Tacos Toreados, a family-run taqueria on Broadway in Pearland, says its time on FM 518 is almost up. The restaurant announced this week that it will close its storefront on Aug. 16, telling customers it has been “forced” out by a Texas Department of Transportation plan to widen the busy corridor. The family says the catering side of the business will keep rolling and that they hope to reopen somewhere else in Pearland once they can lock down a new spot. Regulars, meanwhile, are already plotting their final taco runs before the last day of service.
TxDOT's plan and timeline
State plans call for FM 518 to grow from four to six travel lanes between State Highway 288 and the Halbert/SH 35 area, with new sidewalks and drainage upgrades folded into the work. As reported by KTRK‑TV, the project is split into two phases, with the first stretch slated to kick off in late 2027 and the second near the end of 2028. TxDOT estimates each phase could take three to four years to finish, and KTRK notes a combined price tag of roughly $187 million for the pair of projects.
Right‑of‑way, relocations and local land sales
TxDOT's project materials say the widening could require about 25 acres of additional right‑of‑way and that both homes and businesses are expected to be displaced, with relocation assistance available for those affected. Those details are laid out in the agency's public‑hearing documents for the FM 518 overhaul. Local officials are already making room: Community Impact reported that Pearland ISD agreed to sell a parcel near Sam Jamison Middle School to TxDOT to help accommodate the expansion.
Tacos Toreados' announcement
In its social‑media post, Tacos Toreados thanked its customers and told them, “We want to express our deepest gratitude” for their support over the years. The Houston Chronicle reported that the family plans to shutter the storefront on Aug. 16 but keep the catering business going while they hunt for a new brick‑and‑mortar location. The Chronicle lists the Pearland address as 5627 Broadway St.
Pearland's changing corridor
Broadway/FM 518 has been a prime target for city planners and the local economic‑development office, which has leaned on a Broadway‑FM 518 corridor plan that lines up with TxDOT's reconstruction and future redevelopment hopes. The Pearland EDC pitches the overhaul as part of a broader push to keep up with growth along a packed commuter route, and KTRK has reported that segments of the corridor already carry tens of thousands of vehicles a day. For storefronts squeezed by right‑of‑way needs and utility moves, the tradeoff between easing regional traffic and disrupting local businesses is getting very real.
Tacos Toreados' Aug. 16 finale gives fans a short window to grab one last order at the Broadway location, and the family says it hopes to make a comeback in Pearland once a suitable space opens up. For more on the closure and the FM 518 project, see reporting from the Houston Chronicle and the TxDOT project materials linked above.
