Orlando said he had his eye on a 300-square-foot barbecue restaurant in Central Austin, and he repeatedly said if that space became available, “We’d do this taco thing there.”
The space became available, and the couple opened their first Taco Shack in 1996.
Orlando said over time they opened six other locations, including one in Frisco in 2019. As their reach expanded so did their menu.
He said they started out with simple offerings but have added many items, some of which are named after family members.
Mia’s Quesadillas and Hana’s Taco, made with beans and cheese, are named after their daughters and are the meals they loved eating when they were little. He said his wife’s item, Yoli’s Tortilla Soup, is very popular. They also serve a breakfast plate of eggs, avocado, bacon, a side of beans and potatoes called Orlando’s Plate.
Orlando points out that although burritos are not traditionally a Tex-Mex dish—he said it is really a California dish—they have added it to their menu and serve breakfast burritos as well as nonbreakfast options.
Reflecting on the changes that have taken place over the past 27 years, he said some things have become more complicated, such as the cost of doing business and staffing, but overall, he is happy with how things are and has set a goal to open more Taco Shacks in the metroplex in the next five years.
“I can roll away from here and know I gave people jobs,” he said. “At the end of the day, that electrician wouldn’t have gotten this work, or the landscaping guy, or the people we employ here. That makes me feel good no matter how hard it got. I get a good feeling that I am supporting people in the community.”
Business information:
Taco Shack, 8333 Preston Road, Frisco
214-494-2233. www.tacoshack.com.
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 7 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Sun. 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
