Taqueria El Arquito — Restaurant in Dallas

Found this place based on its 4.8 star review. I needed to feed a dozen guys working a show, so about 5 tacos each would be 60 tacos. Website shows they have a 30 trompo taco deal for under $40, as well as other taco options, so ahead of the curve on price compared to other places we have tried to do tacos for dinner for a large group. Website shows delivery and pickup options but when placing the order pickup was not available for the rest of the day (it was Sunday at 3pm).

I drove to the place as it was only a mile or so from the venue and discovered it’s a convenient store with a little cooking deli in the back. There are no tables, no seating, and 3 people playing the slot machines in the corner when I walked in.

I wasn’t about to chance dinner for a dozen hungry guys so I bought a trompo, chicken fajita, and beef fajita taco to try.

The trompo is what others rave about online. The meat is spinning on one of those sticks dripping with seasoning and juices behind the counter. It was definitely flavorful and a good price, so I knew the 30 taco deal was going to be a good buy.

The fajita chicken was cut how I would expect but it was very moist from soaking in juices and lacked a grilled texture and taste, but wasn’t bad with some onions and cilantro.

The fajita beef was unfortunately underwhelming. I am almost positive it was barbacoa based on it being so finely shaven, but it wasn’t bad, I just expect fajita cut steak when I order beef fajita tacos just like you would get at any Tex-med style restaurant or fast food joint.

After trying all 3 I proceeded to buy a 30 pack of trompo, 15 fajita chicken, and 15 fajita beef tacos. Unfortunately the lady behind the counter didn’t speak English so we had a hard time communicating. She called someone on her cell phone and they translated my larger order and desired pickup time.

For less than $125 after tax I had the desired dinner for a dozen grown men, so about $2 a taco in a town that is increasingly $4-7 a taco even at fast food places.

I had the option of getting pico, guacamole, sour cream and shredded cheese, but the prices per the website would have been another $50 or more for about 20 tacos worth of sides. Not everyone is going to want all that every time but my guys usually dress up their tacos so I went to the grocery store and got those things and 40 water bottles for $20 dollars.

I walked out with 5 covered trays of food, 3 were the tacos, one of cooked veggies one of cold veggies, and a bag of about 30 or so mixed single salsas of varying hotness.

They didn’t have bags or a box for the trays, so I used extra grocery bags I had in my car that I got just in case this happened.

Total dinner for 12 hungry guys was under $150, and everyone was asking where I got the tacos and spread from. I’ve easily spent $200-300 on tacos for a dozen or more people and everyone liked it, except the boss who wasn’t happy with those prices.

We spend about $150 letting everyone order sandwiches from Jimmy John’s, while getting our own drinks and chips ahead of time from the grocery store. We also spend about $100-130 on pizzas and drinks, so this was right in the sweet spot budget wise, and is located near a venue we frequently work, so this may become a staple large order food caterer for our group, but it’s never going to be the kind of place we can take a dozen people to go sit down and do lunch given it’s location in a convenient store with no seating or table service. Sorry there are no photos, I payed out the spread and the crew devoured it in...

• READ THIS REVIEW * Fun place, reasonable prices and portions. I’m definitely going back for one item… read on.

Beef Fajita Taco: Good and unique flavor that I enjoyed. Meat is very finely chopped, not fajita strips as I expected. A bit over salty for me - but not too bad. (I’m a salt minimalist so I pick it up more than the average person.) I’ll probably skip it next time. Score: 5/10

Chicken Fajita Taco: Gentle flavors, but sadly completely dry chicken which demininises the flavor profile. The onions and sauce will help significantly. Score: 4/10

Trompo taco (pork) YES, YES, YES!!! Absolutely delicious. Very unique solid seasoning unique flavors that work perfectly with everything else. Meat is more moist and cooked like gyro meat. Very smart! New favorite of mine. I’m definitely coming back for more of these!!! Score: 9/10

Sauces Red Salsa: Bold smoky flavor, dark color and has enjoyable heat. (Spicy)

Perrona Salsa: Has some heat up front and a flavor profile that’s hard to explain. Has heat. A bit on the sour side.

Green Salsa: (Did not get this time)

Avocado Salsa: INCREDIBLE!!! Very tasty and balanced. Used it on all 3 tacos. Definitely try it.

Decor: Actually very clean and quality furnishings. Spacious and comfortable. Score: 9/10

Music: They play speed metal music, grunge, and hard metal. Some is ok, majority is bad. (And I like hard metal, but after 20 min I was ready for a to-go box.) Geez, at least get songs people know and leave you personal playlists at home. This location is in a very high class area. No women will stay and eat - definitely not a “take a date” place. Sad, better music and I would be taking people for a casual lunch all the time. Score: 2/10

Overall: Definitely going to be back and try other things. FYI - there are nine locations in the DFW area. I’m most likely to get food to-go because of the music. Score: 6.5/10 for the food. Looking forward to...

The web sang the praise of La Banqueta’s fare,

A must-try taco beyond all compare.

And yes, I admit that the meal was just fine,

A respectable taco, a solid design.

I thought I had tasted the city’s true best,

Putting online assertions to the test.

But a new spot appeared and changed up the game,

Taqueria El Arquito—remember the name.

What one place did well, this place did sublime,

A true elevation of flavor and time.

Spicy, juicy bite,

Flavors dance upon my tongue,

Taco bliss unfolds.

Where Banqueta was pleasant, a song clear and true,

El Arquito’s a symphony, vibrant and new.

The tortilla was perfect, a delicate art,

Each filling a masterpiece, right from the start.

The flavors so vivid, a complex cascade,

A memory of brilliance that won't ever fade.

So heed my advice, if you're seeking a sign,

For a taco experience that's truly divine,

While Tacos La Banqueta is good, I concede,

It is Taqueria El Arquito you need.

For a taste of pure magic, a heavenly treat,

This is the taqueria that cannot be beat.

…

In alls seriousness, I ordered 3 tacos from the other places. It was good! But then I got hungry again, ordered 4 more tacos from this place (2 for me, 2 for my gf). I started eating mine otw to give the other two to her… and just couldn’t stop. They were so good, omg.

Juicier. Better “sides” (I got a toasted paper and some sautéed onions). Hotter. Better hot sauce.

Seriously some of the best tacos I’ve ever had FWIW, I lived in ATX for 12 years. For the uninitiated, the taco is the national food to austin.

Anyways, 10/10 tacos here. Maybe it’s because they just opened up? I hope not. Bc rn...