clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Austin Winners of Taco, Lamb, and Pork Cooking Competitions Include Torchy’s Tacos

Plus a new mixed use development with restaurant is slated for South Lamar, and more news

Tacos from Torchy’s Tacos
Tacos from Torchy’s Tacos
Torchy’s Tacos/Facebook

Cochon 555 Austin Winner
The winner of the Austin chapter of Cochon 555, the pig-focused cooking competition, was chef Gabe Erales of the forthcoming modern Mexican restaurant Comedor. His dish included pig liver mousse and churros, pig bone panna cotta, Yucatan tacos, and more.

Lamb Jam Winner
Also this weekend was the Austin edition of the Lamb Jam, where restaurants and chefs cook lamb. The best in show was Black Barbecue’s smoked lamb with a masa cake and Mexican coke mole; best Middle Eastern went to District Kitchen/Oasthouse chef Amir Hajimaleki’s Persian-braised lamb shank; best Asian went to San Antonio restaurant Cured’s Vietnamese sugar cane lamb (as well as the People’s Choice winner in general); and best Mediterranean was Juliet’s gnocchi with braised lamb neck ragu.

Taco Winner
The winner of the National Taco Championships, a national competition held in Austin this past weekend, was Torchy’s Tacos. Other competitors included Be More Pacific and Eldorado Cafe.

Mixed-Use Development on South Lamar
A new development proposed for that former Taco Cabana/Pollo Tropical on South Lamar Boulevard and West Riverside Drive is a (what else?) mixed-use one with space for a restaurant as well as a hotel, condominiums, and shops. The project would keep the old Paggi House restaurant building, with restorations.

This article has been updated to correctly reflect the winners of the Lamb Jam.

Taco Cabana

3905 Kirby Drive, , TX 77098 (713) 528-6933 Visit Website

Torchy's Tacos

1822 South Congress Avenue, , TX 78704 (512) 916-9025 Visit Website

Comedor

1289 South Coast Highway, , CA 92651 (949) 497-2446 Visit Website

Pollo Tropical

211 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Oasthouse Kitchen + Bar

5701 West Slaughter Lane, , TX 78749 (512) 284-7600 Visit Website

Sign up for the newsletter Sign up for the Eater Austin newsletter

The freshest news from the local food world