Taco Rico

Taco Rico sits at the edge of Early’s main drag, looking humble from the outside but pulsing with the warmth of a true neighborhood kitchen. Inside, it’s all about genuine hospitality—regulars are greeted by name and newcomers quickly become part of the fold. The aroma hits first: hand-pressed flour tortillas griddled to order, menudo bubbling on weekend mornings, tamales unwrapped like little gifts. This isn’t Tex-Mex flash or chain-restaurant comfort; it’s the kind of food that feels rooted in family tradition, heavy on nostalgia and light on pretense. Local families linger over breakfast tacos before work, while travelers passing through detour off Highway 377 for a taste that feels like home. Taco Rico bridges generations in Early, holding tight to culinary traditions from across the border while anchoring itself firmly in small-town Texas life. What makes it unique isn’t just the food—though the tamales and tortillas are standouts—but the sense that every meal is cooked with care for friends, not customers.