El Trompo Loco, the Houston taqueria known for Monterrey-style trompo pork and loaded baked potatoes, is getting ready to fire up a fourth brick-and-mortar location this spring in the Airline Drive shopping center. The new spot is set to take over Suite Y at 7418 Airline Drive, with the Solis family eyeing a mid-spring debut and owner estimates landing somewhere in April or late May. It is the latest step in the Solis family’s journey from food truck operation to a growing lineup of storefronts.
Permit filing sets schedule and price tag
According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the project registered as TABS2026011589 calls for tenant improvements to convert roughly 2,993 square feet at 7418 Airline Dr Suite Y into a restaurant. The record shows construction slated to begin March 31 and wrap up by June 30, 2026, with an estimated project cost of about $80,000. The filing lists the work type as renovation or alteration and names Iliana Solis as the tenant contact.
Owner says menu will stay familiar
In an interview with What Now Houston, owner Iliana Solis, the fourth sibling to join the business, said she previously worked as a nurse and ran an El Trompo Loco food truck in the same shopping center. She told the outlet the new restaurant is intended to mirror the chain’s signature lineup and again projected an opening "in April or late May." Solis described the operation as firmly family run, noting that "we all have the same menu with a few exceptions at each location."
A familiar path for Houston vendors
El Trompo Loco’s expansion from truck to permanent shop fits a well-worn Houston script in which vendors turn pop-ups and mobile setups into full-service restaurants once they have built a loyal following. Eater Houston has tracked similar moves across the city in recent years as operators look for steadier revenue and a consistent service footprint.
What they will serve and what to expect
The new Airline Drive outpost is expected to bring back El Trompo Loco’s core crowd-pleasers, including trompo pork carved in an al pastor style, Mexican-style hamburgers and those loaded baked potatoes the brand highlights on its site. The chain already lists multiple Houston locations and a full taco and trompo menu online, which suggests the new shop will stick closely to the existing format with grab-and-go options alongside sit-down service. El Trompo Loco's website carries menus and addresses for its current locations.
