Construction Begins on Speculated Velvet Taco

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• Construction for Velvet Taco on Washington Avenue Jakeisha Wilmore
• Construction for Velvet Taco on Washington Avenue Jakeisha Wilmore
• Construction for Velvet Taco on Washington Avenue Jakeisha Wilmore
• Construction for Velvet Taco on Washington Avenue Jakeisha Wilmore

A fenced off area and heavy equipment at 4819 Washington Avenue, which last housed The Rig can only mean one thing: something is on the way and that something is Velvet Taco. Based out of Dallas, the taco-centric restaurant — similar to Julia Sharaby and David Grossman's Fusion Taco in Downtown — has locations in D-Town, neighboring Fort Worth and come Monday, Chicago, with another rumored for Houston.
Representatives with Velvet Taco denied the rumors, but a little digging proved otherwise. Nearly a year after Dallas Business Journal cited the taco shop's interest in expanding to Houston, the restaurant filed for a liquor permit through the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Building permits filed with the city last month also provided proof that Velvet Taco is indeed opening on Washington Avenue.

Like Houston, Velvet Taco is a mishmash of cuisine integrating Indian, Tex-Mex, Mexican and Mediterranean inspired fillings onto a tortilla. Houston's love for tacos coupled with the chain's late hours, will likely mean a win for the Dallas import once it opens. With newcomer Juelp and forthcoming Commonwealth, Black Orchid, La Roux, Concrete Cowboy and Fuego's Saloon, Washington Avenue is slowly but surely getting its late night groove back.

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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]