Never pay $5 for a taco.
Definitely not on National Taco Day.
Just when some new stands are charging $5 or $6 for a taco, our old favorites sell them for $1 or even give them away.
Every Oct. 4, Fuzzy's Taco Shop leads local promotions of the national "holiday."
Fuzzy's will offer tacos for $1 all day Thursday (no fajitas, and no take-out). That includes the original Baja-style fish tacos or -- even better -- Fuzzy's garlic shredded beef.
The improving Taco Cabana chain, based in San Antonio, offered a special preview Tuesday, giving away 60,000 chicken fajita tacos. (But tacos sell for regular price Thursday.)
Every Tuesday is "taco day" at the Fort Worth-based Rosa's Cafe & Tortilla Factory chain, which offers a triple-taco dinner platter for less than $4.
The Texas-based Taco Casa fast-food stands also offer specials on Tuesdays.
The American "holiday" is confusing to traditional "street taco" stands like the new Tacos y Mas Mexican Grill in Keller.
"There's a Taco Day? Really? I guess we'll have to have a special," said Michael Young, a partner in the Dallas-based Tacos y Mas grills who is helping to open the new location in the Keller Crossing shopping center.
"A few years ago, there was this influx of burger joints. Now it's taco places. But they're trying to do gourmet fare instead of authentic tacos."
Few taco stands are more authentic than Tacos y Mas' original Samuell Boulevard location in Dallas, which has won "best taco stand" and "best breakfast tacos" judging.
The new Keller location offers "street tacos" with a choice of eight fillings on corn, flour or wheat tortillas, including shrimp or fish marinated in olive oil and garlic.
Tacos y Mas stands out for its fresh guacamole and five house-made sauces -- red, green, chipotle, ranchero and a spicy green "bombero" (firefighter) sauce.
The grill also has burritos, quesadillas and Bavarian cream-stuffed churros.
Tacos y Mas is considering more locations in far north Fort Worth near Keller and another in west Fort Worth, Young said.
The new spot is at 1540 Keller Parkway, in the shopping center by Keller Smithfield Road South.
3 Parrots Taco Shop , a Baja-themed fish taco grill, has added a location in far north Fort Worth, opening in November.
The other 3 Parrots shops opened in Benbrook and Granbury. The newest is at 6650 N. Beach St., at Western Center Boulevard; 3parrots.com.
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