Taking fusion to the limit, Velvet Taco (originating in Dallas) puts the world inside a tortilla. In the case of chicken and waffle, it’s a sort of waffle-textured tortilla. Other options are a little bit more familiar, like spicy tikka chicken tenders in a flour tortilla or green chile pork in corn. Weekly specials ensure you’ll never know exactly what you’ll find. This is fast-casual gone full-on global and hip, with late-night hours, bright graphics, and a cool vibe. Order this to go: Red curry coconut queso might just be the bite that keeps us coming back. As for all the worldly taco options, we found our favorite in the Cabo-inspired Mexi-Cali shrimp with avocado-corn pico and cabbage slaw. Pro tip: There are two locations, at the Pearl and at the Rim (your best bet getting to that one is the westbound access road of Loop 1604). If you want a meal deal, order the Backdoor Chicken: a whole rotisserie chicken, two cups of elotes, roasted-corn pico, hot sauce, and six corn tortillas.
Note: Review reflects COVID-19 protocols in place at the time of visit.