April 21Apr 21 So all of us here have had the offerings that are pre-made and wrapped in foil or the infamous Allsups fried burrito. However I’m talking about the gas station/ convenience store “restaurant” So even though my little true Mexican place in Wylie has Birria tacos wanted to find something different. Trompitoz taqueria came up on search. In a convenience store. Allen TX. Damn good Birria tacos. Also have Birria burritos, Birria grilled cheese, Birria egg rolls and usual Mexican meats. Had 2 bites before taking pic. Not shown was consommé. Very rich. On trips to Allen HEB this will be a stop.
April 22Apr 22 Apparently Iowa is known for their gas station pizza. And it's not that Hunt Brother's bullshit either.
April 22Apr 22 Shit, I remember that we always stopped at Kincer's Chevron near Kendleton 40 f'n years ago on our pre-dawn trips to go goose hunting, because they had next-level breakfast tacos. There have always been small-town gems offering different variations of goodness at gas stations. And of course, there have also been the versions that simply have a giant deep fat fryer and the willingness to fry....anything. Then you get a glass display case with 40 variations of brown fried goodness. In high school one time, we went to one such location in Devine, and bought like $30 worth of....stuff. And had a fried buffet with beer for dinner. It was glorious.
April 22Apr 22 Are those tiny or is that tray huge? If you like that and live in Wyle drive west on Parker to K avenue. Taqueria Salsa Verde. The restaurant, not the gas station across the street. TortaBirria Try it
April 22Apr 22 Also, unpopular take here: I'm kinda "meh" on Birria. It's good, don't get me wrong. I'm just not feeling all the hype. It's a style of food that wasn't ANYWHERE around here, and now it's everywhere. It's originally from Jalisco, and then Tijuana....which means it eventually ended up migrating into California, and became a trend. But for most long-time Texas hispanics, it is not and was not a "thing." I never saw it anywhere -- restaurant or home -- in the parts of mexico I grew up visiting (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon). It's a bit messy, and honestly, it's often bland to me. And lord, do the hipsters love it, which is automatically off-putting to me and my more pedestrian and proletarian sensibilities. Give me a good S. Texas taco joint inside a gas station, and I'm a happy man.
April 22Apr 22 16 hours ago, Wiler77 said: Gas stations with Laredo Taco Company inside. Good shit. This is the truth.
April 22Apr 22 16 hours ago, Macanudo said: Apparently Iowa is known for their gas station pizza. And it's not that Hunt Brother's bullshit either. Casey's General Store!
April 22Apr 22 40 minutes ago, Brisketexan said: Also, unpopular take here: I'm kinda "meh" on Birria. It's good, don't get me wrong. I'm just not feeling all the hype. It's a style of food that wasn't ANYWHERE around here, and now it's everywhere. It's originally from Jalisco, and then Tijuana....which means it eventually ended up migrating into California, and became a trend. But for most long-time Texas hispanics, it is not and was not a "thing." I never saw it anywhere -- restaurant or home -- in the parts of mexico I grew up visiting (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon). It's a bit messy, and honestly, it's often bland to me. And lord, do the hipsters love it, which is automatically off-putting to me and my more pedestrian and proletarian sensibilities. Give me a good S. Texas taco joint inside a gas station, and I'm a happy man. Definitely not good enough to justify the amount of grease. Also can be much too rich.
April 22Apr 22 41 minutes ago, Brisketexan said: Also, unpopular take here: I'm kinda "meh" on Birria. It's good, don't get me wrong. I'm just not feeling all the hype. It's a style of food that wasn't ANYWHERE around here, and now it's everywhere. It's originally from Jalisco, and then Tijuana....which means it eventually ended up migrating into California, and became a trend. But for most long-time Texas hispanics, it is not and was not a "thing." I never saw it anywhere -- restaurant or home -- in the parts of mexico I grew up visiting (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon). It's a bit messy, and honestly, it's often bland to me. And lord, do the hipsters love it, which is automatically off-putting to me and my more pedestrian and proletarian sensibilities. Give me a good S. Texas taco joint inside a gas station, and I'm a happy man. As a RGV kid, 100% agree.
April 22Apr 22 Ekko’s, inside a Valero in the Houston Galleria area, might have the gyro in town Edited April 22Apr 22 by TonyTexas
April 22Apr 22 4 hours ago, Brisketexan said: Also, unpopular take here: I'm kinda "meh" on Birria. It's good, don't get me wrong. I'm just not feeling all the hype. It's a style of food that wasn't ANYWHERE around here, and now it's everywhere. It's originally from Jalisco, and then Tijuana....which means it eventually ended up migrating into California, and became a trend. But for most long-time Texas hispanics, it is not and was not a "thing." I never saw it anywhere -- restaurant or home -- in the parts of mexico I grew up visiting (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon). It's a bit messy, and honestly, it's often bland to me. And lord, do the hipsters love it, which is automatically off-putting to me and my more pedestrian and proletarian sensibilities. Give me a good S. Texas taco joint inside a gas station, and I'm a happy man. Spot on. “It’s so authentic!” Cry the hipsters. Well not really. It’s like all Mexican food. Every house is different a bit. I enjoy birria occassionally but prefer lots of other things over it. Tic Taco in Arlington is owned by a guy from Mexico City with a fine dining background. Does lamb quesabirria tacos and they are wonderful. Most places it’s just Cali stewed beef, tasteless and greasy.
April 22Apr 22 4 hours ago, Brisketexan said: Also, unpopular take here: I'm kinda "meh" on Birria. It's good, don't get me wrong. I'm just not feeling all the hype. It's a style of food that wasn't ANYWHERE around here, and now it's everywhere. It's originally from Jalisco, and then Tijuana....which means it eventually ended up migrating into California, and became a trend. But for most long-time Texas hispanics, it is not and was not a "thing." I never saw it anywhere -- restaurant or home -- in the parts of mexico I grew up visiting (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon). It's a bit messy, and honestly, it's often bland to me. And lord, do the hipsters love it, which is automatically off-putting to me and my more pedestrian and proletarian sensibilities. Give me a good S. Texas taco joint inside a gas station, and I'm a happy man. Agree. Just not a very complex dish flavor-wise. Definitely prefer just your standard corn tortilla w onions, cilantro and assorted meats and salsas.
April 22Apr 22 2 minutes ago, ztejas said: Agree. Just not a very complex dish flavor-wise. Definitely prefer just your standard corn tortilla w onions, cilantro and assorted meats and salsas. Co-sign. Except my family is northern mexican ranching stock....sure, we ate corn tortillas, but flour were our go-to. Again, regional variations that piss off hipsters who want to believe they've found the one true authentic mexican food. Corn tortillas are authentic as shit. Flour tortillas are authentic as shit. Just like new england clam chowder, fried chicken, and chili are each utterly authentic American dishes....which are very different from each other based on regional specifics.
April 22Apr 22 23 hours ago, Shaddie said: So all of us here have had the offerings that are pre-made and wrapped in foil or the infamous Allsups fried burrito. However I’m talking about the gas station/ convenience store “restaurant” So even though my little true Mexican place in Wylie has Birria tacos wanted to find something different. Trompitoz taqueria came up on search. In a convenience store. Allen TX. Damn good Birria tacos. Also have Birria burritos, Birria grilled cheese, Birria egg rolls and usual Mexican meats. Had 2 bites before taking pic. Not shown was consommé. Very rich. On trips to Allen HEB this will be a stop. Looks surprisingly good for gas station food. If it came with consume, then I'm in
April 23Apr 23 6 hours ago, Brisketexan said: Also, unpopular take here: I'm kinda "meh" on Birria. It's good, don't get me wrong. I'm just not feeling all the hype. It's a style of food that wasn't ANYWHERE around here, and now it's everywhere. It's originally from Jalisco, and then Tijuana....which means it eventually ended up migrating into California, and became a trend. But for most long-time Texas hispanics, it is not and was not a "thing." I never saw it anywhere -- restaurant or home -- in the parts of mexico I grew up visiting (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon). It's a bit messy, and honestly, it's often bland to me. And lord, do the hipsters love it, which is automatically off-putting to me and my more pedestrian and proletarian sensibilities. Give me a good S. Texas taco joint inside a gas station, and I'm a happy man. Also from RGV and concur. Have had them a couple times and just moved along. The consommé overwhelms everything. I prefer a griddled Matamoros style street taco to scratch that itch.
April 23Apr 23 2 hours ago, Brisketexan said: Co-sign. Except my family is northern mexican ranching stock....sure, we ate corn tortillas, but flour were our go-to. Again, regional variations that piss off hipsters who want to believe they've found the one true authentic mexican food. Corn tortillas are authentic as shit. Flour tortillas are authentic as shit. Just like new england clam chowder, fried chicken, and chili are each utterly authentic American dishes....which are very different from each other based on regional specifics. I like em both. The flour tortilla is a perfect vehicle for eggs and breakfast filling, or for fajita meat, or barbecue, or for sopping up carne guisada. Corn for pastor or griddled steak, or seafood, and making enchiladas.
April 23Apr 23 7 hours ago, Brisketexan said: Also, unpopular take here: I'm kinda "meh" on Birria. It's good, don't get me wrong. I'm just not feeling all the hype. It's a style of food that wasn't ANYWHERE around here, and now it's everywhere. It's originally from Jalisco, and then Tijuana....which means it eventually ended up migrating into California, and became a trend. But for most long-time Texas hispanics, it is not and was not a "thing." I never saw it anywhere -- restaurant or home -- in the parts of mexico I grew up visiting (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon). It's a bit messy, and honestly, it's often bland to me. And lord, do the hipsters love it, which is automatically off-putting to me and my more pedestrian and proletarian sensibilities. Give me a good S. Texas taco joint inside a gas station, and I'm a happy man. I posted something similar a while back and was roasted for it, I didn't even say "meh" just said it was overrated. For me its tasty but dipping in the consome just doesn't add much. It's not like a french dip where the bread is porous and absorbs the liquid, with a crisped tortilla it just sort of runs off, you get more from the fat in the meat than you get from the liquid. I will say, my local joint makes a "birria pizza" that is good as hell and perfect for a small get together.
April 23Apr 23 On 4/21/2025 at 8:50 PM, Wiler77 said: Gas stations with Laredo Taco Company inside. Good shit. I need to express a gripe here. The very best gas station breakfast taco around was prepared at a Stripes that sat at the junction of 83 and 77 in Harlingen. The menu was smaller than a LTC. It was just ladies making bacon + egg, chorizo + egg, potato + egg + cheese, or bean + egg. All made fresh but pre-rolled and wrapped. Not rolled in front of you like at LTC and no customizing. The tortilla was a bit bigger and softer, the filling a bit more generous and fresher, the salsa spicier. Then in the mid-2000s Stripes introduced the LTC concept and the station got standardized. And most of Texas got better breakfast tacos and the denizens of Harlingen lost in the exchange.
April 23Apr 23 Giovanni's in the chevron on S Lamar and Barton Skyway is our favorite for basic but really good cheap pizza. The owner, Julio, is a great guy. I think he was a chef at Sfuzzi next door to Sullivan's downtown back in the late 90's. I think they have another spot up off 183 in / near Leander.
April 23Apr 23 Used to be in Longhorn netdom that you couldn’t go three posts on a thread like this without Fuel City being mentioned. Has it gone downhill? Probably been 12-14 years since I’ve been. I remember the last time I went I was a little less impressed from the first time, but that was after I had moved to San Antonio.
April 23Apr 23 Author Ok. So my quest for birria tacos came from week before. Went to a D magazine rec for BBQ places. Wife ordered birria tacos. They were so weak. Consommé was beef broth out of a can with cilantro and onions. Thus she wanted better birria. Looked around and found good reviews for trompitoz taqueria. Was skeptical cause gas station but a 4.9 on google reviews. Usually a good sign. Plus they have 2 other locations so not a fly by night op. Tacos were street style size but lots of meat. Great consommé. Hard to get cashier to understand what I wanted so another plus in my eyes. Also have usual suspect fillings for tacos (tingas, chicharron, nopales, chorizo, carnitas.) Tortas and hamburgers. Also 3 birria tacos, rice and consommé is $10.99
April 23Apr 23 Author On 4/21/2025 at 8:50 PM, Wiler77 said: Gas stations with Laredo Taco Company inside. Good shit. I will admit a little better than the “wrapped in foil for 2 days” tacos but not awesome. Just better than stopping and getting a real breakfast.
September 30Sep 30 On 4/21/2025 at 5:52 PM, Shaddie said: Trompitoz taqueria came up on search. In a convenience store. Allen TX. Damn good Birria tacos. Also have Birria burritos, Birria grilled cheese, Birria egg rolls and usual Mexican meats. Had 2 bites before taking pic. Not shown was consommé. Very rich. On trips to Allen HEB this will be a stop. I’ve been to this place a few times now, only getting tacos, decided to add a gordita into the mix today and it was really good as well. I’ll get to the birria options at some point (looking at you burria egg rolls), but for now next on the list will be the Sope then just getting a torta and no tacos. I’ve had the Al pastor, barbacoa, lengua, carnitas, and brisket meats so far and all have been great. Today was 2 Al pastor, 2 carnitas, and a barbacoa gordita. I need a nap.
September 30Sep 30 I though the steel shank thread was for food thrown together at home from whatever could be scrounged up?
September 30Sep 30 Brisket and Rice was the best gas station bbq around. They had to move due to a fight over lease prices. stand alone now but worth the stop 6166 Hwy 6 N, Houston, TX 77084
October 3Oct 3 In DFW, Fuel City still has incredible tacos. A few years back TM named it the best taco in Texas. the best restaurant in a gas station was Chef Point in Haltom City or Watauga. Fine dining chef couldn’t get a loan for a restaurant, could for a fillin station. Started selling fine dining that you ate at a table next to motor oil, and the drink selection was like a QT. Was an early Diners Drive in and Dives feature. a shell station reopened with a taqueria which was stupid as my Arlington neighborhood has three of the best around: 2 Compas, Tic Taco, and Gilberto’s. It closed quickly. has reopened as Rodeo Hibachi. It looks great and getting great reviews. Gonna try it and will report. Edited October 3Oct 3 by Texzilla58
October 3Oct 3 The tacos at MacArthur and 635 used to be fire. Then, some corporate outfit bought it and fucked it all up. Fucking bean counters, man.
October 3Oct 3 4 hours ago, SimonBolivar said: The Trompo at Taqueria Charly #2 on Belt Line in Irving is fantastic. In Austin, El Trompo Mayor on Burleson is pretty good.
October 3Oct 3 On 4/22/2025 at 12:33 PM, Masshole Horn said: Casey's General Store! The breakfast pizza at QT is legit. Order a whole one on the app and pick it up on your way to whatever early morning event you have. You can also get it by the slice.
October 3Oct 3 26 minutes ago, Zepol87 said: I kiss gas station fried chicken at times You do you, man.
October 4Oct 4 The breakfast pizza at Quick Trip is surprisingly solid. They will substitute chorizo for the sausage upon request.
October 6Oct 6 On 10/3/2025 at 10:03 AM, Texzilla58 said: In DFW, Fuel City still has incredible tacos. A few years back TM named it the best taco in Texas. Correct, I eat Fuel City tacos at least once a week. Elotes are also very good.
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