Authentic? Close Enough
Ever wondered what a fuzzy taco tastes like? Yvette Herrera walks you through Berry Street’s newest eatery

By Yvette Herrera
Skiff Staff

Authentic? Almost. Good? Yes. Fuzzy’s Taco Shop only opened on Feb. 8, but already TCU students and local neighbors have swarmed to the place at all hours.

The restaurant, located at 2917 W. Berry St. across from the Cellar, opens at 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday and stays open until midnight Monday through Wednesday and until 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Photo by Tim Cox - Skiff Staff Chicken fajitas are just one of the many plates that Fuzzy’s Taco Shop offers.

Students who go out to the local bars near campus no longer have to sit in their cars waiting in the drive-through at Whataburger. They can easily walk to Fuzzy’s and grab a bite to eat. But don’t expect fast service — not because the cooks aren’t doing their jobs as quickly as possible, but because there are so many people waiting for a breakfast burrito, chips and salsa or a soft beef taco.

The big yellow sign that stands in front of the restaurant and the name itself somewhat threw me off at first, but I decided to try it anyway. Four years ago I came to TCU from Mexico, and I’ve tried just about every Mexican restaurant in town — even the taco stands in Northern Fort Worth. I’m tired of Tex-Mex food that comes with sour cream and non-spicy pico de gallo. All I’ve wanted since I came here was authentic Mexican food, and I think I almost found it.

The habanero style tacos are spicy, but I could always use a little more spice, so I added the Fuzzy’s own “butt burnin’ sauce” that was on the table. Needless to say, I refilled my Coke about three times. Pico de gallo is added to the “queso” they serve with tortilla chips, which makes it thick and tasty. Although I’ve never eaten a crispy taco in Mexico, the crispy crispy shrimp taco (habanero style) was delicious. The cheese used in their tacos adds to the Mexican flavoring of the tacos. Usually when I ask for a soft taco, I get a flour tortilla rather than corn, but for once I got a corn tortilla served with my grilled shrimp taco.

Fuzzy’s motto is not exactly appealing, but it works. “If it looks like a taco and it smells like fish, it’s got to be a tasty dish. Eat it!” The aroma of tacos can be smelled from two blocks away.

The restaurant is clean and very modern looking. The bright red and yellow colors contrast with black to make the place look like a trendy diner. Photographs of what appears to be Cabo San Lucas are hanging on the walls, which add to the feeling of being in Mexico.

People don’t seem to remember what was located there before, but they don’t seem to forget to go to Fuzzy’s Taco Shop at least once a week.

Tap beer will add to the number of customers when Fuzzy’s gets its liquor license in two weeks. Although the juke box wasn’t working the last time I visited, students can get the feel of being in a bar even after 2 a.m. on a Saturday night as they listen to disco music or The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The wooden, painted fish hanging on the wall doesn’t bother me, but the deer head hanging behind the cash register has to go. It’s not a steakhouse. It’s a taco shop. And a good taco shop for that matter.

Prices are reasonable. Two people can easily eat for less than $20. Family-style takeout dinners that serve four to five people are only $25.

I know that I will be seeing Fuzzy’s more and more each week, whether it be after going to a local bar or during the day. My only concern about the place is the name — Fuzzy’s Taco?