A new taqueria has come to Dallas all the way from the West Coast: Called The Taco Stand, it’s a family-run street taco joint from Shōwa Hospitality based in La Jolla, California, and is making its Texas debut with a location in Uptown, at 3227 McKinney Ave. #100, in the former Southpaws Grill space at the Whitney Uptown apartment building (previously Gables Tower and before that, The Residences).
According to a release, the restaurant is now open.
Beloved for its top-of-the-line meats, approachable pricing, and authentic flavors, The Taco Stand is known to generate big crowds at its eateries, with the original La Jolla location having nearly an hour wait since it opened in 2013. But young people these days love to wait! How else do you know if something is good if there is no line.
Created by Shōwa Hospitality co-founders and northern Mexico natives, Julian Hakim and Aram Baloyan, The Taco Stand was inspired by the taco stands of Tijuana and many adventures along the Baja Peninsula.
The Taco Stand now operates 13 locations across California, Florida, Nevada and Texas.
They feature housemade corn tortillas, highest grade meats, and the freshest ingredients used to make its salsas and guacamole daily. Traditional selections include al pastor, pescado, and carne asada tacos, burritos, volcans, and quesadillas.
Beyond the tacos, there are their famed carne asada fries, fresh guacamole, salsa, and churros. Menu items range from $4 to $5 for tacos and $6 to $11 for burritos.
The restaurant occupies a 1,010 square-foot space with 30 seats, featuring an open kitchen and inviting countertop where customers can observe in-house tortilla production and the brand’s signature, vertical spit roasting pork rotisserie.
“After a visit to Dallas a few years ago, I was captivated by the thriving Mexican food scene and the genuine enthusiasm for eating tacos,” states Julian Hakim, Co-Founder of Shōwa Hospitality. “This felt very much like our humble beginnings in San Diego and we saw an opportunity to bring The Taco Stand to Dallas, adding to the city’s already impressive taco offerings.”
