"Austin’s favorite local burger chain P. Terry’s is opening its first taco-dedicated drive-thru Taco Ranch this week. The restaurant will debut on Wednesday, January 24, in Oak Hill on Highways 290/71 and MoPac. A sign on its door warns that the restaurant will still be 'in training.' Update, January 26: Taco Ranch has been so slammed during its opening that the restaurant reduced its hours for now: 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the weekdays and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the weekends. Co-owner Patrick Terry applied his same approach to P. Terry’s — good, all-natural food for affordable prices — to tacos. He was inspired by Taco Bell’s short menu during the early ‘60s. 'We’re under no illusion that there are plenty of taco places,' he previously told Eater, 'but we believe that there is a niche in the marketplace that has not been filled.' That means a menu where prices are usually around $2.25, full of simple tacos (tortillas are either flour or corn, crispy or soft), chalupas, tostadas, burritos, quesadillas, and taco salads. The variations aren’t overwhelming: it’s simple as beef, chicken, veggie crumble or refried beans. Breakfast tacos come in orders of two, three, or four, with fillings like bacon, sausage, chorizo, potato, cheddar cheese, and refried beans. Sides include guacamole, queso, and ranch dip. For sweets, there are churro brownies, and during breakfast-time, there are cinnamon rolls and coffee cakes. Scope out the full menu below. The restaurant space, designed by Michael Hsu (who worked on numerous P. Terry’s restaurants), includes a patio, dine-in area, and the requisite drive-thru. The first P. Terry’s opened in 2005, followed by 13 other locations in Austin. Terry doesn’t rule out future Taco Ranch locations, but none are currently planned." - Nadia Chaudhury
