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Queso Confidential: What To Order From the Torchy's Tacos Secret Menu

Wilder Shaw is a staff writer at Cheapism covering food, specializing in taste tests and fast food. He has over a decade of food-writing experience, and his work has appeared in Thrillist, The Washington Post, L.A. Taco, Time Out, and numerous other publications.

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Success Foods Management Group

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There are many things that build up Austin, Texas’ character, but one of the most iconic will always be Torchy’s Tacos. While nowhere near the best breakfast tacos in Austin, Torchy’s is an institution, a Tex-Mex bedrock in a town known for its breakfast tacos. Now with over 100 locations across 14 states, the regular menu at Torchy's has become a staple far outside of Austin.


Those sweethearts also whipped up a secret menu themselves, which means we have some bona fide secret menu items and not just a bunch of food hacks that college students filmed for TikTok. Bust out the app and order these items from the Torchy's secret menu, because almost all of these are legit.

torchy's naughty santa tacoPhoto credit: Success Foods Management Group

Naughty Santa

Is Santa famous for loving shrimp?

  • Grilled shrimp

  • Chorizo

  • Pickled onions

  • Jack cheese

  • Avocado

  • Cilantro

  • Poblano sauce

  • Wrapped in a flour tortilla

Mad Cow

Though this does not currently appear on the chain's website, many fans across the internet have said it was at one point, and oftentimes still, available on Torchy's hidden menu. Check your local branch to make sure.

  • Beef fajita

  • Black beans

  • Grilled corn

  • Cilantro

  • Chipotle sauce

  • Wrapped in a flour tortilla

Alabama Shake

Much like Mad Cow, this may be dependent on your local store.

  • Cornmeal-crusted catfish

  • Peppadew peppers

  • Cilantro

  • Cotjia cheese

  • Poblano sauce

  • Avocado sauce

  • Lime

  • Wrapped in a flour tortilla

For more secret menus, please sign up for our free newsletters.

trailer park and green chile pork tacos from torchy's tacosPhoto credit: Julianne M. / Yelp

Trailer Park Hillbilly Style

Trailer park tacos sound A-OK to me. Torchy’s poblano sauce, which is essentially ranch dressing, is a true treat.

  • Fried chicken

  • Chorizo

  • Chopped bacon

  • Green chiles

  • Green chile queso

  • Cheddar and Jack cheese

  • Pico de gallo

  • Poblano sauce

  • Wrapped in a flour tortilla

Green Chile Pork Missionary Style

This is a souped-up version of the green chile pork taco, featuring the addition of guac, a crispy tortilla, and a sauce swap.

  • Slow-roasted pork carnitas with green chiles

  • Pickled onions

  • Guacamole

  • Cilantro

  • Chipotle sauce

  • Served on a crisp corn tortilla inside a flour tortilla

Related: Crunch Time: The Best Fast-Food Tacos, Ranked


torchy's ace of spades tacoPhoto credit: Ponchai R. / Yelp

Ace of Spades

I'm glad to see that they serve this on two flour tortillas, but wow, that ingredient list is quite extensive. I think we might need to crank this up to three or four tortillas.

  • Grilled jalapeños

  • Cheddar sausage

  • Smoked beef brisket

  • Fried egg

  • Green chile queso

  • Cotija cheese

  • Grated cheddar and Jack cheese

  • Sour cream

  • Cilantro

  • Diablo sauce

  • Served on two flour tortillas

The Matador

I’ll always be a sucker for the ol' one-crispy-one-flour tortilla situation. This sounds great.

  • Chopped brisket

  • Grilled jalapeños

  • Pickled onions

  • Jack cheese

  • Fresh avocado

  • Sour cream

  • Cilantro

  • Tomatillo sauce

  • Served on a crispy corn tortilla inside a flour tortilla


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