Fire destroys beloved Luling Mr. Taco restaurant

For the second time in just three months, the staff and customers of Mr. Taco are mourning another “unimaginable loss” after a Tuesday, Aug. 22, afternoon fire destroyed the flagship Luling restaurant that had been a pillar of the business communities of Caldwell and Gonzales counties for nearly 45 years.

Personnel from Luling Volunteer Fire Department, Ottine Volunteer Fire Department, Mid-County Fire/Rescue, Seguin Fire Department, City of Luling and Caldwell County Emergency Management responded to the blaze, which was reported sometime after 3 p.m. It was not immediately known what caused the fire, which leveled the building at 1132 E. Pierce St. that had housed the beloved Mexican restaurant owned since 1979 by the Magallenez family, who also have restaurants in Gonzales and Lockhart.

That family was still reeling from the passing of their patriarch, the restaurant’s founder — the original “Mr. Taco,” Bonifacio Magallanez Jr. — at the age of 78 on May 25. Now, what should have been a happy time with the restaurant running specials to celebrate teachers and the start of the school year has turned into another heartbreak.

“Mr. Taco would like to thank every single person that has reached out to us after we suffered another unimaginable loss today in the form of a fire that ran throughout the entire restaurant,” the family said in a statement on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

“While the damage to the location can be seen across social media, the images fail to compare to the pain we feel as a restaurant family. During this time of unexpected tragedy, please keep our owners, managers, wonderful staff and customers in your thoughts and prayers as this was a means of livelihood for so many and a staple in the Luling community since 1979.”

The restaurant owners extended their appreciation to the first responders who came to fight the fire, noting their “diligence to protect our community cannot be more appreciated. 

“We are deeply thankful for the outpouring of support and concern for our restaurant and would continue to ask for prayers for healing for our entire Mr. Taco family,” the statement continued. “We love you, we are thankful for you and we look forward to serving you again in the future.”

Support for the restaurant could be seen all over social media Tuesday and Wednesday as the Luling Area Chamber of Commerce, Luling Main Street and even other restaurants like Rails & Ales Taphouse and businesses like Easterling Exteriors voiced their love and prayers for the Magallenez family and their employees.