Opening dates for Velvet Taco These wings, burgers for delivery only

The Dallas-based taco juggernaut Velvet Taco is coming to San Antonio in a big way, with the first location in a brand-new building near The Rim and a second in the renovated bones of the punk-rock icon Tacoland near the Pearl.

Velvet Taco CEO Clay Dover confirmed plans to open near

The Rim on Feb. 22, followed March 22 by the location on Grayson Street.

Known for globally inspired rogue tacos with spicy chicken tikka, Korean pork and crunchy falafel scattered among more traditional options, Velvet Taco hardly fits into the San Antonio mom-and-pop model.

Dover said Velvet Taco — with more than 20 locations across Dallas, Austin, Houston, Fort Worth, Atlanta, Chicago and Charlotte — has been eager to land in San Antonio for a couple of years and already he sees potential to expand in the city.

With the Loop 1604 and Pearlarea locations, Dover said, he sees a “tale of two different sites” for the Velvet Taco stable, which includes a renovated former gas station in Richardson.

The Pearl-area site on the River Walk most recently housed Viva Tacoland, which closed in May 2019. Construction has added kitchen and dining spaces while preserving many of the original murals, as well as the sprawling landmark oak tree out front.

Along with its global specialties, Velvet Taco’s menu includes favorites like slow-roasted brisket, buffalo chicken and green chile pork, and novel approaches like Nashville hot tofu, fish and chips, shrimp and grits, and a chicken taco with a thin, crepe-style waffle wrap. Sides include red curry coconut queso, Mexican street corn, maxed-out tater tots and barbacoa beef nachos.

Both San Antonio locations will feature frozen margaritas, beer and wine.

Velvet Taco, 5515 N. Loop 1604 W., Suite 105; 101 W. Grayson St., velvettaco.com. Hours for both: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Both will offer dine-in, curbside pickup and delivery options.

One of San Antonio’s newest dining options isn’t a restaurant at all. Ghost Kitchens SA

launched Jan. 6 as a “virtual restaurant.”

The term “ghost kitchen” refers to a food business that cooks and delivers meals without having a physical restaurant space for diners to sit or pick up orders.

Ghost Kitchens SA will prepare food under four established national ghost kitchen brands — Outlaw Burger, Mother Clucker, Firebelly Wings and HotBox by Wiz — with delivery provided through the Uber Eats and DoorDash apps.

Outlaw Burger is known for half-pound burgers loaded with toppings. Mother Clucker serves a range of fried chicken sandwiches, while Firebelly Wings specializes in chicken wings. HotBox by Wiz, launched by rapper Wiz Khalifa, sells stoner-friendly munchies, such as squares of mac and cheese coated in crushed Hot Cheetos, chicken sandwiches and rice bowls.

Chef Adrian Cruz, who moved to San Antonio last year, will lead the project in partnership with established San Antonio chefs Stephen Paprocki and Iverson Brownell.

To order, go to the Uber Eats or Doordash app and search for Outlaw Burger, Mother Clucker, Firebelly Wings or HotBox by Wiz.