Toro Loco Tacos y Burros announced plans to officially open on Friday, August 2.
The 1,200-square-foot restaurant at 7940 E. Broadway Blvd. features 32 seats inside and four seats on the patio. This is significantly smaller than the 6,000-square-foot locations of Toro Loco’s cousin restaurants, Serial Grillers.
“The design aesthetic for the brand was a laid back SoCal vibe, pops of greens and blues to draw your attention.” said Travis Miller, founder and owner of Serial Grillers. “The inspiration for the concept were California french fry-stuffed burritos and I wanted a casual atmosphere to match.”
In addition, the decor features Tucson touches.
“We had local Tucson artist Danny Martin paint a mural on the side wall and also Ashley White from Modern Aquarian hand paint the logo and wall art that our in-house designer Robert created,” Miller said. “We also had Brandon from Succulent Steel create our succulent cactus wall.”
No bull, just fresh ingredients
If the concept catches on, look forward to additional locations throughout Tucson.
“We wanted to open a taco shop as a way to continue growing our business here in the Tucson market without having to expand to Phoenix or California,” Miller said in a previous interview. “I think there is a lot of growth potential for concepts like Los Betos or Nico’s.”
Don’t expect a Los Betos clone, however. Aside from the aesthetic difference, the menu also
“We cook it once you order it,” said Jay Spearing, general manager and chef at Toro Loco. Freshly fried fries maintain optimum crispiness, while meats are juiciest served immediately after cooking.
While the restaurant isn’t officially open yet, it quietly opened on Thursday unannounced to help train the new employees and develop systems for the new concept.
“So far, the most popular items have been the Poblano Chicken Burrito, Veggie Burrito, Fried Shrimp or Avocado Taco, and our Street Corn,” Miller said.
Having tasted about half of the menu, the Tucson Foodie team also loves the popular favorites. The Pork Pastor Taco also deserves a special mention — juicy with just the right amount of char and sweetness.
If you can handle the heat, try the Hot Habanero Taco with carne asada, bacon, jack cheese, chipotle mayo, hot salsa, and a mountain of sliced pickled habanero.
Toro Loco Tacos y Burros Menu Highlights
- Pork Pastor Taco ($4) – marinated pork, pineapple salsa, jalapeño ranch
- Fried Shrimp or Avocado Taco ($3.75) – shrimp or avocado, pico de gallo, coleslaw, chipotle mayo
- Classic Burro ($8.25) – carne asada, french fries, pico de gallo, cheddar cheese, avocado cilantro crema
- Veggie Burro ($8.50) – sweet potatoes, spinach, street corn, french fries, jack cheese, pickled red onions, avocado cilantro crema
- Street Corn (Off the Cob, $5) – roasted corn kernels, chipotle mayo, spicy chili lime, cotija cheese, lime wedge
Operating hours are 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily.
Toro Loco is located at 7940 E. Broadway Blvd. For more information, call (520) 849-8160 or visit torolocotacos.com.
Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
