Waco has just gotten a little bit spicier — Torchy's Tacos, an Austin favorite, has landed on 5th Street, and we couldn't be happier. I've always thought cheap tacos are like the caviar of college students. 

The “Wack” is becoming slightly less wacky. With the highly anticipated McLane Stadium set to open its doors in the fall of 2014, the city isn’t wasting any time drawing in new restaurants, condominiums and shops to the banks of the Brazos. Although the 127,000-person town is the place that Baylor students have lovingly called home since 1845, the city has certainly lacked some of the more college-centered chain restaurants that are crowd favorites among students at other predominant Texas universities. 
On April 3, Torchy’s Tacos officially opened its doors to the public at the former Taco Bueno site at 801 S. Fifth Street. With 21 operating locations throughout the state, most Texans hailing from Houston, Dallas and Austin are already well aware of the popularity of the chain. 

“I have eaten at the Torchy’s in Austin, so when I heard that we were getting one in Waco, I was thrilled,” Freshman Shields Thompson stated, as well as noting that she personally recommends The Republican. 

Chef Michael Rypka opened his first Torchy’s concept inside a food trailer in Austin. Each time someone remarked, “Damn these tacos are good!” they were added to the menu. Thus, “Damn Good Tacos” became the rallying cry of this successful concept. After trying them myself, I can’t argue with the slogan. These tacos are exactly what they claim to be – damn good. 

Torchy’s Tacos boasts not only a lunch and dinner menu, but offers a wide variety of breakfast tacos as well. In order to fairly evaluate the cuisine, I evaluated both breakfast and regular tacos (to be honest, I would have anyway, but this gave me an unnecessary excuse.) The “Ranch Hand” is filled with tender strips of grilled beef, scrambled eggs and shredded cheese served with diablo sauce.  Though it may be a little blander than your typical Torchy’s taco, it hits the spot for breakfast on the go. For all of the vegetarians out there, the “Fried Avocado” taco features hand-battered, freshly fried avocados with refried beans, pico de gallo, lettuce, cheese, and poblano sauce. The “Trailer Park” is known as one of Rypka’s most famous creations. Filled with fried chicken, green chilies, lettuce, pico de gallo and cheese with poblano sauce, this delicious taco can also be served “trashy” by subtracting lettuce and adding queso. I’ll have to admit, as a self-declared foodie and concept critic, the “Trailer Park” stole my taco-loving heart and I will definitely be back for more.

Have no fear, Waco. It appears that Torchy’s Tacos is here to stay and our standing as a college town is on the rise. No longer will Baylor Bears make the commute to Austin or Dallas for gourmet tacos, but enjoy them at their leisure directly across I-35.