As Monica Hernandez prepares to leave North Texas for an anchor opportunity in New England, she's getting her fill of DFW's tacos while she can.
On her last day at WFAA, she takes us on a tour of her top three favorite taco shops in North Texas.
1) Tacos Mariachi in West Dallas
Seven days a week, Jesus Carmona lives his passion, cooking up traditional and specialty tacos, including a rotating list of weekly favorites. My favorite? The Wednesday brisket.
The specialty is the pulpo, or octopus taco. It's marinated in a cilantro pesto. Carmona said he sells 150 pounds of octopus a week.
Tacos Mariachi was one of the first new businesses in the area of West Dallas, on Commerce bout a mile past Trinity Groves.
"I took a gamble, but it worked," said Carmona. "Three years ago there were no apartments here, I was the only one who was in this area."
Now, the area is exploding. Guy Fieri at Diners Drive-ins and Dives paid a visit. At lunch, people line up. "It's basically a destination now," said Carmona.
WFAA photographer Mel Sayavedra and I stumbled upon Tacos Mariachi while we were shooting a story nearby, and it has been a staple for us (especially on Wednesdays) ever since.
2) Tacos La Banqueta on North Carroll in Dallas
"The special thing is that I make them with love," said Esteban Alarcon, who has been cooking at La Banqueta for the past three years.
La Banqueta has more traditional street tacos. Alarcon's favorite? Suadero, a thin cut of meat from a cow or pork between the belly and the leg.
There's a fitting sign near the door that says, "No diet here."
3) Velvet Taco
The third and final stop is anything but traditional. The Texas chain Velvet Taco plans to expand to 40 locations across Texas and even in Atlanta in the next five years. We visited the newest, on McKinney Avenue in Uptown Dallas.
"We have a burger taco, Indian food, buffalo chicken," said general manager Aimee Cecil.
Velvet taco is the one palce Mel hasn't been in DFW
The Tikka taco is a top seller, but my favorite is the steak and portabello mushroom.
From adventurous, to traditional, to pushing the envelope, it wouldn't be DFW without tacos. And they're just one of the things I'll miss.
Tweet me @MonicaTVNews with your favorite spots - I hope to try them before I leave.