torchys I was at a loss when I walked in and was greeted quite warmly with a good morning. After spending a few minutes eagerly trying to decipher the many catchy names and ingredients of their vast menu choices I was given the run down of the meanings and compasition of each taco by a very open and friendly employee.After a bit of taco banter I decided on a migas and ranch hand taco with a cup of coffee. The young man in glasses behind the counter explained what choice of tortilla was best suited for my breakfast I eagerly agreed. Of corse being a taco enthusist I was happy to try something new. After getting my coffee, sitting down, and reading my paper it seemed that no time at all had passed before I received my feast and I do mean feast. The tacos I received were quite large and at a reasonable price that I felt no misgivings on my early morning treat. After I finished my tasty meal [tortillas tasted rather well to me] and downed my third cup of coffee I was again greeted and asked how my meal was? Me and the young man enjoyed some light conversation about the weather. I left torchys full and in warm spirits which at age 72 I can tell you is very rare in this fast paced world of ours. My experince was rather pleasent and I will return if I am able. As for others and their experince I can only speculate. Mabye they had an off day or rather individual quirks of employees are to blame who's to know. Any way this is just one old mans opinion.
This is satire, right? A gentle barb at amateur food critics? "Houston Critic" is just a character, right?!
lol
I completly disagree my trip was great.
I've been to Torchy's once a week since it opened and I've always had great food and friendly service. If the ice machine was empty, I let someone know and it was refilled quickly. If I couldn't find a table in the shade on a sunny day, a server helped us move a table over under the awning. I'm not saying other people's experiences haven't been less than stellar, I'm just saying I'll still be going back at least once a week to stand in line for my "mediocre" tacos that I'm totally addicted to.
1. Austin "vibe" - strike one
2. Too many excellent alternatives - strike two
3. Rude staff (see 1 above) - strike three
No thanks. I live in Houston, and I'm proud of it. If you like Austin so much, by all means move there. Think of all the money you'll save on soap!
Darryl,
That's not a nice thing to say. Are you a malcontent? Proud to live in Houston? Most people I know who were born and raised in Houston can't wait to retire so they can get out of that shithole, if they're not gone already! I lived there for four years and am glad to be away; however, Houston's known for great food. I have many friends who are still trapped there and some of them go to Torchy's and have good things to say (I do like the soap comment, but people do actually bathe in Austin).
I've been to the Austin Torchy's (Congress) and think it's great. If you don't have a great food concept/product in Houston, you're doomed to start. From what I've read on this forum, they're doing pretty good (lines out the door since opening) for being a fledgeling establishment. If you don't like eating there don't go. If they're formula in H-Town remotely ressembles they're formula in Austin, then they have staying power. They won't go anywhere. It's way above par! Regards.
From someone who lived in and still owns a house two blocks from the original Torchy's Trailer on S. 1st in Austin i would agree with this article.
My wife and i dined at Torchy's Trailer ATX 3-4 times a week, the food at the Houston location is not the same quality.
So sad.
Alison,
I recently visited Torchy's on Shepherd and I have to agree with you - it is not at all like Torchy's in Austin - and the place has serious issues. My comments include:
-Grossly inadequate parking.
-Music so loud that conversation was all but impossible.
-Hideously expensive, average to below average tacos.
(I had the democrat, and it was disgusting.)
-The restaurant was clean, but quite chaotic.
Unlike you, I didn't have a problem with the staff or management.
I will not return to Torchy's on Shepherd, nor would I reccomend it to anyone. I was quite disappointed, and left feeling "ripped-off". Honestly, there are much better options elsewhere.
What a bunch of whiners.
Houston knockoff taco joint, I ate at the original Torchy's, I know Torchy's, Torchy's is a friend of mine. Knockoff, you sir are no Torchy's.
This review is very confusing. My boyfriend and I have been to Torchy's countless times since it opened (the first few weeks, probably about three times a week), and we have never had an experience like this. The food is consistently awesome (although I never get the flour tortillas), and it's comparable or cheaper than all these new hipster restaurants that are springing up in the 'trose. Comparing Torchy's to the taco truck by the Ice House is a fallacy - they are two different types of tacos. Having said that, that truck has the best tacos in Houston. Anyhoo, we have never had bad/weird/awkward service, if anything, they have always been courteous and accommodating.
Calling it "the 'trose" should be an arrestable offense.
I could not agree more. My UT friends rave about this place so I had to try it. I've been here a few times and each time the parking situation had me frustrated before I even walked in the door. I find the layout ineffective and the line of ex-austinites / austinite wannabes to be annoying. Parking and clientele aside, the food is average - the only tacos I've enjoyed are the taco-of-the-month tacos. For my money and sanity, I'd much rather go to Tacos A-Go-Go or Guadalupana both have a better atmosphere, quality, price and service.
That's what you get when you listen to Longhorns!!
I'm glad you finally called them out Alison, way overdue!! I went to Torchy's in Dallas and in Houston and I was unimpressed. The tacos are just not appetizing. I really enjoy the concept though.
Jeff Pearson & CJ: the GM certainly didn't have to grovel. However, had the GM been knowledgable about standard customer service techniques - he would have been much more interested in keeping him as a customer and better yet - keeping him a customer for LIFE. If that doesn't interest this manager - Torchy's should reconsider his employment as it will absolutely affect their business in the long run.
THE GOD'S HAVE SPOKEN! Thank you, Allison, for ripping apart my restaurant! To be honest, the Damn in me wants to tell all the haters F@#& off, but the Good in me knows that the people’s opinion counts. It’s easy to rant and rave online and behind closed doors. I'm not saying the experience had at my restaurant was untrue. No one is perfect, believe me. Perhaps we had an employee that had his head up his own A@& that day. Trust me, anyone who owns a restaurant knows how hard it is to run one. That’s precisely why so many fail. The biggest problem I have with this review is not the comments, but the fact that it's awful hard to fix the situation if we can’t get details about the very thing that upset them. I’d very much like to address the individual in the scenario, but can’t seem to point the pitchfork in the right direction. As far as our food goes-- some love us, some hate us. Our tortillas aren’t home cooked because I didn’t have the space in the trailer we started in.
We've gone back and forth and the reality is that it’s unfair to offer fresh tortillas at some stores and store-bought ones at the shops that are too small to make them. We order them from a company in Austin who makes them overnight and delivers to each location every morning. Hell, most of the time, the boxes are still hot! If you worked in our company, you would know how much love and passion we put into our food. You would know how proud our people are about what we do.
In fact, to demonstrate our care, please note that I'll be at the Shepherd location tomorrow afternoon (4/27) from 11a-2p. I'll be giving away FREE Dirty Sanchez's to anyone who prints out this article and brings it in. After you eat the taco, I'd like to know if you agree with Ms. Cook or not. We love all of our customers and for those who have had bad experiences, I deeply apologize. I hope that you’ll take this opportunity and let us win you back!
Oh—and as for the photos that everyone is bashing us about, the resolution of a photograph has everything to do with the way an image appears. Two different cameras are going to produce different images. A professional photographer is just that, a professional—and a Damn Good editor, if I do say so myself! See you tomorrow, folks.
They might be good tomorrow, but as soon as youre gone back to SHIT!! I wouldn't drive to get one of those lackluster overpriced store bought tortilla tacos. You sandbag food, you serve shit. That simple. If you need any other tips Ill be here all week.
Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanks
You've really picked up steam in your Torchy's bash-fest. Next step I'd say is to paint your face blue and go William Wallace on that place. But seriously, thanks for your contribution in making the lines shorter so I can get some delicious tacos and queso.
You've really picked up steam in your Torchy's bash-fest. Next step I'd say is to paint your face blue and go William Wallace on that place. But seriously, thanks for your contribution in making the lines shorter so I can get some delicious tacos and queso.
Love your response & I can't wait to try your place!!!!
"To be honest, the Damn in me wants to tell all the haters F@#& off…"
"It’s easy to rant and rave online and behind closed doors."
"I'm not saying the experience had at my restaurant was untrue."
it's also very easy to be condescending and dismissive to your customers. realize that every single customer *is* in fact a critic of a restaurant, whether they have a good experience or bad.
i don't know if you are the owner or just a manager, but perhaps a lot of the criticisms leveled against your lack of what people seem to consider "austin feel" is exemplified by your comments like those above.
as for your comment about knowing "where to point the pitchfork", probably 60% of the comments i read through on this thread gave pretty apt descriptions of torchy's houston expectations and issues. if you are insinuating that you'd like people to get in your face and tell you your problems, take a note from that hubcap grill guy — that grandiose and antagonizing approach didn't work out so well for him.
while the free taco seems on the surface to be a nice extension of grace to your community, you're really basically just saying you're not changing anything. good luck with that.
and seriously… "haters"? what kind of grown-ass man uses terms like "hater", and uses it for his customers who might have a complaint.
Does the offer for a Dirty Sanchez taco include the other locations? Namely the Austin ones? I'll be there in a heartbeat with that shitty review if it's true! Long live Torchy's!!!
CRY ME A RIVER with your "No one is perfect" remark...COME ON!!! You're a restauranteur aren’t you!? Act like one! Take responsibility for your establishment! Before you start opening up more locations, how bout you put a little more effort and attention into properly running the ones you already have open. You should be so lucky that Alison ripped your restaurant. Maybe now, Houston will be able to experience what all your other locations get to experience every day. Hopefully you “ripped” your GM a new one b/c he needed it.
Torchy’s is good...the lines out the door are a testament of the food you produce. But a good restaurant can easily become bad if your staff sucks. Strive to be more consistent, b/c the Houston location is not consistent with your locations in Austin. Just sayin. Love your Queso btw...
Torchy: Re-read Allison's review and then the other postings. All of the service comments aren't likely about just one employee - this is a trend at this location. You have a pretty decent restaurant and concept. You have some customer service issues here in Houston. Your tortillas suck (sorry, but that's just what my experience has been). Maybe you shouldn't deliver from an Austin location into Houston when you could either make them at the store or deliver from somewhere closer. And really - poor excuse on the tortillas - "we have mediocre tortillas because we can't have good tortillas everywhere" just doesn't cut it.
I do hope you get things corrected; I'll try you again in another month or so to see if things are improved.
If you cant stand the heat, get the F out the kitchen.
Cant take criticism? Perhaps a data entry job would work out better for you. You are clearly in the wrong line of work.
This place is nothing to rave or go out or your way to go to. The food is mediocre and not at all good. Why do so many rave about this place, is it "the place to be". I went once and will never go back, id have better service and much better food at a roch coach on Airline drive at 11 at night than here.
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If you don't like the lines, order ahead of time online. It works very well. Torchy's has DP Dublin on tap.
I went to Torchy's this past Sunday at about 11:15AM. There was a line out the door, but it seemed to be moving OK. However, when my friend and I tried to order a Dos Equis to go with our tacos, it was like we'd asked for a taco made of puppy ears. The cashier looked baffled. At first, we were told that we were not allowed to order beer until noon. The cashier then called the manager, who said we could order a beer, but could not have the beer until we had our food in front of us. Okay, fine. (I know Texas has some goofy alcohol laws, but I did not find anything like that on the TABC website.) So we ordered and paid for our beers, which they held at the register until after they dropped off our queso, and we went back to pick up the beer. Fine. (Although I've been to brunch all over this city and have never experienced anything like that.) When my friend got up to get us another round, they would not give her two beers, saying that I had to come up too. Because she could potentially order two beers and give one to a minor sitting at our table (??!!?). It was all very weird and handled very strangely.
From someone who has been in the restaurant business for the past 12 years, and worked more Sunday brunches than I can count, I'm going to vouch for the employees on this one.
In the state of Texas, alcohol can be served after 10 am, with food (even chips and queso doesn't count. It must be an entree), and after 12 pm, anything goes.
And being a bartender here in Houston, if someone came up to my bar and ordered 2 alcoholic bevereges, I would definitely ask to see the person that the other drink was for. If it was being served to a minor, I could go to jail and be fined heavily, I know it to be true because it has happened to more than one of my friends.
So, before you bash someone online about this sort of thing, get your facts straight.
Look, I hear you. I would never ask an employee to jeapordize thier job, or risk a large fine over a Sunday brunch beer. However! I also worked in restaurants for 5 years. I also worked for a liquor distributor. I understand that there is a lot confusion about Texas blue laws. The wording on the TABC website could be confusing.
I never worked in a college town or at a restaurant where serving drinks that could possibly be sneakily passed to minors was a problem.. Quite the contrary- if a man came to the bar to get a mimosa for himself and his wife and I refused to give it to him, and i insistied that his wife came up to the bar as well....no. If the one-beer per order is a restaurant policy, well okay, but Torchy's is not an all-ages music venue, it's a restaurant in montrose.L
I guess it was just the way the situation was handled that annoyed me.
This is what I found on the TABC website http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/faq/general.asp
HOURS OF SALE AND CONSUMPTION
1.What are the legal hours of sale/service of alcoholic beverages?
ON-PREMISE LICENSE OR PERMIT (E.G. BAR OR RESTAURANT)
•Monday-Friday: 7am-midnight
•Saturday: 7am-1am
•Sunday: Noon to midnight. (10am-noon only in conjunction with the service of food)
•If the establishment is in a city or county legal for late hours, and they have a late hours permit, they can sell alcohol for on-premise consumption until 2am any night of the week.
You can purchase alcohol on a sunday 10am-noon only in conjunction with the service of food!
I pretty much agree with this review. I lived in Austin for a long while. Honestly, I found myself often shrugging at restaurants Austinites showered with raves. I know this review still talks up the original Torchy's. But I ate there several times and it never lived up to expectations for me. Funky, cute, typically south austin kind of place. But it wasn't food I craved or raved about.
FYI - dont order to-go tacos online fromn this dump or you will get ones that were made 4-5 hours ago, if not yesterday, and are cold as ever. I could give 2 dumps about a free taco for bringing in this article, its not worth it. This place sucks and I will continue to make sure people do not eat here!!
never been to the torchy's in austin, and no, i don't care if the houston location successfully recreates that "certain austin aesthetic hip and weird quality you just can't name" or whatever. the food and the atmosphere will speak for itself.
i've been to the houston one a few times. long lines, high prices, weird mix of slightly annoying midtown and hipster crowd. austin is generally known for having shitty customer service, and that seems to extend to this place — young hipster kids that are initially friendly but cop attitude or screw up real quick.
the tacos? they seem to be okay. it's been inconsistent. i seriously don't understand the amount of traffic they pull other than the fact that it's apparently "An Austin Place". i mean shit — chuy's pulls mad, but their shit is good for what it is.
i guess the torchy's hoopla is kind of funny to me considering houston has pretty much tons of places to get good tacos at. if they can pull it together that'd be awesome, but they have real competition and some bullshit austin "weird" factor won't cut it alone here.
thumbs up on all the recommendations for the w alabama icehouse. the "roach coach" commenter guy is brain-dead.
I for one was already planning on having lunch at Torchy's tomorrow, and after reading the review and comments from disgruntled hipsters I am really looking forward to it. Go back to Austin for your obscure taco stands that no one knows about. Maybe someday UNICEF will get into the Taco business but until Torchy's will have to do.
I tried Torchy's with my gf and we both thought it was just okay, but considering the price that doesn't seem good enough. I will take Taco's a Go Go anyday over Torchy's. Besides, with all of these good taco trucks around, why go somewhere that expensive with average food? I will go back if I am with a group or friend that really wants to go, but I doubt I ever go back by myself.
ITT: a bunch of whining about really dumb shit. It's good food. If you are going to try to be hip and contrary about putting it down, try coming up with better reasons. The actual food reasons were minute and petty. And yeah we get that the damn location on Shepherd doesn't have the same feng shui as the park bench under the oaks on South 1st in Austin ... mentioning it 5 times in the same review is a little amateur, and makes me think that the whole entire bad experience was a fabrication, pulled out of the reviewer's ass, to start some controversy and create some hype for 29-95.
No, I don't work for Torchy's. No, I wasn't paid by them. I am just not a walking pile of ass.
I'm not going to put up with weird or rude service, no matter how good the tacos are.
Went once; that was enough. No need to stand in line, in the parking lot, for 30 min for mediocre Tex-Mex; in Houston.
I had a laugh reading all the comments.
But to keep it short, after trying Torchy's once was enough.
It wasn't good at all and it was expensive. I will never understand why people like this place.
Well, unfortunately it may be just like a lot out of Austin and Austin itself: overhyped, out-promises, under-performs.
I have been to Torchy's multiple times since it has opened. Yet, I have not seen or experienced any incident as those described in this article or on the comment board. Each time my tacos have been nothing less than delicious, warm, gooey, and oh-so yummy as I remember them in Austin. As for customer service, the employees have always been super nice and never bothered me. Still, I understand different employees work different shifts and you do not always get the same workers. Over all, I would not let this article stop me from going to Torchy's simply because I enjoy stopping by to sit down and have a good taco when I am in the area. I'll keep these experiences of others in mind, but will not let it put a damper on a place I find enjoyable.
Well, I tried it. Tacos were good. Service was lol horrible. Immediately was greeting by a table of, I guess employees on a break or something with a stare down all the way till I got to the counter. The laassstttt freaking thing I need when I go to a restaurant is a bunch of wanna be scenster dropout waiters giving me the elite hipster treatment. You are a waiter. Or a cashier. You don't even have to get over yourselves, there's nothing to get over. Sad really because like I said tacos were good. But believe the reviews on this one.
Went to Torchy's last weekend and it was just as wonderful and delicious as the the Austin locales.
I went to Torchy's once and the tacos were just OK. The Trailer Trash taco of the month with a country fried steak in it was so salty I couldn't take a second bite.This coming from someone who loves salt.The democrat was better but still just OK. I've been in the restaurant biz for 25 years so I know restaurants have bad days sometimes so I'll give them a second chance.
The debacle begins when you circle the parking lot five times before finding a tiny, tight space. Queso tastes good, but sits like a brick all night long. Fresh tortillas, including corn, are my litmus test. Fail.
Are you high? The tacos taste better in Austin? You've got to be kidding me.
95 comments. NINETY FIVE.
Tacos are SERIOUS BUSINESS here in Houston.
After living in Austin for some time; and eating a diet largely of Torchy's Tacos, I can say the Houston location is subpar.
I live in Houston now and have requented the place several times.
The last three occasions, my tacos were at best luke-warm; my coworkers tacos had cold tortillas and luke-warm meat.
Just not the same experience; all the workers seems high and just don't care. Get them in line and get them out.
Sure the location is spotless; but I would lean toward a better environment overall for the customer.
Good publicity stunt, giving away free tacos that is. Hopefully they can keep them all warm under a light in the back!
You can tell even in the pictures that the tacos arent warm. The cheese on that Dirty Sanchez taco shows no signs of meltiness.
Do ALL Torchy's locations use commercial tortillas or do some of them make em in-house?
I wonder what made that first DS taco so much better than the 2nd.
You people complain too much. If you don't like it, don't go back. I love torchy's and have been plenty of times since it opened in Houston.
I was a little confused that Alison enjoyed SOME part of the experience, but still gave NO stars. I get the ratings system now and even though someone will probably get fired this review, that's kind of the point of giving a place an F-.
Regardless, I love Torchy's in Austin and I'm sad to hear that you guys aren't getting the best they can offer.
You actually don't get the ratings system. Go back and review it again.
I just tried Torchy's for the first time and damn that Dirty Sanchez was great. I'll be back.
Thanks Torchy's... and thanks Allison. Your write-up turned me on to a great taco shop.
Sometimes I think Alison enjoys all the hoopla that goes alone w/ a review that is less than stellar. It is guaranteed to be usually followed by a play-by-play via twitter, with loyalists tweeting their support and similar comments. Too much drama over food!!!!!
Anyone who thinks "El Rey" is decent, shouldn't post here. That is the worst Mexican food in the city, I'd rather eat at Taco Bell.
Alison's critique is honest, but even though there are many that didn't like the customer service, there are countless others that do love this restaurant. As an Austinite, I don't know what to say to all the people here in Houston that hate Austin. How about this? Don't move there. We all get moved around the state and the country due to work. Austin, for those of you that don't know, lost its joie de vivre years ago when people from Dallas and Houston and California moved there and ruined it.
Back to Torchey's, I was there yesterday around 9 am and there were only a couple of customer, and therefore only a few staff. There was one customer who wanted some Pico de Gallo and instead of waiting for the guy to finish my order, just barged into the kitchen demanding his "pico". Customers are sometimes rude and insufferable as well. I'm not defending the staff, management, or the restaurant, but I will say they have some damn good tacos. It's not the same as the truck at W. Alabama Ice House, they just 2 species of tacos.
Lastly, for the people that complain about the line, that is what happens at popular places, do you have the same complaints against Uchi (another Austin restaurant)? Place your order online, walk to the front of the line and walk out. It's great.
El Rey is Cuban. Go eat at Taco Bell.
Whoops! I confused El Rey, with El Tiempo. My bad. But I would suggest you perhaps direct poor attitude toward the 15 people above that compared El Rey with Torchey's.
I tend to think Torchy's is a bit overrated, but then again I've only eaten there once. But this article annoyed me and just sounded like an over dramatic rant / bashing. Okay, your experience there wasn't the best, but unfortunately not every single visit may be the same as the last. That doesn't mean I'm sticking up with them, obviously her experience would have irked me too. I was reading this to see what she thought of the food, but the meat of the article revolved around being butt hurt about her surroundings. Sure, the overall experience can be pretty important, but let's all face it, the reason we generally go to specific restaurants is because of the food and not the environment. Maybe it's time to look into a different line of work Miss Cook.
Like her or not, "Miss Cook" is a finalist for the James Beard Craig Claiborne Distinguished Restaurant Review Award. That means people who know, think she's in the right line of work. I imagine she got to that point by reviewing restaurants on all the standard criteria; food, service, ambiance and the like and providing her educated opinion to folks like us. I would also imagine she got there by not using phrases like "butt hurt" in her reviews, but that's just me.
How pretentious can you be?
Just because someone has a way with words doesn't mean that they are in any way qualified to tell anyone what should or shouldn't taste good to them.
A food review is just one person's opinion, and no one's opinion on that matter is any more valid than the next person's.
A taco is a taco is a taco.
Good now I really don't want to ever go here. I drive past this a few times every day and have always wanted to try it, but I also think it is ridiculouse that people actually want to deal with that nightmare parking situation and line waiting! My friend that works at the petco down the street says people park in there lot to go to torchys! Now that may seem like the place would be good but after reading these reviews it proves a point how people just like to follow trends regardless of food quality! But also remember how fast food is still extremely popular with the majority of people so there you go. Most people really don't care if food is ok or mediocre it's the trendiness of a place that makes people want to go there. There are times I like living in montrose since I don't have to drive far for anything but just the sheer amount of wannabees over here is sad. Stop trying so hard to be cool. No one cares. Teach your children not to be little narcissistic brats. This torchys taco is just a resturaunt. Some like it some don't I for one don't have to try something once to make an opinion. I just prefer to eat my Mexican food hipster-free
Eat, B%#tch, Collect Money - what a career, I think I was married to your sister - how many sisters do you have because a whole lot of other dudes are thinking the same thing right now - ROFL -
Sorry Allison, you are probably a wonderful person - just needed to share some love errr I mean humor, I try to find something to laugh at in the news every morning and you made the list for today - grin
I think Torchy's makes great tacos. When you're a new business in a new area and get the response this place is getting with lines out the door then mishaps can occur. The machine can break down from time to time. To every single one of you bashing this company for being busy, cant find a seat, waiting 20 min in line..you're all fools. If you see a line out the door..guess what, you're gonna wait. Probably means people are seated and enjoying their lunch. Don't like the wait, come back when it's calmer. Can't find a seat..well there are things such as max occupancy based on fire codes. Get a clue. I am a small business operator and wish I could have a bigger spot but I have to think about my over head so I work with what I have. They're doing the same. I have been to the Torchy's in Austin, 5 different locations of them and Ive been to the Houston one, it's excellent. As far as the service, that is never excusable but you can't bash a place on one or to bad apples. If they have said they will fix it, then give em another shot..otherwise, shut up.
Alison, your love for Austin and your frustration with the people working at Torchys overshadows your review. Maybe you should move back to ATX and enjoy those oak trees you seem to love so much. Keep it Weird Alison......
I walked over to Tierra Caliente today and dropped $5 on a couple of tacos el pastor en tortillas de maiz ($1.50 each plus I left a $2 tip). Wow! Those were some damn fine tacos. And they were still hot when I got them home after my short walk on a beautiful afternoon. I'll be sure to try the breakfast tacos on my way to work next week.
This was bound to happen. A perfect storm. I heard of Torchy's from the same small Houston hipster clique that always makes a big buzz of things that are typically b---sh-- and walk around like their s--- don't stink and they're God's gift to the scene. You got all this hype, and lines out the door... for a crap taco. And you bring your crap taco to the holy mecca land of glorious tacos, H-Town. It's the perfect recipe for massive backlash and getting called out. 10 years ago when I lived in Austin, food sucked. Austin has come a looooong way since then. Torchy's helped filled a void in Austin almost non-existant food scene. That's probably why it tasted so good in comparison to hardly any competition.
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But this is Houston. I see "Best burgers in Houston" regurgitated on HP and 29-95 almost every week. Why not do tacos. Torchy's wouldn't touch the top 50. I'm a fan of capitalism & brilliant marketing so hats off to Torchy's for getting so many suckers to line up, but if we want to really get excited about tacos then let's start naming the real places. You could spend a week alone on who has the best tortillas...
but if we want to really get excited about tacos then let's start naming the real places. You could spend a week alone on who has the best tortillas...
This is a post topic I would love to read from Ms. Cook. What do you all think are the best tacos in Houston?
Some of my favorites are from 100% Taquito (any, really), the lengua tacos from the Salvadorean taco truck in the Airline Farmer's Market back lot (not sure of the exact name), and the carnitas from El Tiempo Market.
Austin lovers are always going to say that anything Austin is better, it's just the trendy thing to say. Frankly, the service at Torchy's wasn't very good, but it was still worlds better than any service you'll get in Austin. I thought the food was good, I will definitely try again after the restaurant has been open long enough to get the kinks out. (BTW, plenty of sources for good tortillas here in Houston, even if you have to do store bought.) I will for sure go off-hours because when I went there was a really pretentious, hipster, "Farrago" vibe in there that is hilarious from the outside but a real pain to have to endure.
Hilarious! Outer loopers are so touchy. Enjoy your Arby's out in the burbs!
I went to Torchy's on Sunday afternoon after returning from out of town. I wanted to see for myself what Alison Cook's review was all about. Here the rundown from my visit scoring 1 (poor) - 5 (Excellent)
1. Chips - 5
2. Guacamole - 5
3. Trailer Park Taco - 2 ($3.50)
Very salty, only one very small chicken tender. Flour tortilla simply not good.
4. Mr. Orange - 3 ($4.75)
Once again, a very salty, way over the top spicy piece of fish. Corn tortilla was good.
5. Fried Avocado - 3 ($3.50)
It was simply O.K.
Overall the perceived value simply was not there to warrant another visit. I wish them luck.
Who gets butthurt over someone asking to take your menu from them, and then proceeds to rate the restaurant poorly? (Clearing a table of menus is something that all restaurants everywhere have always done since the beginning of time). You can't walk your fat ass back up to the counter like everyone else? It's only like 15-20 feet or so, unless you are still huffing and puffing from the marathon it took you to get from your car to the front of the line, I understand. Being snarky with a teenager for simply doing their job, is classy! Very classy. Why be mean, he/she is simply cleaning your table for you so you can more easily see the taco's you are fisting down your throat without chewing.
I smell a hipster critic who liked Torchy's before it was cool, and now hates that it is. Bad critic is bad. Personally I love the place, it's cheap, it's delicious, it's like 5 minutes from my place in the Heights. Had it in Austin, so great it's now in Houston.
Tard commenter is tarded. Correction, who stands their ground when some prick is being a prick? In my book, cool people that's who. People languishing over menus is something that has happened since the beginning of time. Especially when you're some novelty restaurant with "zany" ingredients for meals with "unique" names. It's why restaraunts print paper menus since the beginning of time and why it's always smart to have lots of extra menus so people can go "oooh i'll remember that one for next time." How much does an extra menu cost? How much profit can you get from a repeat customer. Do the math, Steve Jobs. As for criticism of the critic, let me know when you come anywhere near a James Beard nominee with whatever it is you do with your life. (I'm guessing they don't have something like that for comment boards yet BUT DONT GIVE UP!) Torchy's cool, cheap? OK then.
I cannot believe they asked for their menu back, that is pretty outrageous and deserves a true hatchet job review, a review that is like Yelp on a speedball of snark and condescension.
It is a taco, that is all, and it is their menu.