Bottom Line: Torchy’s Tacos offers a funky, kicked-up twist on Mexican food and knows how to bring the heat.
A taco is a pretty simple thing—meat, cheese, veggies, salsa—and there are those who will say you should keep it that way and not try to fancy it up too much. Well, the people at Torchy’s Tacos don’t believe in that philosophy, and I think we are the better for it. This funky little chain, which makes “Damn Good” tacos, got its start in Austin and is now spreading across the country with its twist on Mexican food that emphasizes high-quality ingredients. And it is definitely a destination for those who like something a little different and with a nice dose of heat.
While the menu at Torchy’s is not expansive, they still have quite a lot to choose from, but before I get to the tacos I have to start with one of the best starters you will find at any restaurant. The Green Chili Queso is a must-have and I can make a meal on that alone. Inside the flavor-packed bowl that they bring you is seasoned melted cheese mixed with green chilis and topped with avocado, Cotija cheese, cilantro, and their Diablo Sauce (more on that below). This is queso taken to the next level that is silky smooth and pops with flavor while also delivering a kick. I would put it about Medium heat level, but sometimes it can be even higher depending on how much of the Diablo they added. Queso seems like such a simple thing, but Torchy’s amps it up to a gourmet guilty pleasure.
And then there are all of their sauces of which the Diablo will be of most interest to chiliheads. Torchy’s offers six different signature salsas: Roja, Tomatillo, Poblano, Chipotle, Avocado, and Diablo. All are quite good, but I rarely make it past the Diablo, which is of course their hottest. That has the tang of a good hot sauce along with a good, rich peppery flavor and a nice sweetness to finish it off. It also has a creaminess to it, and it is a pretty thick sauce. Most importantly, this delivers the heat! I would put it at the Hot heat level, and this is a sauce that I could put on just about anything including chocolate cake! (Hmm. Spicy Mole Cake. Gonna have to come up with a recipe.)
Now, on to the tacos.
Torchy’s has no shortage of its specialty tacos and it always has a taco-of-the-month to try as well. I have tried just about every taco on the menu, and none disappoint. But I have a few favorites that I rarely make it past. My go-to is the Trailer Park which has a fried chicken strip, green chilis, Pico de Gallo, cheddar jack cheese, and poblano sauce and I order it “Trashy Style” which subs queso for the lettuce (always a good swap out!). I also usually get the Diablo sauce instead of the Poblano. This is a messy taco, but you won’t care as it is bursting with flavor, and it has a kick even if you don’t add the Diablo sauce.
Another favorite is the Fried Avocado Taco. That has pieces of deep-fried, fresh avocado along with refried beans, Pico de Gallo, lettuce, cheddar jack cheese, and Poblano sauce. Again, I usually go with Diablo sauce instead, and that amps this up to a taco masterpiece. And it is vegetarian so you could even argue that it is healthy. (Though don’t try to get too far with that argument considering the main filling is deep-fried.)
Just recently, I decided to order the Republican which I have not had in a while (no party affiliation is required). That includes a whole link of cheddar jalapeno sausage, Pico de Gallo, cheddar jack cheese, and Poblano sauce. The Poblano sauce compliments that tasty, smokey sausage quite well, but I add on some Diablo sauce for good measure. (Told you I put that on everything!) There is also the Democrat which includes barbacoa, avocado, cotija cheese, cilantro, onions, and Tomatillo sauce. I have never ordered the two together, and you may want to tread lightly on that because your table could erupt into a partisan food fight!
Other standout tacos include the Baja Shrimp, the Green Chili Pork, both the Chicken and the Beef Fajita, the Mr. Orange (made with blackened salmon), and I have just about read off the whole taco menu at this point. Torchy’s also has burritos, salads, and breakfast tacos and a full bar with regular Happy Hour specials. If you can’t find anything you like here, then you are just too darn picky!
Torchy’s Tacos has locations across the State of Texas and has expanded to twelve states beyond that. You can check to see if there is a location near you at their website. The Green Chili Queso and Diablo Sauce are also available in stores. I find them at Wholefoods in the refrigerated section, and some other markets may carry those products as well. So if you like spicy and you like your Mexican food a bit funky, I definitely recommend a trip to Torchy’s if there is one near you. But beware, you will find yourself hooked on this place pretty quickly.