El Trompo Loco Expands with Fourth Houston Taqueria

Family-run taco chain brings Monterrey-style trompo pork and loaded baked potatoes to new Airline Drive location.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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El Trompo Loco, a popular Houston taqueria known for its Monterrey-style trompo pork and loaded baked potatoes, is set to open its fourth brick-and-mortar location this spring. The new restaurant will take over a 2,993-square-foot space in the Airline Drive shopping center, with an estimated opening in April or May 2026.

Why it matters

El Trompo Loco's expansion from a food truck to a growing chain of storefronts reflects a broader trend in Houston, where successful pop-up and mobile vendors have transitioned to permanent restaurant spaces to meet customer demand and build a steadier revenue stream.

The details

According to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the new El Trompo Loco location will undergo roughly $80,000 in tenant improvements, with construction slated to begin on March 31 and wrap up by June 30, 2026. The restaurant will feature the chain's signature menu items, including trompo pork carved in an al pastor style, Mexican-style hamburgers, and loaded baked potatoes.

  • Construction on the new El Trompo Loco location is scheduled to begin on March 31, 2026.
  • The new restaurant is expected to open in April or May 2026.

The players

El Trompo Loco

A family-run Houston taqueria known for its Monterrey-style trompo pork and loaded baked potatoes.

Iliana Solis

The fourth sibling to join the El Trompo Loco business, who previously worked as a nurse and ran an El Trompo Loco food truck in the same shopping center.

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What they’re saying

“We all have the same menu with a few exceptions at each location.”

— Iliana Solis, Owner, El Trompo Loco (What Now Houston)

What’s next

The new El Trompo Loco location is expected to open in April or May 2026, following the completion of construction and tenant improvements.

The takeaway

El Trompo Loco's expansion from a food truck to a growing chain of brick-and-mortar restaurants in Houston reflects the broader trend of successful pop-up and mobile vendors transitioning to permanent spaces to meet customer demand and build a steadier revenue stream.