Tammy Alexander, Kitchen Manager, Lauren Rosemond, Asst. Manager and Beth Bennett, General Manager

How about an ahi tuna taco at 7am or a breakfast taco at 10pm? Or maybe a taco with fried chicken around noon? Described as “all tacos, all the time,” Torchy’s Tacos started humbly as a food truck in Austin, Texas. After blanketing the Texas market with its restaurants, Torchy’s chose Colorado as its first out-of-state market. The company found Stapleton appealing because, like the company, it’s in growth mode.

Torchy’s Patio-Bar area provides indoor/outdoor dining for customers.

With a total of five Torchy’s slated to open in Colorado by the end of the year, the company chose the state because of all the Texas transplants who, they suspected, would be excited about the expansion. It was also appealing to seasoned staff like General Manager Beth Bennett, who was excited to make the move. “When I found out the company was expanding here, I said, ‘Sign me up, I want to go to Colorado!’”

Before the location in Northfield Stapleton opened in June, potential diners were peeking in the windows, monitoring progress. The glitzy décor designed around white and red reflector tiles (an homage to their start in a taco truck), Sputnik-like light fixtures and marquis-lit “Torchy’s” sign outside and “Damn Good Tacos” inside, were a draw. With a different demographic than the first Torchy’s location on Broadway at 11th Ave., which drew lines around the building for weeks, the Stapleton opening was eagerly anticipated but a little more understated. Bennett is grateful for the mellower vibe allowing for downtimes mid-morning and mid-afternoon to prepare for the next rush.

“I feel like it’s a taco nobody else does,” says Bennett, of her employer. “We have some of your traditional items like chicken and beef fajita, some really authentic ones like barbacoa, and then you have modern-day, contemporary options like fried chicken.” Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are also available.

With indoor and outdoor seating, Torchy’s features a two-sided bar with one-half facing in and the other facing out onto the patio. Diners can skip the line and belly up to the bar to order and eat there for a full-service experience.

Bennett says the Stapleton location sells more “Little Devils,” peanut butter and banana deep- fried quesadillas, off the kids’ menu than the Broadway location, a nod to the family-oriented demographic. Being able to provide a family-friendly experience is important to Bennett who hopes to move her family to the neighborhood soon. Her 3-year-old daughter is just happy to have an easy supply of “chips and wacamole,” says Bennett. “She loves mommy’s work.”

Hours are Mon.–Thurs. 7am-10pm; Fri. 7am–11pm; Sat. 8am–11pm; and Sun. 8–10am.