Villa Arcos opened in the Second Ward in 1977 and still keeps an East End working schedule, firing up the griddle at 6am on weekdays and closing by 2pm. The reason to come is the flour tortilla, made in-house, thick, soft and a little chewy, wrapped around fillings generous enough to test it. The Bacon Super Taco is the house legend, a breakfast built for people who have a long shift ahead, and the carne guisada shows what patient simmering does to beef and gravy. Weekend specials pull regulars in from across town. Jacob Torres, the family's third generation, runs the place now, and a sister counter, Villa Arcos Express, serves the same tacos on Old Spanish Trail near the Medical Center.
What to expect
- Order at the counter, and bus your own tray when you are done.
- Bright red tables and chairs fill a plain room little changed since 1977.
- Weekday breakfast brings a steady line; calling in an order at opening is faster.
- The lot is small; nearby street parking is the usual backup.
What to order
- Bacon Super Taco
- Carne guisada taco
- Weekend special
- 1977Since
- Jacob Torres, third generationRun by
- Villa Arcos Express, 4300 Old Spanish TrailSecond location