Taco News
Booming Cilantro Taco Grill from Chicago makes Texas debut in Prosper
A growing taqueria chain from Chicago is ready to make its Texas debut: Called Cilantro Taco Grill, it will be located at 1470 W. Frontier Pkwy. in Prosper, in a new shopping center across the street from Prosper High School, where it’ll open April 14.
Cilantro Taco is a fast-casual concept that serves fresh, authentic Mexican food made to order including tacos, burritos, tortas, and sides. The chain is family-owned, and was founded in Chicago in 2013 by restaurateur Temoc Morfin, who was inspired by his father's journey as a hard-working immigrant and farmer.
There are more than a dozen locations in the Chicago area, plus a tortilla factory and food operation where they make products such as their bottled house salsa. Each establishment is owned and operated by members of the family.
However, there's a major franchising program in the works, with ambitious plans to open more than 100 locations as well as the establishment of a commissary in Houston.
Bringing the concept to Dallas-Fort Worth is Hector Haget and his son-in-law Khristopher Tate, both longtime franchisees of other restaurants including Jersey Mike’s and Mountain Mike’s Pizza.
"Hector is Cuban, and he met these guys from the Cilantro team, and they have a similar immigrant story,” Tate says. “They started the restaurant as a mom and pop shop, and it resonated with him, so that’s kind of how they connected."
The menu includes tacos with more than a dozen filling options such as asada / steak, pastor / pork, barbacoa / Mexican BB, veggie, fish, tongue, and chile relleno / stuffed peppers. Tacos are served on corn tortillas and topped with cilantro and onions. A single taco is $4, while a taco dinner with three tacos, rice, and beans, is $15.50.
There are also burritos, tortas, a taco salad, a very Chipotle-esque burrito "belly bowl," plus combination dinners with tacos, tamales, and the like. A section of entrees includes chicken-fried steak ("Milanesa de pollo"), Bistek a la Mexican flank steak, and chile rellenos. Plus chips & salsa, guacamole, churros, and choco-flan.
They do not serve alcohol but Morfin is fixated on authentic Mexican beverages such as horchata. Decor consists of a pale gray color scheme with accents of lime green.
“This is the first one, so we really want to get our feet under us," Tate says. "We want to open several, but we’ll start in our backyard and branch out from here.”
Loro's smoked hot sauce and chicken are a perfect match.Photo courtesy of Hai Hospitality
Sauce-lovers can bundle all three sauces for variety.Photo courtesy of Hai Hospitality