Our Austin

Cuantos Tacos Has Planned a Brick-and-Mortar Location

The popular taco spot will expand from its East Austin food truck to a new 1,800-square-foot space in north Austin.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Mexican Food

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a metal prep counter with a bowl of cilantro and corn tortillas, representing a restaurant expansion.
Cuantos Tacos, the award-winning Austin food truck, is expanding with a new 1,800-square-foot brick-and-mortar restaurant on Justin Lane. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Fans of the award-winning food truck Cuantos Tacos can look forward to a new brick-and-mortar restaurant. Founder Luis Robledo has submitted construction plans for an 1,800-square-foot space at 808 Justin Lane.

Why it matters

The transition represents a major milestone for the business, which has operated in East Austin since 2019 and earned both Michelin and Yelp recognition in 2024. The move marks a significant shift for the popular destination as it prepares to establish a permanent north Austin home.

The new site covers 1,800 square feet, a significant expansion from the current East Austin food truck operations. Construction on the north Austin location is currently underway.

The players

Cuantos Tacos

An award-winning taco business founded in 2019 that currently operates as a food truck in East Austin.

Luis Robledo

The founder and owner of the acclaimed taco business Cuantos Tacos.

The details

After signing a lease for the space at 808 Justin Lane in May 2026, the business submitted plans for renovations to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Work on the site began on January 1, 2026, as the owner looks to scale the operations that earned the shop best taco spot honors in Texas. The project remains on track for completion by March 31, 2027.

Timeline

  1. 2019: Luis Robledo founded Cuantos Tacos.

  2. 2024: The business was awarded Yelp best taco spot and a Michelin Bib Gourmand.

  3. January 1, 2026: Construction began on the new restaurant.

  4. May 2026: The owner announced the signing of the new lease.

  5. March 31, 2027: Expected construction completion date.

The Texas Context

This move follows the 2024 Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition for Austin restaurants, highlighting the city's growing national culinary profile. The expansion reflects a broader trend of successful local food trucks transitioning to permanent, larger-scale brick-and-mortar operations.

North Austin diners can expect a new dining option once construction wraps up in early 2027. Fans of the original truck can continue to visit the 12th Street location while work proceeds on the new space.

The takeaway

Keep an eye on the 808 Justin Lane location as construction progresses over the coming months. The restaurant is currently scheduled to finish its renovations by March 31, 2027.

Further reading

You can find more coverage of the city's evolving dining scene on our Mexican Food page.

Source note: This article includes information reported by MySA.

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Do you trust that a local restaurant expansion will maintain the quality of the original food?