Jen and I stopped by Gringo’s Tex-Mex on FM 2978 for National Taco Day. Because really, if there’s ever a day that gives you an excuse to grab a taco and a margarita, this is probably it.
We grabbed a couple of seats at the bar and settled in. I’ve always liked the bar area here. It has that comfortable Tex-Mex feel where you can grab lunch, watch a game, or just hang out for a while without being in much of a hurry.
And then there’s the neon sign looking out over the dining room:
“Every Juan loves tacos.”
A little cheesy? Absolutely.
But on National Taco Day, I’m giving them a pass.
Our bartender was Jolie, and she was great. We found out she was from New Orleans, which naturally turned the conversation toward food. If you’re from New Orleans, I’m pretty sure talking about good food is almost a requirement.
We swapped a few thoughts about some of the great places to eat there while she kept our drinks full and took good care of us. That little bit of conversation is one of the reasons I enjoy sitting at the bar. You tend to meet people and learn something about them.
Of course, at a Tex-Mex restaurant, the chips and salsa hit the table before you’ve really had time to look at the menu. We added some queso, because that seems like the responsible thing to do.
The chips were fresh and crispy, the salsa had a nice little kick, and the queso disappeared pretty quickly.
I’d like to blame Jen for most of that.
But that probably wouldn’t be completely accurate.
Then came the real reason we were there. It was National Taco Day, after all.
I went with the ribeye street tacos. Three corn tortillas loaded with tender ribeye, cilantro and cotija cheese, with rice and charro beans on the side.
These were good tacos.
The ribeye was tender, and a squeeze of lime with the cotija gave them just enough extra flavor without trying to do too much. There were several sauces on the plate, so naturally I had to try them all.
And three ribeye tacos with rice and beans?
You’re not walking away hungry.
Jolie also made sure we didn’t have to worry about empty margarita glasses.
We weren’t in a hurry, and thankfully, neither was she. We sat at the bar, enjoyed the tacos, talked a little more about New Orleans and just enjoyed the afternoon.
Sometimes lunch doesn’t need to be any more complicated than that.
Good tacos. Cold margaritas. Good conversation.
National Taco Day done right.
Gringo’s is at 30420 FM 2978. They’re open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday until 9:15 p.m. One thing to know before you go: this location is cashless.
General Manager Allison Maddox and her team seem to have this place running pretty well. Our food was good, the service was even better, and we never felt like anyone was trying to hurry us along.
My suggestion?
Grab a couple of seats at the bar. Order the ribeye street tacos and a margarita. And if Jolie is working, tell her we sent you.
That’s a pretty solid plan for National Taco Day.
Actually, it’s probably a pretty solid plan any day.
For more on what is worth your time out here, see what we wrote about Pit Master Bar-B-Que on Sawdust and Schilleci's on Research Forest Drive.