Keys to the Door: Co-owners Markus Pineyro and John E. Tuma.
Atypical Taqueria: When Urban Taco first opened its doors at Mockingbird Station three years ago, it was love. (And we weren’t alone.) Now, there’s a new UT in town as owners Markus Pineyro and John Tuma bring their latest taco eatery to McKinney Avenue’s Uptown scene. The new locale is far from your everyday taqueria, with a more-evolved menu evoking Pineyro’s obsession with the gourmet street food of Acapulco and Mexico City, his hometown. Offerings include the tasty faves from the original locale, plus the incarnation of several spicy new plates, including a three-chili-crusted Ahi tuna and a habañero-maple-glazed flat iron steak. Inside the stuccoed hacienda, traditional Mexican decor takes on a contemporary vibe, with tables made of recycled coconut husks, orange Ultrasuede chairs and a swank chef’s table specially set for a tequila tasting. In fact, said beloved liquor is kept on tap, making for an endless supply of tequilas infused with seasonal fruits. But the biggest buzz among Uptown’s alfresco-loving audience involves the street-side patio and garden — all the better for being seen sipping those sweet tequila cocktails. 3411 McKinney Ave., 214.922.7080; urban-taco.com.
Image: Dos Equis Amber barbacoa tacos at Urban Taco. Photo by Devin McNallough.