Taco Palenque Deserves to Go National
The Laredo-based chain’s straightforward, satisfying fare stays true to its Mexican roots. I wish many more Texans, and Americans, could enjoy it.
May 2024 Issue
Features
The Battle of Big Taco
With their anything-goes approach to ingredients—and deep-pocketed investors—Torchy's Tacos and Velvet Taco have ambitious plans to expand nationally.
His Best Friend Was a 250-Pound Warthog. One Day It Decided to Kill Him.
Austin Riley spent decades raising exotic animals in the Texas Hill Country. In a split second, the animal he thought he knew best changed his life forever.
The State
Bringing Stories to Life
Meet three members of our acclaimed art department who make each issue of Texas Monthly a treat for the eye.
Fighting a Syphilis Surge in Houston
Cases of the once rare disease are on the rise, crippling and killing infants. A new program hopes to prevent and treat the condition among those who are most vulnerable.
Meanwhile, in Texas: A Very Popular Tortoise Ran Away From Home Very, Very Slowly
A brief and highly selective look at what just happened, from a tortoise that ran (well, crawled) away to some gizmos that were carried (that is, taken) away.
The Texanist: Can You Explain to My Frito Pie–Hating Husband Why He’s So, So Wrong?
An Austin woman married to a British man is looking for someone to defend this delicious and quintessentially Texas dish.
The Former Slave Who Became a Cowboy, a Rancher, and a Texas Legend
Daniel Webster Wallace was born in bondage in South Texas. By the time of his death, nearly eight decades later, he'd amassed a fortune—and a place in West Texas history.
Rule One of Wind Turbine Repair Work: Don’t Leave Your Phone at the Top
A Big Spring wind turbine technician says the views three hundred feet above West Texas are magnificent—just watch out for the flying ants.
This Astronomer Isn’t Buying the Latest Round of UFO Conspiracy Theories
Nicholas Suntzeff doubts the latest round of conspiracy theories about extraterrestrials. But he hasn’t given up on finding neighbors in the universe.
When a Defendant Gets Lost in Translation
An Indigenous man couldn’t understand the court proceedings when he was charged with a crime in Texas. He was sentenced anyway.
Topaz Hunting at the End of the World
For decades, Hill Country ranches let “rock hounds” come and hunt for rare Texas blue topaz. Now access is closed—unless you know a secret spot.
Explorer
The Checklist: Three Reasons This Is a Great Month in Texas Culture
Another dark comedy from Richard Linklater, a report on the ideological battles plaguing public schools, and an exhibition of modern collages by Black artists.
The Artist Who Wonders What Creatures on Other Planets Will Think of Chuck Berry
A new show in Fort Worth features the unclassifiable San Antonio–born artist, who connects deep space and the ancient fossil record.
Auden Hits the Ball Out of Autry Park
Kirthan and Kripa Shenoy honor Houston's famous internationalism in the best kind of way.
How a Bhutanese Temple Found a Home on the Border
The remote Himalayan kingdom and the University of Texas at El Paso share a special relationship, thanks to the campus's architectural design more than a century ago.
How to Get Lost at the Galleria
Getting lost at the Galleria, for the very first time.
How a Del Rio Family Turned a Class Project into a Soap Business
A mother and her two daughters incorporate playful nods at their Hispanic culture with Cinnamon Girl Soaps.
This Pork Steak is the Best Drive-Through Meal I’ve Ever Had
As Helberg Barbecue, near Waco, recovers from a devastating fire, it’s pivoted to serving drive-through meals, like this citrusy wonder, from a trailer.
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