Photos by Nick RamaFood & Drink
Eat Local: Taco Santos brings Tijuana-style street food to Spring
Tacos Santos in Spring, Texas, was started by husband and wife David Gonzalez and Valentina Reyes. The couple said they had one simple goal: to bring the authentic flavors and culture of Tijuana-style street food to Spring, while creating a place where people feel welcomed like family.”
David and Valentina moved to Houston in 2018 and spent years searching for authentic Tijuana-style tacos similar to the ones they grew up enjoying. While they did find great food, they always felt there was room for a place that captured the full experience, flavors, and culture of home.
Over the next several years, they developed the concept, refined recipes, and built the vision that would eventually become Tacos Santos. Finally, in May 2025, they officially opened their doors in Spring, Texas.
THE NAME
The name Santos has always been associated with their family and the traditions passed down from generation to generation. When David and Valentina were searching for a name for the restaurant, they thought about the people who inspired their love for food, hospitality, and hard work.
David: “We wanted a name that reflected our roots and the family heritage that has stayed with us throughout the years. Many of the traditions we experienced growing up, the flavors we remember, and the way we understand hospitality were born within our family. It was our loved ones who taught us that a great meal has the power to bring people together around the same table.”
Valentina: “That’s why we chose Santos. To us, it represents our history, our traditions, and our desire to honor the family legacy that inspired us to create this project while building something for future generations. Tacos Santos is our way of sharing with the community the flavors, values, and traditions that have been part of our family for generations, one taco at a time.”
THE VIBE
Fast Casual neighborhood taqueria mimicking those in Tijuana to Texas.
Specializing in authentic Tijuana-style street food inspired by the culinary culture of Baja California. Tijuana-style tacos are known for high-quality meats, fresh ingredients, authentic flavors, and simple combinations that allow every ingredient to shine.
From the moment guests walk through their doors, David and Valentina want them to feel like they’re stepping into a neighborhood taqueria in Tijuana while still feeling completely at home in Texas.
THE INSPIRATION
The menu is inspired by the flavors, dishes, and traditions that the couple grew up with.
David: “We wanted to bring authentic Tijuana-style food to Texas while honoring the recipes, techniques, and family traditions that sparked our love for cooking.”
Many of David and Valentina’s favorite memories revolved around family gatherings where food was at the center of everything, and they wanted to recreate that experience for their guests.
LEARNING TO COOK AUTHENTIC TIJUANA FOOD
David: “Growing up in Las Vegas, we both worked at and spent a lot of time at Tacos El Gordo, which was always our favorite place to enjoy adobada tacos. In addition to those experiences, family trips to San Diego and Tijuana allowed us to experience iconic taquerias such as Tacos El Gordo, Tacos El Franc, and Taco Nazo firsthand.”
“We also admire concepts like Los Tacos No. 1 in New York, which helped introduce Tijuana-style tacos to new audiences and proved that authentic flavors can connect with people from all backgrounds.”
“However, our goal has always been to create an authentic experience rooted in our own memories, family traditions, and love for the culinary culture of Baja California. Over the years, all of those influences became the inspiration behind Tacos Santos and our desire to share that experience with the Texas community.”
THE GOODS
Taco Santos serves all types of proteins: carne asada, adobada, birria, chicken, carnitas, and chorizo. The proteins can be made into Tacos, Mulitas, Tortas, Vampiros, or Burritos. Birria is the new menu item that can be had as Quesabirria, Quesadillas, or the limited-edition Birria Fries. Sides, like guacamole & chips, fries and chips, and salsa are available, along with Aguas Frescas to drink and Churros for Dessert.
What makes everything here special is the focus on authentic preparation, quality ingredients, and bold flavors. David believes great tacos start with great meat, and they never cut corners when it comes to quality.
In case you are not familiar with Mulitas or Vampiros, Mulitas are one of Tijuana’s most popular street foods and are very similar to gorditas. They are made with two tortillas, melted cheese, cilantro, onions, avocado, and your choice of meat.
Vampiros are crispy grilled tortillas with a cheese crust, topped with cilantro, onions, avocado, and your choice of meat, creating the perfect combination of texture and flavor.
THE OWNERS / CHEF’S FAVORITE MEAL
David:
- Appetizer: Carne Asada Fries
- Main Course: Two Carne Asada Tacos and Two Adobada Tacos
- Drink: It’s hard to choose because both the Horchata and Lemonade are excellent.
- Dessert: Churros
Valentina:
- Appetizer: One Carne Asada Mulita
- Main Course: Quesabirria Plate
- Drink: Jamaica
- Dessert: Churros
WHAT THE LOCALS ARE ORDERING
Tacos:
Carne Asada Taco (Our #1 Best Seller) – Authentic Tijuana-style street taco served on a fresh handmade tortilla and filled with our signature grilled Carne Asada. Topped with fresh cilantro, onions, guacamole, and our mild house tomato salsa, which enhances the flavor of the meat without adding heat. For those who enjoy spice, our house-made red and green salsas are served on the side so guests can customize every bite.
Adobada Taco (Our Rising Star)
Our Tijuana-style marinated pork is quickly becoming a customer favorite and is currently our second most popular protein. We recently introduced our Adobada Mini Tacos, served on double tortillas with onions, cilantro, and salsa for just $1.50 each every Tuesday during Taco Tuesday.
Mulitas:
Carne Asada Mulita (One of Our Customers’ Favorites)Two handmade tortillas layered with melted cheese and filled with our signature Carne Asada. Finished with onions, cilantro, guacamole, and salsa. One of our guests’ favorite items and a great introduction to Tijuana-style street food.
Torta:
Carne Asada Torta (A Fan Favorite for Sandwich Lovers) – A traditional Mexican sandwich made with fresh bread, loaded with our signature Carne Asada, avocado, onions, and melted cheese on both sides of the bread. Hearty, flavorful, and one of our most frequently ordered items.
Vampiros:
Carne Asada Vampiro (A Must-Try Tijuana Classic) – A crispy, hard-grilled tortilla topped with melted cheese and our signature Carne Asada, then finished with onions, cilantro, guacamole, and salsa. The crunchy texture is what makes a Vampiro unique and one of the most authentic Tijuana-style specialties on our menu.
Burritos:
Carne Asada Burrito (One of Our Top Sellers) – A large flour tortilla filled with Carne Asada, beans, melted cheese, guacamole, onions, cilantro, and salsa. A simple and authentic Baja California-style burrito and one of our most popular entrées.
Quesabirria:
Quesabirria (The Crown Jewel of Our Menu & a Customer Favorite) – Crispy grilled tortillas filled with melted cheese and slow-cooked birria beef, served with our rich consommé for dipping. Finished with fresh onions and cilantro to add brightness and freshness to every bite. An easy favorite among first-time and returning guests alike.
Quesadillas:
Carne Asada Quesadilla (Simple, Classic, Delicious) – A large tortilla filled with melted cheese and our signature Carne Asada, topped with fresh onions and cilantro, and served with guacamole on the side.
Kids:
Kids Quesadilla (A Kid-Friendly Favorite) – A simple and kid-friendly quesadilla made with melted cheese and your choice of protein.
Sides:
Our most popular sides include fresh guacamole, chips, and our house-made red and green salsas.
Aguas Frescas:
Horchata (Our Best-Selling Drink) – Made with rice, cinnamon, and vanilla, Horchata is our best-selling agua fresca and a customer favorite.
Other offerings:
Fresh Lime (Limonada), Jamaica (Hibiscus), and the ever-popular Carne Asada Fries.
Dessert:
Churros (The Sweet Finish) – Warm churros coated in cinnamon sugar and served fresh.
COMMUNITY
David: “Being part of the community means a lot to us. Our goal has always been to create a place where people can gather, enjoy great food, and feel welcome. One of our favorite parts of owning Tacos Santos is getting to know our customers personally. We love celebrating their accomplishments, special occasions, and important milestones. Whether it’s a family meal, a birthday, or simply a weekly visit, we’re grateful to be part of those moments and the relationships we’ve built along the way.”
The community welcomed David and Valentina with open arms from day one, and many of their customers have become friends and regulars. Spring is now their home.
CATERING
At this time, Tacos Santos does not offer traditional catering or on-site cooking services for events. However, they will accommodate large pre-orders for all types of occasions.
Whether it’s a corporate event, office lunch, birthday party, family gathering, community event, or special celebration, they can prepare large quantities of food for pickup with no limit on order size. The team will work closely with customers to ensure everything is ready and prepared on time for their event.
WRAPPING IT ALL UP
None of their successes would be possible without their incredible kitchen team and staff. One can see that hard work, consistency, and passion are the reasons customers keep coming back.
David and Valentina would like to thank all their patrons for every recommendation, review, social media share, and repeat visit that have helped Taco Santos grow. (Valentina) We never take that support for granted, and we are incredibly grateful to every person who has chosen to support our business. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you for trusting us, sharing our posts, recommending us to your friends and family, and allowing us to be part of your special moments. Your support means the world to us and is the reason we continue working every day to provide the best experience possible.”
Follow Taco Santos on social media to stay up to date with the latest promotions, including Taco Tuesday, where they offer chicken and pastor tacos for just $1.99 each. Facebook and Instagram feature special menu launches, limited-edition items, and exciting surprises that the couple will be announcing soon.
THE FUTURE
David: “Our dream is to continue growing and bringing authentic Tijuana-style street food to more communities. We would love to see Tacos Santos in neighborhoods throughout Texas and beyond while maintaining the same quality, authenticity, and family atmosphere that brought us this far. We also love hearing suggestions from our customers. In many ways, they have helped build this story with us, and we’d love to hear where they’d like to see the next Tacos Santos location. Let us know through our social media channels.”
5 WORDS TO DESCRIBE TACO SANTOS:
“Full belly, happy heart, Santos.”
Location, Address and Hours
Location: Taco Santos, 8312 Louetta Rd Suite C, Spring, TX 77379
Hours: Open 7 Days a Week, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Website: Coming Soon!
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576146327565
Instagram: @tacos.santos_
Nick Rama is a food writer, contributor to Hello Woodlands, and shares his restaurant experiences on Nick’s Local Eats at NicksLocalEats.com and on the TX BBQ, Burgers, and Brew Facebook page. Nick enjoys helping small business owners, supporting his community by fundraising for food banks, and plans tasting events with locally owned mom and pop restaurants.
