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Tacos we tried: - Pastor (5/5): amazing flavor and texture, not as greasy as the Barbacoa, would order multiples of this when I come back - Barbacoa taco (4/5): super flavorful and heavy, chunks of fat that can easily be removed if you don't like it. Melts in your mouth texture and overall solid but I probably could only eat 1 taco due to how "heavy" it is. - Fajita (3.5/5): tasted really good, however on the chewier side. *green and red sauces were not spicy so you can easily build up and control how spicy you want your food to be. Staff were friendly and helpful despite the constant line of people coming in, even during the mid-afternoon after peak lunchtime. The vibe is very down-to-earth and seating space is compact. Parking is limited but free right outside. Will be coming back for sure!
I was craving tacos and I found this place around the corner. I got the taco platter and my boyfriend got the fajita torta. I really enjoyed my plate but my bf thought the torta was kinda plain. The sauces that came with it were really good but spicy. I also ordered a small horchata which I loved! It's not as cheap as my regular taco shop but I think the food here was solid.
This place is fire!! I was not expecting to enjoy the breakfast taco as much as I did. Both the pastor and Barbacoa tacos were oozing with oil/fat; some people may not like that but it made the meat super tender and juicy, whereas typically I find these types of tacos to be too dry at other places. Big fan of the chili pickled onions as well.
I have to force myself not to stop every time I pass this place. It's so good and always worth it. Have the barbacoa tacos and definitely try the beef fajitas nachos (so much flavor). This place never dissapoints.
This reminds me of fresh street tacos in Mexico City. Came here for breakfast and came back for dinner it was so good. The meat was all perfectly cooked and we had all of them, pastor, carne asada, chicken, and barbacoa. Tortillas are obviously homemade and all the salsas are homemade and spicy and flavorful. Don't be deterred that it's next to a smoke shop. Parking lot is a medium for the location but there is super walkable street parking in the neighborhood.
Really great tacos! There's not many places around Houston I feel serve high quality tacos, especially giving more of a Mexican taco instead of a Texan style taco. This place feels authentic from the food to the salsas to the decorations. The tacos are well served where I think even three tacos would leave me full instead of a usual four tiny tacos at other places. I'd come back for sure and can vouch for this place!
Came in for lunch on Saturday and both the parking lot and dining area was popping. Luckily someone was pulling out as we pulled in. As soon as I stepped out of the car we got a sweet whif of the grilled charred meats and I knew it was going to be a good lunch. The service is good you order at the counter and give your name. There weren't numbers the food runner would call out your name when order was ready and bring it to your table. The ambiance is casual and cosy and it felt nice seeing a full lively dining space. I got the Pastor, Fajita, and Gringa taco this time around. Their tacos plates are a good deal vs ordering tacos a la carte. We waited a bit for our food as they were made to order and several people ahead of us. Totally worth the wait the tacos are really big and you get plenty of protein. I feel their prices are fair and justified. I will be back to try their breakfast tacos and the oriental.
Tio Trompo has been on my ever changing list of restaurants to try for quite some time, so it was great to try a taco plate from this business recently. A major aspect of the appeal is the Trompo itself, which has its roots in the migration of Lebanese immigrants to Mexico--with Tacos Árabes being an example of the cultural fusion. For my plate of three tacos with rice and beans, I chose Pastor, Oriental and a Beef Fajita taco. I thought the rice and beans were kind of bland and, frankly, there wasn't enough served with the dish. But the tacos, in my opinion, were all great. I'd say my favorite was actually the Oriental and my second favorite was the Pastor. Loved the salsa verde and the orange-reddish salsa roja, which is more spicy and tastes great. The Horchata Latte was delicious and a nice surprise. Service was really good. I look forward to returning and trying other items on the menu.
The owner Paola Martinez is absolutely delight! She is so nice and they are serving authentic amazing tacos! Food: the breakfast tacos are amazing! The fajita is good too. The special taco here is the orientale! Top notch. We will be back asap. All the tacos were amazing! Very fresh and made to order. I forgot to add the red sauce is one of my favorites. Reminds me of this spot I used to go to in NS called La frontera from like 20 years ago. The red and green sauces are top notch. I've had tacos all over Texas, the USA and Mexico and I must say these are some of the best I've ever had. A definite must try! The people that own the place are very nice people. I look forward to coming back asap! This is a must try. I will keep coming back weekly. Hidden gem
This is the real deal Mexican street taco - pull a drape across the window and you'd think you were getting tacos at 5 am after a big night! Tacos Al pastor are on point and Taco Arabe is no joke. Pure indulgence Will come back over and over. WARNING: if you are the fussy type, dieting, or vegan - don't stop.
I went to Tio Trompo in Houston after specifically looking for a spot that serves trompo tacos, which are cooked on a vertical rotating spit. According to their website, trompo tacos trace their roots back to Middle Eastern immigrants who settled in Puebla, Mexico after World War I, blending shawarma-style marinated pork with Mexican tortillas and salsas to create what many consider one of the most iconic Mexican dishes today. Tio Trompo has both indoor seating and an outdoor patio. I ordered takeout and brought the tacos home. [TACOS] +Taco Al Pastor (Red Pork Trompo Meat) for $4.00 - I ordered three tacos, all on corn tortillas, each served with two tortillas to prevent ripping. They come topped with onions and cilantro, along with lime and two salsas on the side. The meat was already cut from the trompo when ordered, not freshly cut straight into the tortillas. Each taco was individually wrapped in aluminum foil, which kept them warm, but it made them extremely oily and messy. These tacos are good, but I wish the salsa was spicier. I also wished they served pineapple on the side or on the trompo itself. Still, solid al pastor tacos overall. - 4/5 Overall, Tio Trompo delivers a good version of al pastor tacos and clearly understands the trompo tradition, even if it's not the pineapple-topped version I was hoping for. I'd come back, but with the hope of bolder salsa and a cleaner execution next time.
Definitely up there for sit down taco places - super clean and nice. I'm usually a pastor girl but the fajita here is much better.
Mmm, tasty! I can't say with confidence that I know good tacos yet, having grown up in NYC where the best ones are sadly from Taco Bell and Chipotle, but the ones I've tried here were very tasty. I've tried the chicken, fajita, and steak on flour tacos, and all were good. I especially enjoyed the sauces they had and wow, the queso was generous for their chips & queso. Horchata hit the spot as well. One thing I'll have to remember in Houston is that they randomly throw heaping piles of cilantro at everything, something worth remembering if you're also unlucky enough to have been born with oversensitive taste buds that look for poison in everything. Soap weeds aside, no complaints! read more
1 month ago
Tio Trompo is a solid, no-frills taqueria with pretty good tacos at a really reasonable price. They have several different meat options, and you can get your tacos on either flour or corn tortillas. Nothing we had was necessarily something I would write home about, but the food was good and the value for the money is definitely there. The restaurant itself is a little rundown, with small metal tables and a pretty basic taco-shop setup, but honestly that almost fits the place. The parking lot is also pretty small considering how busy the area is, so parking could probably be a little annoying during peak times. The service was fine. I wouldn't necessarily describe the staff as especially friendly, but everyone was efficient and did their job well. Overall, not a bad spot at all. Good tacos, good prices, and a solid option if you're in the area and want a quick, inexpensive meal. read more
3 months ago
Taqueria near Memorial Park. They had regular tacos and breakfast tacos. Tacos were $4-$6 ish and I felt like they were a pretty decent size. Ordered: - Load Nachos (with Barbacoa) - Queso was yummy. Barbacoa meat works very well on the nachos. - Taco Al Pastor - Taco Oriental - Gringa - Favorite taco out of the ones we had. I feel like the cheese and avocado made a difference compared to the regular one. - Taco Samuel (Beef) - Horchata - yummy. Small cup was huge and it was only $3.50. We don't eat tacos a ton in Houston a lot but very satisfied with our meal. Definitely would reorder the nachos, gringa, and horchata again next time we go. I'm also interested in trying their breakfast tacos next time. read more
Tacos we tried: - Pastor (5/5): amazing flavor and texture, not as greasy as the Barbacoa, would order multiples of this when I come back - Barbacoa taco (4/5): super flavorful and heavy, chunks of fat that can easily be removed if you don't like it. Melts in your mouth texture and overall solid but I probably could only eat 1 taco due to how "heavy" it is. - Fajita (3.5/5): tasted really good, however on the chewier side. *green and red sauces were not spicy so you can easily build up and control how spicy you want your food to be. Staff were friendly and helpful despite the constant line of people coming in, even during the mid-afternoon after peak lunchtime. The vibe is very down-to-earth and seating space is compact. Parking is limited but free right outside. Will be coming back for sure! read more
I was craving tacos and I found this place around the corner. I got the taco platter and my boyfriend got the fajita torta. I really enjoyed my plate but my bf thought the torta was kinda plain. The sauces that came with it were really good but spicy. I also ordered a small horchata which I loved! It's not as cheap as my regular taco shop but I think the food here was solid. read more
This place is fire!! I was not expecting to enjoy the breakfast taco as much as I did. Both the pastor and Barbacoa tacos were oozing with oil/fat; some people may not like that but it made the meat super tender and juicy, whereas typically I find these types of tacos to be too dry at other places. Big fan of the chili pickled onions as well. read more
4 months ago
I have to force myself not to stop every time I pass this place. It's so good and always worth it. Have the barbacoa tacos and definitely try the beef fajitas nachos (so much flavor). This place never dissapoints. read more
This reminds me of fresh street tacos in Mexico City. Came here for breakfast and came back for dinner it was so good. The meat was all perfectly cooked and we had all of them, pastor, carne asada, chicken, and barbacoa. Tortillas are obviously homemade and all the salsas are homemade and spicy and flavorful. Don't be deterred that it's next to a smoke shop. Parking lot is a medium for the location but there is super walkable street parking in the neighborhood. read more
3 months ago
7 months ago
Really great tacos! There's not many places around Houston I feel serve high quality tacos, especially giving more of a Mexican taco instead of a Texan style taco. This place feels authentic from the food to the salsas to the decorations. The tacos are well served where I think even three tacos would leave me full instead of a usual four tiny tacos at other places. I'd come back for sure and can vouch for this place! read more
Came in for lunch on Saturday and both the parking lot and dining area was popping. Luckily someone was pulling out as we pulled in. As soon as I stepped out of the car we got a sweet whif of the grilled charred meats and I knew it was going to be a good lunch. The service is good you order at the counter and give your name. There weren't numbers the food runner would call out your name when order was ready and bring it to your table. The ambiance is casual and cosy and it felt nice seeing a full lively dining space. I got the Pastor, Fajita, and Gringa taco this time around. Their tacos plates are a good deal vs ordering tacos a la carte. We waited a bit for our food as they were made to order and several people ahead of us. Totally worth the wait the tacos are really big and you get plenty of protein. I feel their prices are fair and justified. I will be back to try their breakfast tacos and the oriental. read more
Tio Trompo has been on my ever changing list of restaurants to try for quite some time, so it was great to try a taco plate from this business recently. A major aspect of the appeal is the Trompo itself, which has its roots in the migration of Lebanese immigrants to Mexico--with Tacos Árabes being an example of the cultural fusion. For my plate of three tacos with rice and beans, I chose Pastor, Oriental and a Beef Fajita taco. I thought the rice and beans were kind of bland and, frankly, there wasn't enough served with the dish. But the tacos, in my opinion, were all great. I'd say my favorite was actually the Oriental and my second favorite was the Pastor. Loved the salsa verde and the orange-reddish salsa roja, which is more spicy and tastes great. The Horchata Latte was delicious and a nice surprise. Service was really good. I look forward to returning and trying other items on the menu. read more
The owner Paola Martinez is absolutely delight! She is so nice and they are serving authentic amazing tacos! Food: the breakfast tacos are amazing! The fajita is good too. The special taco here is the orientale! Top notch. We will be back asap. All the tacos were amazing! Very fresh and made to order. I forgot to add the red sauce is one of my favorites. Reminds me of this spot I used to go to in NS called La frontera from like 20 years ago. The red and green sauces are top notch. I've had tacos all over Texas, the USA and Mexico and I must say these are some of the best I've ever had. A definite must try! The people that own the place are very nice people. I look forward to coming back asap! This is a must try. I will keep coming back weekly. Hidden gem read more
3 months ago
Hands down my new favorite go to for tacos . The steak quesadillas are my favorite but everything is great. The beans are special. Be sure and thank owners who are giving back to Magnolia Grove---they recently donated a tree for our next planting read more
8 months ago
This is the real deal Mexican street taco - pull a drape across the window and you'd think you were getting tacos at 5 am after a big night! Tacos Al pastor are on point and Taco Arabe is no joke. Pure indulgence Will come back over and over. WARNING: if you are the fussy type, dieting, or vegan - don't stop. read more
I went to Tio Trompo in Houston after specifically looking for a spot that serves trompo tacos, which are cooked on a vertical rotating spit. According to their website, trompo tacos trace their roots back to Middle Eastern immigrants who settled in Puebla, Mexico after World War I, blending shawarma-style marinated pork with Mexican tortillas and salsas to create what many consider one of the most iconic Mexican dishes today. Tio Trompo has both indoor seating and an outdoor patio. I ordered takeout and brought the tacos home. [TACOS] +Taco Al Pastor (Red Pork Trompo Meat) for $4.00 - I ordered three tacos, all on corn tortillas, each served with two tortillas to prevent ripping. They come topped with onions and cilantro, along with lime and two salsas on the side. The meat was already cut from the trompo when ordered, not freshly cut straight into the tortillas. Each taco was individually wrapped in aluminum foil, which kept them warm, but it made them extremely oily and messy. These tacos are good, but I wish the salsa was spicier. I also wished they served pineapple on the side or on the trompo itself. Still, solid al pastor tacos overall. - 4/5 Overall, Tio Trompo delivers a good version of al pastor tacos and clearly understands the trompo tradition, even if it's not the pineapple-topped version I was hoping for. I'd come back, but with the hope of bolder salsa and a cleaner execution next time. read more
10 months ago
11 months ago
Definitely up there for sit down taco places - super clean and nice. I'm usually a pastor girl but the fajita here is much better. read more
11 months ago
Pretty good tacos for to fill up after a Saturday morning run. Nicely sized with great corn tortillas and complimentary sauces to get the day started! Service is quick and hospitable. read more
Located inside the loop, Tio Trompo offers some solid Mexican street food. Parking is available in front , spaces are limited in a busy area. Service is minimal but good, thank you Mr. Elkins. Got some pastor and barbacoa tacos in corn tortillas; solid taste and portions, with the barbacoa meat being my pick out of the two. We also ordered queso and guac with chips; honestly this was the weakest portion of our meal and was below par. Stick with their tacos, they're solid for the area! read more
6 months ago
40 minute wait for 6 tacos. The bag was so greasy it leaked through the foil, bag and onto my car. Had so many bay leaves in the Barbacoa taco. Not the greatest salsa I've had. 2 stars for the bay leaves and high price. read more
I went on a Saturday afternoon and LOVED it. I got the 3 taco plate that comes with beans and rice. I opted for the pastor taco, the Samuel taco (fajita meat with grilled onions and jalapenos), and the mixeado (mix of both their trompo meats) taco. The pastor taco was tasty and the pork was tender. (6.5/10) The Samuel was definitely my favorite because of the charred flavor on the fajita meat and the onions/jalapenos. (7.5/10) The mixeado was also delicious and I really enjoyed the mix of meats. Both were super juicy. (7/10) They had red and green salsas and pickled onions on the side for toppings which were perfect to cut through the fattiness of the meat. The food came out quick and hot, and all the tacos were stuffed with meat. The service was also spectacular as they constantly checked on us and were quick to clean plates or ask us for water refills. The parking lot is quite small so I would recommend for smaller parties. Will definitely be back for the delicious food! read more
Really good taco place for the area. My only negative is that the Al Pastor could've used more flavor and could've been a little bit softer. Their breakfast tacos are cooked to perfection and their green salsa is amazing. Their fresa latte was really good, it reminded me of a strawberry wafer 10/10. All of the workers are extremely nice and they are very service oriented. It can get a little bit crowded on the weekends and parking can be a little bit tough, but it is still really good and they have outdoor seating as well. Tables were all clean. Overall I'd come again and to try their barbacoa and fajita. read more
Houston we may have found the best chicken tacos here!! Marinated and yummy!! True family owned place!! Treated nicely and menu explained with so much love! The place is rustic and fun with the old school Coca-Cola tables!! Please come in and try for yourself!! read more
First time here. Great tacos! I ordered the 4 taco plate with rice and beans. 2 fajita and 2 pastor. It was a lot of food! Well worth the price. The fajita was my favorite. Especially when you add the salsa verde they bring to the table. Order at the counter. They bring you your food. Very friendly service, and a fast kitchen. The restaurant is small, but I bet it seats around 30 people. Parking lot is small and shared with the Vape shop next door. Be mindful of the parking signs. All in all, a great place and I will definitely be back! I was to try the Birria bowl next read more
9 months ago
1 month ago
1 year ago
Best tacos in Houston hands down. I grew up near east LA, have lived in SD, occasionally went to tj for tacos. These tacos are definitely the best in all of Houston. Tortilla is proper, meat is grilled hot and fresh, salsa is on point. Hole in the wall spot gem. I almost wanna say they're better than tacos in Tijuana and all of SoCal, but idk...I won't go that far. It's fucking fuego, and the tacos are big, maybe 20% bigger than your traditional street tacos. Good service too. read more
5 months ago
Nut allergy friendly! No issues with anything here that I noticed. Some of the best tacos in Houston! They are a bit pricey but absolutely worth it. I've tried the Pastor, Barbacoa, Fajita, Oriental, and the Samuel here. The Samuel is amazing and my favorite, and I would say the Oriental is a close second, but I've never got wrong with anything here. I'll usually eat about three or four tacos for a meal. The meat is always tender, the corn tacos keep it all together and pack their own flavor, and the tacos hold up on their own without any salsa but you can always add some. Highly recommend if you're in the area! read more
This super well located taco shop makes great use of the name and style to enhance authenticity and experience. Right on a newly renovated and urbanized section of Shepherd just a short walk away from Washington, they are ideally placed to capture a good market of taco lovers. Great name to convey the use of the traditional Trompo that they cook with. The aesthetic reads old school and throwback, and perhaps aimed towards the blue collar, but it all just aids in showing that this places is a real gem for any who come through. Pastor tacos are obviously the main draw here and they are fantastic. The trompo is used to great effect to get those amazingly crisp edges on the meat. In an ideally word they offer the tacos al pastor with pineapple, but I know that's not for everyone. There are breakfast varieties, Barbacoa, and fajita options, but I couldn't bring myself to get something that wasn't from that rotating monument of meat. The salsas that accompany the meal are excellent; a green that's floral and bright to compliment pastor and red that's earthy and warming. I also had one of my more favorite agua frescas here when I ordered the jamaica, extremely floral and not overly sweet. I think they could work on speed of service, for a taco joint it took a little bit too long in my opinion to get our food on a not so busy lunch time. The textures and flavors were well worth a slightly longer than anticipated turnaround time though. read more
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Ricardo S.
Thank you for your review. We really appreciate your thorough review…
Tio Trompo in The Heights is another place I had sitting in my a saved folder in my Apple Maps. An old coworker of my recommended this spot knowing I love a great taco spot. My wife picked the order up for me so I can't speak on the atmosphere and customer service but from what she said it was great and had a homey feel. I got the Barbacoa taco and the beef fajita burrito, and both tasted like my friends Abuela made it. The Barbacoa taco was so tender and packed with love. You don't always come across good barbacoa! The beef fajita burrito came with lettuce, cheese, beans, and sour cream on the inside. I loved the consistency of all the ingredients. What really stood out to me was the sauces, mainly because I am a sauce person. Both the orange and green sauces were incredibly flavorful without being super hot. The sauces completed both the taco and burrito beautifully. I'll be coming back for more and to get the full experience. read more
5 months ago
Food is good. But for the portion size and the money I think we should have got bigger potion of the sides. They all came in tiny containers and only 10 tortillas. read more
3 months ago
Absolutely a favorite breakfast taco place for me!!! Tacos on corn tortillas are spot on. HUGE and full of flavor! The salsas are really good mild and spicy but not just heat, great flavors! The horchata latte was really good and I haven't seen it offered anywhere else. Loved it. Overall a really nice place! Clean, nice staff and good eats. :). read more
11 months ago
First time trying this spot and wow, the pastor tacos are big and soo yummy! They came with a super flavorful green salsa, a punchy red salsa, and pickled onions (my fav!!!). Fast service, cute lil taqueria vibes. Definitely worth the stop if you're craving tacitos al pastor! read more
3 months ago
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More info about Tio Trompo
316 Shepherd Dr
Houston, TX 77007
Washington Corridor, Rice Military, The Heights
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(832) 804-6364
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http://tiotrompo.com
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