One of my favorite family meals growing up in Oklahoma was Taco Night. Bowls filled with grated cheese and seasoned ground beef along with hard shells and a bottle of sauce was my personal culinary nirvana.
Fast forward several decades and my affinity for tacos remains strong.
Like many others, Dallas-based chain Velvet Taco, which was founded in 2011 and opens its eighth DFW location in Plano today, introduced me to the “gourmet” taco. Velvet Taco also has locations in Charlotte, Atlanta, Austin, Chicago and Houston. The first Plano location of Velvet Taco was installed as a food stall inside Legacy Hall in early 2019, but has an abbreviated menu.
Velvet Taco is known for its inventive, globally-inspired flavor combinations, which surpass the world of usual Tex-Mex cuisine. Served up in a funky, fast-casual setting, everything on its menu is made from scratch, including the tortillas and slow-roasted chicken and corn.
The menu features 20 different tacos across six categories, plus a rotating weekly taco feature, or “WTF,” that changes out every Wednesday.
Among the highlights of the house’s four chicken offerings are the Buffalo Chicken, which features crispy chicken tenders, house buffalo sauce, Danish bleu cheese, ranch crema, carrots and micro celery on a flour tortilla, and the Spicy Tikka, perfect for anyone craving some Indian flavors inside their tortilla.
Velvet Taco also offers four veggie options, including Falafel, a nice tip of the cap to the popular Middle Eastern street food made of chickpeas, Fried Paneer and one of the newest offerings, Beer-Battered Cauliflower.
Pork aficionados have three choices including the Cuban Pig, a fitting homage to the ubiquitous sandwich, and Korean Pork, which features kimchee.
But the most delicious menu item might be among the three offered beef tacos.
Touted as a bacon cheeseburger in taco form, the Kobe Bacon Burger taco more than delivers on such a bold statement with tasty beef, peppered bacon, smoked cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles and Velvet sauce inside a flour tortilla.
Velvet Taco’s Slow Roasted Angus Brisket Taco is another solid choice in the beef category.
Another personal favorite is the Shrimp and Grits Taco, a nice nod to the popular Southern dish and a must-try for anyone who loves seafood. The fish category also features a Fish & Chips Taco.
Brunch All Day
Have you ever craved breakfast tacos late morning or early afternoon and lamented that your go-to taco spot has already switched over to lunch, and you just don’t have the energy to make your own breakfast tacos?
Well, Velvet Taco has you covered with three brunch options served all day: The Chicken and Waffle Taco, Bacon and Eggs, and the newest brunch item, the Brisket and Eggs Taco.
However, the offerings don’t end there. Velvet Taco’s sides include both blanco and red curry coconut queso, elote in a cup, crisp tater tots served with a fresh egg, and barbacoa beef nachos.
Velvet Taco also offers a full array of beer, wine and its own Kick-Ass Margaritas to wash down any of the elevated tacos. The Plano location features the same loud, festive and sometimes chaotic atmosphere associated with other locations.
With employees wearing masks, social distancing encouraged and all locations closing early each Monday for additional cleaning, Velvet Taco has made a clear commitment to keeping its employees and guests safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patio seating is available for those who prefer to dine outside.
But the vibe here, with incredible food, refreshing beverages, accommodating staff and great music, is what makes this spot a must-visit. Plus, Velvet Taco is open late, making it the perfect venue to satisfy late-night cravings.
So, regardless of whether you dine in or order take out, Velvet Taco is a welcome addition to the Plano taco scene.
To celebrate its opening, the location will host spirit nights for Plano East, Plano West and Plano Senior High students throughout its grand opening month. Each school will be invited on a specific evening to enjoy Velvet Taco’s scratch menu through its order-ahead drive-thru pick-up window, via take-out or patio-side and take photos in front of Velvet Taco’s murals in their spirit-wear.
During each spirit night, 10% of net proceeds excluding alcohol sales from 7-11 p.m. will go back to the school.
Velvet Taco >
