Tu Taco has opened on North Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach SC

Heriberto “Eddie” Vizcarra is from San Diego, and he has wanted to bring a taste of the food he enjoyed growing up to the Grand Strand.

So after more than 11 years as the general manager of Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse, Vizcarra has opened Tu Taco in Myrtle Beach.

The restaurant in a strip mall behind Olive Garden off 13th Ave. North and Kings Highway features street-style Mexican food such as tacos and burritos.

“I wanted to be able to offer something that is a little bit of my culture,” Vizcarra said. “In San Diego we have a lot of taco shops and I wanted to open one and let everyone taste the food from the West Coast. It has a whole different flavor and look to the food.”

Vizcarra said he used to frequent taco shops nearly daily growing up, and they were known for fish and shrimp tacos and the California burrito that features steak, rice, beans, french fries, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream and cheese. It sells for $9.50 at Tu Taco.

The food is cooked to order and Vizcarra wants to produce orders in a matter of minutes so customers can have a fresh and quick meal. The entire menu is listed above the front counter.

“I know it’s important when people go out for lunch, when you only have 30 or 40 minutes to go eat for lunch you don’t want to wait for a menu,” Vizcarra said. “You want to eat and go so you can continue your day.”

The restaurant offers corn tortilla tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas, tostadas, nachos, carne asada fries, and deserts including churros (a form of fried dough with sugar and cinnamon), mangonadas (mango and tamarind slushy) and esquites (street corn, cheese, mayonnaise, chile and lemon in a cup). Prices start at $2 for several versions of tacos.

Birria tacos are slow-cooked brisket served au jus, roll tacos consist of shredded brisket rolled in a tortilla and deep fried, then topped with lettuce, diced tomato, mixed cheese and crema. An order of four is $6.95.

Tortas are made with locally-made bread that is cut in half, toasted on the grill and topped with a choice of meat, refried beans, cilantro, onions, mayo, and avocado or guacamole. “Our tortas here are really special, and the reason I say that is because of the bread,” Vizcarra said.

Tortas and taco options include al pastor (shreaded slow-cooked pork tenderloin cooked with diced pineapple) and chorizo (sausage), and tortas options include ham, and milanesa de res and milanesa de pollo (breaded and fried beef or chicken).

Drinks include a variety of flavored waters that change daily and include hibiscus, pineapple, mango and watermelon.

Tu Taco — translated to Your Taco — is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, and is closed Mondays to give staff a break. It seats about 40 patrons.

“All the locals are really supporting us and that was really important for me, to be able to show the locals what we have,” Vizcarra said. “I believe they’re the ones who support you throughout the year.”

This story was originally published November 1, 2021 3:18 PM.