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Pollo Tropical Takes Over Former Taco Cabana Spot on South Lamar

From one fast food chain to another.

Pollo Tropical takes over Taco Cabana
Pollo Tropical takes over Taco Cabana
Nadia Chaudhury is the editor of Eater Austin covering food and pop culture, as well as a photographer, writer, and frequent panel moderator and podcast guest.

The long-shuttered Taco Cabana on South Lamar will now become Pollo Tropical, the taco chain’s sister group, as noted by Community Impact. The Miami-based chain is known for Caribbean-inspired fare like grilled chicken, guava barbecue ribs, and fried yuca.

This will be the first Austin location for the fast food chicken restaurant. The current building will be partially demolished for the new spot, and there will be bright signage. It will open sometime in 2016.

The Taco Cabana closed down on 211 South Lamar in 2013, followed by the popular Paggi House in 2014. Both were supposed to make way for a luxury apartment, but those plans seem to have fallen through, according to permitting. The Paggi House site will instead become an office building.

Both Taco Cabana and Pollo Tropical are owned by Fiesta Restaurant Group. Pollo has several locations in the Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio areas. There are about 20 Taco Cabanas in Austin right now.

Pollo Tropical

211 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704, USA