Welcome Back Rusty

Dallas taco chain sees error of its ways and reclaims original name

Here's to tacos and margaritas.

Rusty Taco

The Dallas taco chain originally known as Rusty Taco, which in recent years had gone by R Taco, is returning to its roots and its original name.

The chain has come to its senses and will once again be known as Rusty Taco. Congrats! Rusty Taco is a lot catchier and more importantly, if you are a reporter, a lot easier to search for on the worldwide web. Try Googling R Taco, it's a nightmare.

Rusty Taco was opened in 2010 by founder Rusty Fenton, and has grown to 27 restaurants in six states. It's now part of the Inspire Brands family of restaurants, one of the largest restaurant companies in the U.S.

It has nice little tacos on good corn tortillas, in varieties such as brisket, pork, and its signature picadillo with spicy ground beef, potatoes, onion, and cilantro.

Its selection of vegetarian tacos includes a yummy one with grilled poblanos, mushroom, onion, and red pepper; and one with black beans and pumpkin seeds.

Sadly, Rusty Fenton, who also founded Uncle Julio's, passed away in 2013 from cancer at the early age of 53.

In 2015, the company decided to rebrand itself as R Taco, with a rather convoluted explanation about growing the business beyond its Dallas roots.

"Shortening the name to 'R Taco' still provides a link to co-founder Rusty Fenton's legacy while the phonetic play on 'R' sounding like 'our' is friendly and welcoming, like the spirit of the brand," said then-CEO Steve Dunn. Omigosh, no. Just no.

A release announcing the company's ditching the R and returning to the original name says that the decision "reflects the brand's dedication to Rusty Taco's genuine family heritage and Fenton's vision of a community-driven gathering place."

Okay right on, but really, wasn't it always sorta known as Rusty Taco, anyway? Did anyone really say, "Hey let's meet at R Taco!"?

"In our hearts, we've always been Rusty Taco, so we decided to go back to our roots and continue Rusty's legacy of approachable, delicious food with the original name," said Tim Casey, who has the title of Brand Head. "Our menu and commitment to fresh street tacos and margaritas made with fresh lime juice and cheap tequila remains true to Rusty’s vision."

They're hosting a celebration with a party on the patio of the original location at 4802 Greenville Ave. on September 8, from 6-9 pm. There'll be $2 tacos, live music from Jayson Bales – who performed at the first grand opening in 2010 – and giveaways, including limited-edition T-shirts designed by artist Sean Starr.

tacos

New sweet spot

Australian frozen yogurt chain Yo-Chi swirls into Dallas for U.S. debut

Photo courtesy of Yo-Chi Frozen Yogurt

Australia's Yo-Chi Frozen Yogurt is making its U.S. debut in Dallas.

A cult-favorite Australian frozen yogurt chain known for self-serve bowls, extensive topping bars, and a lively vibe has picked Dallas for its U.S. debut. Called Yo-Chi, the brand will open its first U.S. location this fall at 5710 W. Lovers Ln. Ste. 101, near Inwood Village, according to a release.

Although an exact opening date has not been announced for the first Dallas location, a second one is in the works, too - at NorthPark Center. More shops will follow around the U.S., the company says.

Founded in Melbourne in 2012, Yo-Chi now has 75 locations across Australia. It first expanded internationally to Singapore in 2025, and then to London's famed Notting Hill neighborhood, in August 2026.

One of Yo-Chi's claims to fame is the quality of its yogurt, which is made from fresh milk rather than powdered mixes and contains live probiotics, the company touts. The majority of flavors are 98 percent fat free, they say.

Yogurt flavors include "OG's" like vanilla, salted butterscotch, tart, and acai; along with seasonal flavors such as coconut, matcha, and cinnamon banana.

More than 40 topping choices range from nuts and chocolate chips to mini mochi, pistachio spread, and scoopable cookie dough. There are also sauces, warm brownies, fresh fruit, and chocolate chunk cookie cake.

Yo-Chi The self-service toppings station at Yo-Chi.Photo courtesy of Yo-Chi

Toppings are arranged in a communal, self-serve station that resembles a salad bar.

Yo-Chi co-owner and chief brand officer Oliver Allis says the company's appeal goes beyond the food.

"Back home it’s become like the new club — we’ve got bouncers on the door on weekends, people go on dates there, and there’s such a mix of ages," he says in the release. "You could walk into a Yo-Chi on any given night and find a hundred people there, all completely different ages, all having a great time in the same room."

The shops feature open layouts, communal topping stations, and free Wi-Fi, and are built around the concept of “sharing the Chi,” its term for positive energy, they say.

Yo-Chi Frozen Yogurt The shops are designed to be gathering places.Photo courtesy of Yo-Chi

The company also touts an approach to sustainability that includes not selling bottled water but instead offering free water refill stations ("open to anyone, purchase or not, theysay" and reusable bowls.

It's also tip-free.

"It’s about positive energy, and giving people a place to share it,” says Allis. “That’s in the experience we build inside every venue, and it’s in how we show up for the community and planet around us. Dallas felt like the perfect place to bring that to the U.S. for the first time, it’s social, it’s got energy, and that’s exactly the kind of city Yo-Chi was built for."

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