Yucatan Taco Stand and Tequila Bar offers variety of Latin-inspired foods and drinks

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - During the week, families and professionals alike populate its tables. Children come with their parents to broaden their palates; businesspeople partake in a quick lunch of tacos de canasta, or basket tacos. On Friday and Saturday nights, younger patrons fill its patio for the nighttime bar scene. Live music reverberates through the air between the red umbrellas each weekend as local acts take to the patio to perform.

Yucatan Taco Stand and Tequila Bar embraces a diversity of both customers and food. The restaurant’s atmosphere changes based on the day of the week, but it consistently offers a widely varied menu. Yucatan’s menu consists not simply of Yucatan food, nor only of tacos or tequila. Instead, this restaurant delights the palate with a variety of Latin-inspired foods and drinks.

Yucatan first opened its indoor-outdoor location in Waterway Square in September 2011, just in time to celebrate Mexican Independence Day on September 16. Since then, although tacos only comprise a fraction of the menu, the restaurant embraces Mexico’s traditional taco culture and works to bring it to the States.

“People from the States, unless they’ve been to Mexico, don’t understand how entrenched the taco culture is in Mexico,” said the restaurant’s owner, Javier Williams. “If you go out in Mexico, no matter what, you’re going to end up at a taco stand.”

Additionally, tacos de canasta make an easy lunch for workers.

“Monday through Thursday, we’ve got office people coming in for a business lunch,” said Williams. “Our fast, casual concept allows them to order and sit down and have people sit and eat.”

Despite the importance of Mexican taco culture, Yucatan’s menu draws from a myriad of Latin flavors. Recently, the restaurant received a national award for its notoriously large nacho plates.

“We were recognized as one of the best nachos in the country,” said Williams. “If you order nachos, order one—just one—for the whole family.”

Beyond food for the whole family, however, Yucatan also caters to an audience of 21 and older. Yucatan Taco Stand and Tequila Bar lives up to its name by bringing tequila to Waterway Square’s weekend bar scene.

“Tequila is such a popular drink that everyone thinks it’s just a spring break drink,” said Williams. “Actual, real tequila only comes from the region in Guadalajara.”

The restaurant has found itself in the midst of an uprising.

“In recent years, there’s been quite a movement to get tequila to be seen as a nice drink,” said Williams. “One of our main sellers here is a margarita. We use the good tequila. It’s interesting to be part of that new tequila revolution.”

Yucatan Taco Stand and Tequila Bar also prides itself on its relaxed environment, and it’s not just because of the tequila. The accessible service contributes to the restaurant’s easygoing vibe at any time of day.

“I normally come and work here because the atmosphere is relaxed,” said Williams. “I come down and order a tempura fish taco and sometimes a tequila.”

Throughout the year, Yucatan commemorates special occasions with its patrons. Over spring break, some of the more daring customers can take on the enormous nacho plates in a nacho-eating contest. In April, children turn into candy detectives as they search for hidden Easter eggs around Waterway Square. On Cinco de Mayo, a plethora of piñatas face their doom as they fall victim to a piñata-breaking contest.

Despite its two-pronged name, Yucatan Taco Stand and Tequila Bar offers a wide variety of food, drinks and services. Its customer base is just as diverse, varying based on the day of the week. This restaurant is becoming instrumental in bringing a Latin flavor to The Woodlands’ Waterway Square.