Velvet Taco Confirms It's Washington Avenue Bound

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• Velvet Taco in Dallas Velvet Taco/Facebook
• Velvet Taco menu Velvet Taco/Facebook
• Rebecca Dale Photogrpahy/Flickr
• Fish n' Chips Taco, Grilled Mediterranean Flank Taco and Tikka Chicken Taco Taylormariebrowns/Tumblr
• Crisp Tots & Local Egg (chili butter, cheddar cheese, herbed goat cheese, avocado crema sauce, bacon, micro greens) Velvet Taco/Facebook
• “Elote-Style” Roasted Corn [Photo: Velvet Taco]
• Ahi Poke Tuna Taco [Photo: Velvet Taco]
• Rotisserie Chicken Taco [Photo: Velvet Taco]
• Roasted Pull Pork Taco [Photo: Velvet Taco]
• Crisp Tikka Chicken Taco [Photo: Velvet Taco]

After long-swirling rumors and a hiring post on Craigslist, Velvet Taco officially confirmed through a press release it's opening in the Washington Corridor. The upscale taqueria, currently under construction, replaces former bar The Rig at 4819 Washington Avenue. This will be the fourth outpost for the Dallas-based taco concept from partially owned Twin Peaks group Fork it Over Restaurant (The Ranch at Las Colinas, Mexican Sugar, Whiskey Cake). Additional locations include Dallas, Fort Worth and Chicago.

"As a Texas-based brand, a Houston location is a natural fit. Not only does the city have one of the most dynamic and diverse culinary scenes in the nation, but the Houston locale also allows us to continue to work with local Texas farmers and ranchers," John Franke, executive chef of Velvet Taco says in the release.

Velvet Taco shares a quirky and hipsterish vibe to Torchy's Taco, but that's where the similarities end. A fairer comparison is Julia Sharaby and David Grossman's Fusion Taco in downtown's Market Square. Both offer globally-inspired tacos crafted with local ingredients.

Crisp Tikka Chicken (buttered basmati rice, raita crema and thai basil), Roast Pork Banh Mi (cucumber, spicy pickled veggies, Asian BBQ sauce and thai-basil avocado crema), and Falafel, are a sampling of made-from-scratch items available from the forthcoming taco joint's menu. Yes, that even include tortillas for all you, tortilla purists.

Late night weekend hours are a huge bonus. Currently, there aren't too many options along the Washington strip that serve food after midnight. Fortunately, Velvet Taco and soon-to-open Commonwealth and Black Orchid are seeking to change that while offering high-quality food.

With Velvet Taco confirmed, along with the recent announcement of Morgan Weber and Ryan Pera of Coltivare opening 8-Flint Row, the surge of upscale taquerias isn't coming to an end anytime soon.