San Marcos establishment celebrates 35 years of serving Tex-Mex favorites

After surviving a fire in 2009, weathering the recent economic recession and holding fast through road construction at its doorstep, Herbert's Taco Hut in San Marcos is still going strong—and expanding.

Dora Rizk, the "mom" owner of the mom-and-pop business, said the restaurant was her late husband's idea. On May 19, 1976, Herbert, the restaurant's namesake, opened the Tex-Mex eatery and took in its first dollar, which sits in a frame over the register.

Rizk said her husband wanted to fashion his menu with recipes from friend Guadalupe Facundo. Rizk said she needed a good eye to learn Facundo's recipes because they weren't written down and didn't contain measurements.

Rizk had to pay close attention as Facundo grabbed a handful of this and dashed a little of that as she prepared the dishes.

Asked what's good on the menu, Rizk said, "Everything."

The restaurant opened with just five tables. Rizk said she had to learn those recipes quickly, though, because within two months, they had to expand to accommodate their clientele.

Eighteen months later, Rizk said, they had to expand yet again. Over the years, the restaurant gained popularity, mostly through "word-of-mouth" advertising.

Being in a college town, it is common to see students come in as regulars, move away and return years later to visit, she said.

"They grow over the years," she said. "And sometimes I don't recognize them right away. But then they tell me who they are, and I remember them. It's good see how they've grown and have families of their own."

Framed awards from throughout the years—including for Best Lunch Under $6, Best Mexican Food, Best Hot Sauce and Best Enchiladas—decorate the walls of the dimly lit restaurant.

Herbert's is a family business, with the Rizks' three sons, Herbert Jr., Bobby and Anthony, working at the restaurant.

Rizk said she and Herbert met as migrant workers in Corpus Christi around 1956. They dated for several years, and then married in 1961 and began a family.

Herbert Jr. ran the business for a while, but has scaled back his involvement after a recent heart surgery. Anthony now runs the business in San Marcos, and Bobby runs the New Braunfels location.

Anthony said the family plans to expand the brand with a new venture, Herbert's Hot Sauce Business, which will preserve and market jars of the hot sauce, queso and gravy.

The products will be sold locally, but the family is also in talks with grocery store chains to carry the products in stores.

Herbert's Taco Hut, 419 Riverside Drive, San Marcos, 392-2993, www.herbertstacohut.com