Authentic Inspiration
Our name comes from our founder, Rusty Fenton, who along with his wife Denise and partner Steve Dunn opened the first Rusty Taco location in Dallas, TX in 2010. But the story starts well before that time...
Rusty loved to eat, and he loved to travel – and one love often led to the other. That was the case on the day he and his wife, Denise, were coming in from a day of fishing in Acapulco, Mexico. Rusty spotted two women selling tacos on the street. From the first bite of that fish ceviche taco, he was hooked.
Nothing Fancy. Just Real Flavor.
Frequent visits to a local gas station and eating tacos in the back of the family Suburban were common in the Fenton household. Rusty’s family and friends had long known about his dream – to open up a simple neighborhood taco stand. Nothing fancy. Just real flavor. Cheap, too. He wanted to keep it affordable so everyone could enjoy it. And the place had to be friendly, of course. Somewhere everyone wanted to hang out. Throw in a great margarita to wash it down and it was pretty much perfect.
Finding the Perfect Spot
Fast-forward a few years. Rusty, Denise and their daughters were living in a little house in Dallas, near the intersection of University and Greenville Avenue. They spotted a building in their neighborhood – it wasn’t much to look at, but they liked the bones of it. “Wouldn’t that make a cool restaurant?” he’d say. It took years of driving by and dreaming, but that converted gas station would be the very first Rusty Taco.
Today's Rusty Taco
Rusty’s commitment to making everything fresh and by hand inspires us daily, but his “little taco stand” is more than just a place to eat and drink. He always wanted it to be a place where everyone would feel welcome. That’s why we make it all with love – from our warm chips to our ice-cold margaritas – so no matter who you are, if you’re hungry, you’re in the right place.