Taco News

Valerie's Taco Stand from San Diego brings it coastal style to Dallas

They also do combination plates, featuring housemade enchilada sauce, cheddar cheese, cotija, and a side of rice and beans.

Photo courtesy of Valerie's

An authentic Mexican street taco concept from San Diego has expanded to the Dallas area. Called Valerie's Taco Stand, it's a family-owned chain specializing in the fish tacos for which San Diego is most famous.

Valerie's made its Texas debut in mid-2020 with a first location in Princeton. A second location just opened in Plano, in a former Schlotzky's in front of Home Depot at 1130 N. Central Expwy.

Valerie's was founded in San Diego, California in 1997 by Valerie and Steve Swanson, who've since opened nine locations around Southern California.

Their menu is extensive, with most of the prototypical Mexican categories including tacos, tortas, enchiladas, quesadillas, burritos, and chimichangas.

A dozen combination plates come with rice & beans and feature combos such as chile relleno and beef taco.

Tacos come in two varieties, crispy and soft, with fillings that include carne asada, fried mahi, potato, and veggie. Breakfast tacos with choice of meat, potato, and cheese, wrapped in a house-made flour tortilla, are available all day.

One unique category is fries, either plain or with toppings such as carne asada, surf & turf, queso, and guacamole.

And a one-of-a-kind signature are their marinated/pickled carrots, offered as a refreshing garnish.

They also do a clever Mexican version of the buzzy "bowls," featuring rice, refried beans, guacamole, and queso, topped with choice of shredded chicken, beef, pollo asada, carne asada, or shrimp.

They're proud of the fact that their corn tortillas are made from ground corn not corn flour, and they use high-quality meats.

With its proximity to the ocean and Mexico, San Diego professes to have the best fish tacos and Valerie's does a classic version with the fish lightly battered and fried for a crunchy crust which has earned it a place on many best-of lists.

Mariana Monoya, a representative for the chain, told Plano Magazine that Valerie's came to Texas because members of the family moved to Collin County and couldn't find Mexican food they liked.

They've also grappled with the current employee shortage that's been such a challenge for the restaurant industry following the pandemic, prompting the Plano location to close for a few days until they could get properly staffed.

"This is new Mexican food, real San Diego food, it's authentic," she said.

tacos openings

Gearing up

Upscale sports bar Moxies will touch down at The Star in Frisco

Moxie's

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Moxies, the upscale-casual concept founded in Canada and co-owned by Dallas Stars proprietor Tom Gaglardi, is joining the restaurant lineup at The Star in Frisco.

According to a release, a new location of Moxies will open in The Star District, at 3680 The Star Blvd. #1300, in an old City Works space, in 2027.

The sporty restaurant at the home of the Cowboys will be designed for everything from lunch and happy hour to dinner and late-night gatherings, offering chef-driven dishes with a lively bar experience in a polished, social setting, the owners say. The new location will include the restaurant's signature statement bar, elevated dining experience and high-energy hospitality.

“Being part of The Star in Frisco is a perfect fit for Moxies,” says Joanne Forrester, president and COO of Moxies, in the release. “The entire district is built around elevated experiences and connection — training, work, entertainment and hospitality all in one place. That’s where we thrive. Our chef-driven dishes, signature cocktails and statement bar are designed for exactly this kind of social, high-energy setting anchored by the Dallas Cowboys.”

Frisco will be the fourth DFW location for Moxies. The first one debuted at The Crescent in Uptown Dallas in 2016, and got a major renovation in 2024. The chain also has locations in Plano and Southlake.

Moxies is owned by Gaglardi, proprietor of the Dallas Stars, and brought to the U.S. by franchise group Eatz Hospitality.

While few details of the Frisco location have been revealed, the other locations serve lunch, brunch, dinner, and happy hour specials, with a menu of elevated American classics overseen by executive chef Brandon Thordarson. A typical Moxies menu includes:

Sushi Cones, made of tempura shrimp with avocado, pea shoots, nori crisps and drizzled with sesame chili ponzu
Poutine, the Canadian staple with French fries, hot beef gravy, and cheese curds
Kale and Quinoa Salad
Vegetarian Power Bowl with marinated tofu, shiitake mushrooms, soft boiled egg, vegetables, and greens

Brunch options include:

Vegetarian Huevos Rancheros
Smoke Salmon Goat Cheese & Egg White Omelet
Sicilian Sausage Hash

The traditional Moxies bar features craft cocktails such as Strawberry Ghost Pepper Margarita and a Hard Lemonade made with Tito’s Vodka.

The spaces typically feature an extended bar, a large covered patio, TVs inside and outside, and flex walls that can be converted for private dining experience and party spaces.

Other openings at The Star in Frisco

Moxies will join previously announced bar The Imperial Room, which will open at at 3685 The Star Blvd. in early September (aka "next week," a spokesperson clarifies).

The new bar will open next door to the Frisco location of Cane Rosso, and is from PILF Restaurant Group (Cane Rosso, Zoli's Pizza, and Thunderbird Pies), which also owned Cow Tipping Creamery, which closed in July.

With seating for 25 to 30 guests, The Imperial Room will offer an intimate setting for pre-event cocktails, date nights, celebrations and late-night gatherings, the release says. Guests can expect a sophisticated cocktail program featuring expertly executed classics and original creations, complemented by elevated shareable plates and select entrées.

PILF Restaurant Group has drafted acclaimed Dallas bartender Gabe Sanchez, whose work has helped shape cocktail programs at some of the city's most respected bars.

Longtime Star Tex-Mex restaurant Mi Cocina has expanded its outdoor dining experience with a renovation of its main patio, at 6740 Winning Dr. Ste. 1010. The enhanced space features additional seating, permanent heaters, larger fans, and drop-down shades, creating a more comfortable three-season patio for guests to enjoy throughout the year, the release says.

On the non-restaurant front, Élan Sculpt Club, a new luxury boutique fitness concept combining infrared-heated sculpt classes with Pilates reformer training, is opening its flagship location at The Star District, at 3620 The Star Boulevard, #1215.

Moxie’s is also known for their light sign décor, centered on the main dining wall, that spells out "I will if you will."

opening frisco moxies sports bar