Austin restaurant chain with ‘damn good tacos’ set to open in KC, with more in the works
Austin-based chain Torchy’s Tacos will open its first area location this week in Ward Parkway Center and plans two more area restaurants by the end of the year.
It took a 3,500-square-foot space at 8815 State Line Road in “The Pavilion,” the center’s restaurant district, and plans to open at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Brad Hager, market partner, is so sold on the concept he plans to open a location at 3050 Iowa St., Lawrence, in October (in a former LongHorn Steakhouse). Another Torchy’s is scheduled to open at 11919 S. Strang Line Road, Olathe (in a former Burger King), at the end of the year. Hager also plans locations for Manhattan and Wichita.
History: Mike Rypka founded the chain a decade ago as a food trailer in Austin, Texas. He would sometimes jump on his bright red Vespa and travel the area, handing out free samples to promote the business. Fans began describing the tacos as “damn good.”
The new Kansas City location will the 77th for the chain now in Texas, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Missouri and Oklahoma.
Menu: Under “Damn Good Tacos,” Torchy’s offers such selections as the Trailer Park with fried chicken, green chiles, lettuce, pico de gallo and cheddar jack cheese with poblano sauce on a flour tortilla. The Democrat has beef barbacoa, avocado, cotija cheese, cilantro, onions and a lime wedge with tomatillo sauce on a corn tortilla.
It also has burritos, guacamole and chips, green Chile queso and chips, salad, and grande burritos.
Its “ secret” menu includes The Matador (with chopped brisket, grilled jalapenos, pickled onions, freshly grated jack cheese, fresh avocado, sour cream and cilantro with tomatillo sauce on a corn tortilla inside a flour tortilla), and the Naughty Santa (with grilled shrimp and chorizo).
Where: Ward Parkway Center’s Restaurant Pavilion, 8815 State Line Road. MidiCi the Neapolitan Pizza Co. formerly had the space between Smitty’s Garage and Charleston’s.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Opening celebration contest: From July 1 to July 7, enter to win tacos for year.
This story was originally published June 29, 2020 at 1:23 PM.