One of Dallas’ most treasured taquerias has found a new home in Oak Cliff.
Trompo will make its triumphant return to the neighborhood, moving into the property at 337 W. Jefferson Blvd.
To celebrate, owner Luis Olvera is hosting a pop-up at 626. W. Davis St on Thursday, August 25.
Olvera has had his fair share of ups and downs over the years, with landlords promising him “turnkey” sites that were anything but and making him responsible for water bills that he said he should not have had to pay.
“I deserve some credit for my own ignorance and bliss,” Olvera told CultureMap Dallas. “I came into this thinking it was all rainbows and butterflies; I think I lasted only by sheer will. But eventually, I decided to do a re-set and try to make decisions in a different way.”
Olvera hopes the new location pays off. Moving out of a ghost kitchen and into the new spot in Oak Cliff, he is excited to serve up longtime favorites like his tacos, quesadillas, and in-house-made corn tortillas.
His cuisine has received numerous accolades. Trompo was ranked among the top 50 best new restaurants in the United States by Bon Appetit magazine in 2016. It was the only restaurant from Dallas that made the list that year.
In 2018, PBS included Trompo as one of three taquerias featured in its documentary series Tacos of Texas, based on a book of the same name.
Olvera, at one time, managed two locations simultaneously: one in the Bishop Arts District and another on Gaston Ave.
Like many restaurants, both businesses were shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As reported by The Dallas Express, the former Bishop Arts location served its last taco in December. The Gaston spot closed this May.
Olvera had to resort to using a ghost kitchen to rebuild his business.
“I’m grateful to have found this spot, and I feel like it’s going to be a great fit,” Olvera said about his new Oak Cliff location.
Longtime fans might be surprised to find that the new location will, for the first time, serve alcohol in addition to Olvera’s signature offerings.
The new location is slated to open in October, but until then, Olvera is celebrating his new restaurant’s home with “Trompo Homecoming” this week.
“I’ve been on a journey; I hope it ends here,” he stated.