The last time I set out for Taco Darlin I ended up on the side of the road calling for a tow when my truck’s brakes went out, and I never made it, so tonight I decided to fix that situation.
Taco Darlin is at 4214 Kell W Blvd, Suite 109, near the Intersection of Highway 82 and McNeil. The atmosphere inside is a beach cabana/tropical island feel, there’s a full-service bar and an elevated loft area, too. It’s tastefully decorated with top notch finishes that I saw, and very clean.
My server was very helpful in deciding what to order and informed me the most popular choices were the DP Pulled Pork Cali and the DP Pulled Pork Oki. DP stands for Dr. Pepper and Taco Darlin’s pulled pork is roasted in it, low and slow. My server gave me a few minutes to peruse the menu, but I ended up ordering one of each.
In case the Dr. Pepper angle isn’t enough uniqueness for you, Taco Darlin’ throws another curve ball over the taco plate.
Fries.
Yes, like, french (freedom?) fries. On your taco. Stay with me.
I was pleasantly assaulted by the flavors in a way I didn’t expect. I have never been a huge fan of non-traditional versions of familiar foods — yeah, this is lasagna, but it’s made with eggplant and leftover roofing shingles — but Taco Darlin’s tacos are unconventional and yet, still a delicious taco in my opinion.
The Cali comes with their Dr. Pepper pulled pork, fries, black bean corn relish, lime sour cream, and sriracha mayo, and it is incredibly good. The Oki was my favorite. Dr. Pepper pulled pork, fries, kimchi bacon sauce, and cilantro.
The kimchi bacon sauce… Oh my. It is soooo good. I gorged myself on two tacos and had Dr. Pepper pulled pork juice running down my hand and wrist, and it occurred to me that I needed to bring someone along to teach me how to eat more neatly at Taco Darlin. My server reassured me that if you didn't make a mess, you didn’t really enjoy it. I guess I did.
I wasn’t done however. The last time, when I ended up getting towed to the shop instead of tacoed in my face, I wanted one of Taco Darlin’s handmade shakes and never got it. This time, there would be no escape…
My friends, that is a “Reba” handmade milkshake. Blended ice cream and red velvet cake with frosting, chocolate sauce, chocolate chips, whipped cream, and a slice of red velvet cake delicately perched atop a mason jar.
The only blip in my service at Taco Darlin was when the very young food runner brought my milkshake without a spoon or straw or napkins, but I was not about to let that stop me. I went after the cake with my fork until my apologetic server was able to bring me a spoon and straw.
I cannot tell you how good the shake was… It’s cake and ice cream, and it comes in a presentation that encourages you to, again, make a mess. And I did, and I’ve never been happier doing it.
In the end, two tacos, a Coke Zero, and a Reba handmade milkshake came to about $26 bucks plus tip and I was happy to pay it. I’ve been known to gravitate to a taco truck a lot, but when I want to class it up and actually get a taco at a place where you can go inside and sit down, Taco Darlin is my first choice right now. Highly recommended.
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All photos by the author, © FallstownFUSE.com