Taco Republic opened in Richardson from Cafe San Miguel founder

Tacos are "American classics" -- breakfast tacos coming soon.

RICHARDSON — Taco Republic is an intriguing new spin on gringo tacos opened in Richardson -- in the old La Paloma space off 75 and Spring Valley -- from Ron Guest, co-founder of the pioneering Mexican restaurant Cafe San Miguel on Henderson, which closed last year.

Guest, who'd sold Cafe San Miguel to his former partner a few years ago, always wanted to do tacos, but didn't have the right circumstance.

"I recognized three years ago that tacos were going to be popular, but the economy got shaky, and I was never able to get anything going," he says.

Taco Republic has a memorable conceit: American classics inside a taco.

"We have a catfish basket taco, a 'smokehouse' taco with smoky brisket, and chipotle barbecue sauce topped with fried onion strings," he says. "All the tacos are whimsical or recognizable as coming our favorite places to eat."

The El Greco is basically a gyro in a flour tortilla, and there's a nod to the French steak frite that has rib eye with blue cheese crema. Vegetarians, worry not:

"We have two vegetarian tacos -- one is a spin-off of the steak frite with grilled portabella and shoestring French fries. The other has fried zucchini and roasted corn with red bell pepper and cilantro cream. Those are in our top-five selling tacos."

In the next few weeks, he'll introduce breakfast tacos.

"Where I grew up in South Texas, breakfast tacos were normal -- we could go everywhere and get breakfast tacos," he says. "I'm just working on the menu."

And speaking of hot, he's thinking about expanding into another emerging category: doughnuts. "I can't afford the equipment but we'll start with a great cinnamon roll," he said.

damn yankee, anonymous:

They say it's a republic, but how often do they hold elections? It's a totalitarian taco monarchy, I tells you!