Velvet Taco set to enter OKC market (https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=727-Velvet-Taco-set-to-enter-OKC-market)

A very popular taco restaurant will soon be entering the Oklahoma City market.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/velvettaco1.jpg


Velvet Taco began in Dallas in 2011 and currently has over 20 locations in Texas, Georgia, North Carolina and Illinois.

The high-style chain typically features a dining room but also a large covered patio area.

The menu consists of more than 20 taco varieties including the Spicy Tikka Chicken and Fish 'n Chips as well as creative sides and made from scratch red velvet cake.

Breakfast tacos are served all day. Margaritas and an assortment of beers are also offerred.

A drive-thru is available for orders placed in advance.

Velvet Taco has submitted building permits for the former McAlister's Deli location on Lindsey Street in Norman and has been scouting other sites in the OKC area.

For more information, go to www.velvettaco.com.


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They seem to be following the same plan as Torchy's: go to Norman first then expand into OKC.

Think that is mostly for the built in college crowd of more than half of kids from Texas?

I think it will do pretty well in Norman and I am happy something is going in on Lindsay Street, which has looked a little rough after the street redo.

A lot of people prefer VT over Torchy's, and that's saying something.

They have a very good reputation and their locations are generally pakced.

Hopefully they don’t follow the Torchy’s trend of expanding too quickly with the quality going downhill accordingly.

When we were leaving Clovis, NM last week, we passed a building with a sign "Velvet Taco" and my first though was NOT tacos, in the food sense. Sure enough, it was a lingerie store (and who knows what else?).

I was just a little surprised to see the announcement here, but quickly realized this company really does serve food.

There is a chain in California called the Pink Taco, which is even worse.

Isn't this the same restaurant group that runs Whiskey Cake? I seem to remember one of the early managers at the OKC Whiskey Cake who got moved to open a Velvet Taco down in Texas.

Isn't this the same restaurant group that runs Whiskey Cake? I seem to remember one of the early managers at the OKC Whiskey Cake who got moved to open a Velvet Taco down in Texas.

I don't believe they are related in any way.

I don't believe they are related in any way.

It looks like Front Burner owned them and then an investment group bought a majority stack in Velvet Taco.

Front Burner (https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/leadership/creator-twin-peaks-velvet-taco-gets-new-ceo-new-identity-new-focus)

L. Catterton (https://www.lcatterton.com/Investments.html#!/current/M:nag_major/velvettaco)

There is a chain in California called the Pink Taco, which is even worse.

I went to a Pink Taco in Vegas. It seemed as if the target demo was the younger under 40 crowd. The food was similar to Torchy's.

Here is the 3d view and floor plan for the Norman location.

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Looking at the Dallas store's menu I can't say anything just screams amazing must have tacos. But then I'm a very simple guy food wise.

Looking at the Dallas store's menu I can't say anything just screams amazing must have tacos. But then I'm a very simple guy food wise.

Nm.

There was a VT down the street from us in N Dallas and we ate there twice in a span of a three-day jaunt to my parent's for Easter. Place is legit. Had a spicy tikka chicken taco and shrimp and grits taco -- super incredible. My daughter, who is a queso snob, highly approved their red curry coconut queso, and we all thought it was fantastic. The Elote Corn -- awesome. They have some sort of sour cream sauce they serve with all their stuff that's addictive. Also enjoyed a couple of their Paloma margaritas. I thought it was much better than Torchy's. The tacos at VT were not so overstuffed you could actually manage them without a fork. We already decided that when they open in Norman we will make the trek from Edmond to partake often.

^

I've heard lots of people say they prefer Velvet Taco to Torchy's.

Look forward to them opening some OKC locations.

^

I've heard lots of people say they prefer Velvet Taco to Torchy's.

Look forward to them opening some OKC locations.

We didn’t like Torchy’s at all. Would definitely give them a try if the get north of Norman.

We didn’t like Torchy’s at all. Would definitely give them a try if the get north of Norman.

I agreee Torchys is terrible. Tried it twice and was underwhelmed both time. Love Fuzzys however.

I prefer VT over Torchy's. I live in Plano and they opened a new VT on the corner of Park and Preston. I love their fish tacos and they have a really good red velvet cake! Also, they have really good margaritas.

IMO none of these compare to Taco Deli. Need to see them move north of the Red River

Or a Taqueria La Ventana is what OKC needs next. https://www.taquerialaventana.com

Progress on Lindsey Street in Norman:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/velvettaco070421a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/velvettaco070421b.jpg

almost fitting that this is going in where atomic burrito was over 20 years ago... underneath all the additions, i'm pretty sure this structure began its life as a burger king.

The Velvet Taco location in Norman has a sign up that says Training in Progress so they should be getting close to opening soon.

Velvet Taco opens today (Monday).

Sun - Wed 11A-10P
Thursday 11A-Midnight
Fri - Sat 11A-2A

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“Open really late” also closes at 10pm that’s funny

Velvet Taco opens today (Monday).

Sun - Wed 11A-10P
Thursday 11A-Midnight
Fri - Sat 11A-2A

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bump

“Open really late” also closes at 10pm that’s funny

i was thinking the same thing. should be "Sometimes open late, but not so late that you can come after the bars close"

Opening late is different from closing late.

They stay open until midnight on Thursday and 2AM on the weekend.

That's late for any food service place.

They stay open until midnight on Thursday and 2AM on the weekend.

That's late for any food service place.

Open, but do they still serve food until closing? A few places are open til whatever ("really late" lol), but stop serving food a couple hours or more before close.

Of course they serve food until closing.

Stopped by last night for some takeout on the way back into town. Did not disappoint. Tacos, queso and tots were just as good as the Dallas area locations I've been to.

Only issue was they were out of pork, so a number of tacos were not available. Opening day, so not a big deal.

The patios were pretty packed and there was a line in the drive through, but looked like it was moving.

Tulsa getting a location at 15th and Peoria, Just on Cherry Street. Hopefully this means expansion through multiple locations across the state.

Tulsa getting a location at 15th and Peoria, Just on Cherry Street. Hopefully this means expansion through multiple locations across the state.

I know they have been scouting more locations in OKC.

I know they have been scouting more locations in OKC.

Chisolm Creek??

Tulsa getting a location at 15th and Peoria, Just on Cherry Street. Hopefully this means expansion through multiple locations across the state.

Looks like this should be opening really soon

These are some of the best tacos I’ve ever had.

Here are the plans for the Velvet Taco planned for the old Fazoli's at 13600 N Penn:


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Kind of looks like Braum's and Taco Bell had a kid.

Kind of looks like Braum's and Taco Bell had a kid.
Fuddruckers appears to have some DNA in the mix too.

Kind of looks like Braum's and Taco Bell had a kid.

I agree, Velvet Taco has a better design in Norman

Has anyone heard anything about their progress in Quail Springs? I visited a VT in Ft Worth and loved it. I have been looking forward to them opening.

Has anyone heard anything about their progress in Quail Springs? I visited a VT in Ft Worth and loved it. I have been looking forward to them opening.

Went by there about a week ago and it looks like work hasn't started yet.

However, they did file for their sign permit and the modifications shouldn't take long to complete once they get rolling.

Went by there about a week ago and it looks like work hasn't started yet.

However, they did file for their sign permit and the modifications shouldn't take long to complete once they get rolling.

Noticed today the inside was completely gutted and construction has begun.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/velvettaco022623a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/velvettaco022623b.jpg

I was buy the N Penn location yesterday and the signage is up.

This should open here in the next couple of weeks. They converted roughly 1/4th of the front into an outdoor patio.

The Velvet Taco in Norman is listed for sub-lease?
So I assume they are closing?

https://shopcompanies.com/sites/default/files/1440%20W%20Lindsey%20St%20%20-%20Flyer.pdf?v=1681932538

What does this mean for the Memorial & Penn location that is close to opening?

The Velvet Taco in Norman is listed for sub-lease?
So I assume they are closing?

https://shopcompanies.com/sites/default/files/1440%20W%20Lindsey%20St%20%20-%20Flyer.pdf?v=1681932538

What does this mean for the Memorial & Penn location that is close to opening?

Very strange.

Still listed on the VT website with active online ordering.

That’s a damn shame. Really good tacos. Every time I’ve gone and they seemed fairly busy as well.

the Velvet Taco underground !

They updated their Facebook cover page (the Norman location) 3 hours ago.

May be best to not call them dead before the heart stops.

Yeah, something strange going on here.

It's hard to imagine them closing, especially since they are getting ready to open a new area location (at Memorial & Penn) very soon.

Lights are on

Velvet Taco on Penn and Memorial is officially open.

OKC's first Velvet Taco has opened at 13600 N. Penn just south of Memorial. The company had previously opened its first location in the state on Lindsey Street in Norman.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/velvettaco050223a.jpg


There is a large covered patio as well as a wide variety of tacos, margaritas, and beer.

They open every day at 11 AM and close at 11 PM; midnight on Thursday and 2 AM Friday & Saturday.



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Schedules lined up perfectly and we are going to try this for lunch today. The menu has me excited. Seems like a lot of good variety.

ETA:

We thought it was good! We got the Korean Rice and Sweet Chili Shrimp tacos, along with the Brisket Nachos.

18012

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^^ Those look fabulous!

My favorite is the spicy Tikka! Love this place!

^^ Those look fabulous!

My favorite is the spicy Tikka! Love this place!

The spicy Tikka is definately on the short list to try.