Looka like Huaco Lounge has decided to close their restaurant according to The Baylor Lariat, effective immediately. They do still have their spot in Union Hall

https://baylorlariat.com/2025/03/06/local-restaurant-huaco-lounge-closes-abruptly/?utm_source=The+Baylor+Lariat&utm_campaign=a07edc4e6f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_09_17_12_55_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-c7f77dacf9-297886656&fbclid=IwY2xjawI4ZOZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHaTAZJc2U6tULKP2Q8ifGygODSONsPTSxLv1ZaV3JriguMCXYdftrak4oQ_aem_r_egVYXyKTAbiQUvizn29Q

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In other food news, Dos Mundos Spud Shack has decided to move to Bellmead next to Bush's. They are closing the Clay location, citing all the construction in the area has really impacted their business. The move is scheduled for March 20th.

Too bad. I've always liked his food. Until 2011 he had Seba's Cocina on Austin Avenue where Sergio's is now located and we were regulars there. (I remember the date because he was going to do dinner at an event for us, but went out of business the month before.) We've been to Huaco Lounge a few times and menu was similar to his old place and we enjoyed it.

Competing in Mexican restaurant space is tough. The old spots (El Con, La Fiesta, Casa Castillo, Leal's, and several others) all have die-hard fans, and some more recent entries have done well (Tagueria #9, Hecho in Waco, and Chuy's for example). For the ones that look to do something a little different it's hard to compete with old-fashioned Tex-Mex at low prices (by today's standards). I wish a few of the restaurants that do stuff a little differently would catch on better. Huaco Lounge is closed, as is Rufi's, which was a hidden gem. I worry about Sergio's (the restaurant on Austin, not his food truck) and Cultura Mia at 12th and Washington. I'm pleased to see that Maria Mezcal seems to be doing well and expanding. I'm a boomer that grew up on Tex-Mex, so I love to go for old-fashioned Tex-Mex, but I really enjoy trying the stuff that some of the newer entries have to offer.

Edmond Bear said:

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Sagrado going in 100 feet away probably killed them.

Just wish they would take Huaco Lounge's food and put it in the Sagrado location.

Huaco Lounge had a lousy environment but great food. Sagrado has a great environment but mid food.

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I liked Huaco Lounge, but I also think Sagrado's food is better than mid. I've had some damn good stuff there.

Robert Wilson said:

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Edmond Bear said:

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Sagrado going in 100 feet away probably killed them.

Just wish they would take Huaco Lounge's food and put it in the Sagrado location.

Huaco Lounge had a lousy environment but great food. Sagrado has a great environment but mid food.

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I liked Huaco Lounge, but I also think Sagrado's food is better than mid. I've had some damn good stuff there.

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That's good to hear because I had high expectations because of the environment and was disappointed.

Just went one time last weekend. Everything we had was dry and the asada had zero flavor.

Maybe they had an off night. Will try it again.

FlyinDubGreenGold said:

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People need to work Cultural Mia on 12th St into their Mexican food rotation. It is #1 on my list.

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One of my favorite places in town. We had our pre-basketball game meal there and it was great again. Even my San Antonio daughter (who can be a little bit snobby about Mexican food) thought it was good. I tried the chile relleno de calabaza last night for the first time. Delicious!

Thanks for the suggestion. Haven't tried it but we will when we come down for WBB hosting NCAA games.

FlyinDubGreenGold said:

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People need to work Cultural Mia on 12th St into their Mexican food rotation. It is #1 on my list.

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I'm a big fan, but the owner got in hot water with the Waco Hispanic community for a video that was posted where he got into an argument with someone and said something about them getting deported or something like that. I don't know how much it hurts the bottom-line in a "fancier" Mexican place to lose that business, but I know margins are already thin in the restaurant business. It would be a shame to lose such a great place and the last time we were in they seemed to be doing ok, hopefully it blows over.

Huaco Lounge was good the time I went but overpriced. You can't make it in Waco charging $16 for a burrito with a bowl of beans. I can go to 10 other places in town and get a fancy meal for that price. Like others have said, Waco is a hard city to make it in when it comes to Mexican food. Too many options out there and you have to find your niche.

Ditto to rec above for Cultura Mia though! Truly a Waco gem that people don't know about. My other fav mexican spots in town are the Ranchito #5 on Waco Drive and Curcero's heading over toward Robinson.

I went to Huaco Lounge and the service was not good. My food was completely wrong, and it was something that I do not like. It took forever for them to get me what I ordered, and it wasn't good. It was cold when it got to me.

I love Cultura Mia.

I'm hearing Don Carlos has also suddenly closed.

Mike E said:

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I'm hearing Don Carlos has also suddenly closed.

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Edmond Bear said:

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Sagrado going in 100 feet away probably killed them.

Just wish they would take Huaco Lounge's food and put it in the Sagrado location.

Huaco Lounge had a lousy environment but great food. Sagrado has a great environment but mid food.

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sagrado food and service was absolutely terrible when I went

trey3216 said:

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ccgutierrez said:

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Huaco Lounge was good the time I went but overpriced. You can't make it in Waco charging $16 for a burrito with a bowl of beans. I can go to 10 other places in town and get a fancy meal for that price. Like others have said, Waco is a hard city to make it in when it comes to Mexican food. Too many options out there and you have to find your niche.

Ditto to rec above for Cultura Mia though! Truly a Waco gem that people don't know about. My other fav mexican spots in town are the Ranchito #5 on Waco Drive and Curcero's heading over toward Robinson.

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The problem in Waco is that too many people think that $16 is a fancy meal in a restaurant setting, or that for $16 you should be able to feed yourself and your 4 year old for dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow.

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i wish I could get a meal for $16 in dfw.