Tacodeli

The Austin taco shop has signed a lease on the east side of town; no opening date yet

Tacodeli is coming to Dripping Springs. The Austin taco shop has signed a lease for its first location in town, at the corner of Highway 290 and Canyonwood Drive on the east side. If you've been driving into Austin for breakfast tacos, this is the news you wanted. Just don't set the alarm yet, because the company hasn't named an opening date.

What's coming. It's the same Tacodeli menu: breakfast tacos, then lunch and dinner tacos, plus salads, bowls, soups and chips. Regulars will know the Otto (organic refried black beans, double bacon, avocado and jack cheese), the Cowboy (dry-rubbed beef tenderloin with grilled corn, caramelized onion, roasted peppers, guacamole and queso fresco) and the Sunset Shrimp (crispy Gulf shrimp with purple cabbage slaw, jícama and a creamy salsa de árbol). Then there are the salsas, which are half the reason people stay loyal.

Where and when. The spot is at US Highway 290 and Canyonwood Drive in Dripping Springs, on the stretch of 290 east of downtown. A company spokesperson confirmed in late September that the lease is signed and the opening date is still to be determined.

Who's behind it. Tacodeli started in Austin in 1999. Founder Roberto Espinosa built the menu on the taqueria flavors he grew up with in Mexico City. The company now runs shops around Austin, Dallas and Houston and has been growing fast. Last fall Espinosa said "the city is expanding" and the company is going with it, and Dripping Springs was already on its list of places to grow.

What we don't know yet. Plenty. There's no opening date, no exact street address beyond the intersection, and no hours or phone number. We also haven't found a state construction filing for the build-out, and that's usually the first sign a project is getting close. Until one shows up, this is a "signed, not started" story. We'll tell you when the paperwork moves.

Local Eats covers every new opening, closing and coming-soon spot around Dripping Springs, Driftwood and Wimberley — free, every Thursday. Subscribe at https://www.localeats.news/austin-hillcountry.