Jo Y.
Yelp
Visiting Austin, TX for the first time, I learned that breakfast tacos (corn or flour tortillas stuffed with scrambled eggs, cheese, meat, sautéed veggies) are iconic to Texas as Mickey Mouse is to Disneyland. In fact, its 85th Legislature designated the breakfast taco as its official state breakfast item of TX. It is of no wonder that the birthplace of breakfast tacos is Austin.
Opened on 11/8/99 in Austin, TX, Tacodeli serves creative, handcrafted tacos that are made fresh daily from locally sourced ingredients from local farmers, ranchers, and fishermen. Co-owners Roberto Espinsosa and Eric Wilkerson were college buddies at the University of TX, with Roberto being born and growing up in Mexico City and bringing his Mexican taco heritage to TX, and Eric having some restaurant consulting experience.
Tacodeli is unique to Texas and has 12 locations: Austin (7), Dallas (2), Plano (2), Houston (1). They also participate in local farmers' markets.
Tacodeli has an extensive menu of tacos that you can mix and match with any meat, veggies, eggs, cheeses, etc. They use high quality ingredients sourced from local growers. Their sauces are all housemade. Daily specials are offered, and the menu changes periodically with new items added and existing items deleted.
We came for a take-out order for breakfast and were amazed at the huge variety of menu items. Breakfast includes and are not limited to:
* The Otto: refried black beans, double bacon, avocado, jack cheese.
* Barbacoa Madruguera: braised beef cheek, eggs, salsa, green onion.
* Akaushi Picadillo & eggs: ground beef, eggs, jack cheese, salsa, cilantro.
* Sirloin, eggs & cheese.
* Migas taco: scrambled eggs, tomato, onion, jalapeno, tortilla chips, jack cheese.
* Jess Special: migas, jack cheese, avocado.
* Fundido: chicken or sirloin, jack cheese, peppers, onions.
* Vaquero: scrambled eggs, grilled corn, roasted peppers, jack cheese.
* Bacon, egg, & cheese.
* Chorizo, egg & cheese.
* Sausage, egg & cheese
* Bean & cheese.
* Vegan: refried black beans, avocado, pico de gallo.
* Build your own: mix and match ingredients.
The lunch and dinner menu is no slouch either, as it includes:
* Chicken tacos: mix & match w/ roasted green chile sauce, green onion, cheese glazes, cilantro, mushrooms, housemade mole, queso fresco.
* Beef tacos: mix & match w/ grilled corn, onions, peppers, guacamole, cheese glazes, avocado, cilantro, salsa.
* Pork tacos: mix & match w/ salsa, cilantro, onions, avocado.
* Vegetarian tacos: mix & match w/ queso fresco, refried black beans, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, portobella mushrooms, cheese glazes, cauliflower, grilled corn, onion, roasted peppers, sweet potato.
* Seafood tacos: salmon, shrimp w/ various sauces, guacamole, pico, avocado, cheese glaze.
* Various salads: mix & match with romaine, guacamole, avocado, sour cream, pico, jack cheese, onion, tomato, queso fresco, bell pepper, rice & beans, chicken, sirloin, salmon, picadillo, Puerco verde.
* Soup: housemade chicken broth, chicken, tomato, jalapeno, tortilla chips, avocado, cilantro, onion.
* Appetizers: street corn w/ diced red onion, queso fresco, cilantro, bacon bits; tortilla chips w/ queso, guacamole, pico, ground beef, salsa.
For breakfast, Hubby and I ordered the Migas and the Jess Special with the soft corn tortilla. The fillings in the tacos were very generous, with lots of fluffy scrambled eggs, tomato, onion, jalapeno, bits of tortilla chips, jack cheese, and avocado. The tacos were freshly made, warm, and tasty. These breakfast tacos are fresh, delicious, creative, and healthy and are not the typical Tex-Mex tacos at Taco Bell, which we have in HI.
While waiting for our order, we were impressed with the self-service station of Tacodeli's four housemade sauces:
* Salsa verde: green and mild
* Roja: red, smoky flavor, medium heat
* Dona: the hottest, award winning with jalapeno and garlic, green in color.
* Habanero: the hottest
You can take all four sauces if you want to match your preference of heat and flavor.
Also impressed with the variety of drinks: tequila, beer, Kombucha tea, soft drinks.
Staff are friendly, patient, smiling and welcoming. We were overwhelmed with the number of choices, and staff answered all our questions. It was fairly busy on a weekday morning, but heard that long lines form on the weekends and is a popular dining spot. Order online to avoid the lines. Hours are weekdays 7a to 9p, breakfast 7a to 11a; Sat/Sun 8a to 9p, breakfast 8a to 3p.
Sign up for their loyalty program to earn free tacos.
The spacious restaurant has tables/chairs inside and outside if you want to dine in. I loved the wooden laminated tables of colorful Mexican artwork. Free parking in their private lot.
I'm glad that we got to experience this Austin staple! We enjoyed Tacodeli for its high quality of food, local sourcing, attention to detail, freshness, and the many creative menu choices! A great place for locals and visitors!