Beef fajitas sizzle at Trudy’s South Star location on Little Texas Lane.[/caption]

A number of menu items available at Trudy’s Texas Star Inc. have been added to the permanent offerings over the years as staffers get creative in the kitchen, Operations Manager Preston Dumas said.

One example is the Cholula honey chicken ($12), a favorite of customers and staffers alike.

“Whenever anybody has an idea [for a dish] they present it,” Dumas said. “We run it as a special and if it takes off, it can make it to the menu.”

The Tex-Mex restaurant serves entrees and sides made with fresh ingredients in a from-scratch kitchen, Dumas said.

“It’s not an everyday Tex-Mex menu; it’s our own original specials,” Dumas said.

Fried stuffed avocados ($11.50), filled with chicken, cheese and spices, are another popular menu item, he said. Dishes such as fajitas ($12.50) and migas ($7.50) are among the restaurant’s top sellers, he added.

Founded in 1977 by owner Gary Truesdell, Trudy’s now operates four locations as well as its South Congress Café, Dumas said.

The abundance of families in Southwest Austin prompted Trudy’s to expand to the area, he said.

The 901-C Little Texas Lane location opened in 2007, having moved from its Brodie Oaks location. The company opened a location on Four Star Boulevard off Hwy. 290 in 2011.

The Little Texas restaurant extended its hours Nov. 2 to open earlier for brunch, Dumas said. Options include eggs and bacon, crème brulee French toast, and chicken and waffles.

“There are so many options,” he said. “It offers a little bit to everybody.”

Zingo Nachos are named for Kory Mozingo, Trudy’s South Star kitchen manager, who developed the dish now on the permanent menu.[/caption]

On the menu

Zingo Nachos, topped with whole spicy black beans, Monterey Jack and cotija cheeses, sweet and spicy mango pico de gallo, and garlic marinated shrimp, are named for Southwest Austin resident Kory Mozingo, Trudy’s South Star kitchen manager.

“I lived in Mexico for a while,” he said. “[The dish] was kind of ceviche-inspired.”

Cholula honey chicken ($12) is among the most popular menu items.[/caption]

The entree is now a permanent menu item available at all Trudy’s locations.

Mozingo said he also enjoys the Cholula Honey Chicken ($12), which features fried chicken breast with Cholula sour cream batter breading and topped with pickled red onions, cilantro and a Cholula honey sauce.