Tacodeli makes some of Austin’s favorite tacos. The Tex-Mex taqueria has grown a loyal fan base since co-founders Roberto Espinosa and Eric Wilkerson opened their first location in 1999.
In a city that runs on tacos, steady growth and 20 years in business is a significant accomplishment.
One reason for the company’s success is its choice of ingredients. Tacodeli’s beef comes from premium producer HeartBrand Beef Ranch in Harwood, Texas. Its lettuce comes from Leaf Safari in Manor, Texas.
https://youtu.be/b0gRLzEQyL8
People are rightly concerned about the quality and the source of the food they buy. For the Tacodeli diner, it’s not a matter of fresh versus frozen, it’s about bespoke beef and buying local.
How Does “Homemade” Scale?
Espinosa says, “Probably the most important thing that we do is source the best ingredients that we can, but we have to keep in mind we’re serving tacos. We’re not a white tablecloth restaurant serving $30 entrées. We have to find a balance where we source the best we can with a price point that is reasonable for our customers.”
Tacodeli now has five locations in Austin, plus five more in Plano, Houston, and Dallas for a total of 10. Tacodeli also distributes its breakfast tacos to dozens of coffee shops and its Salsa Doña is now available in the grocery stores.
According to The Daily Texan, Espinosa is open to expansion beyond the Lone Star State, but he wants to make sure the company can grow at a pace that maintains the positive culture that’s key to Tacodeli’s success. “At the end of the day, we can’t do any of this if we don’t have the right team.”
Citizens of Tacovana
Taco Cabana, Taco Ranch, and Torchy’s are all competing for the same customer that Tacodeli serves. These are all quick-serve restaurants with great tacos.
Which taco trucks in Austin to frequent is another article best found on Eater. This article is about growing a taco brand.
Taco Cabana and Torchy’s have both grown into large companies with locations in several states.
https://youtu.be/hh2RG6cJJFk
Taco Ranch, on the other hand, just opened its second location in Austin, and like Tacodeli is serving locally sourced food.
