Cartel Taco Bar, one of my favorite spots in Arlington for tacos, has unexpectedly closed after seven years. They opened in 2018 as part of Downtown Arlington’s Urban Union district, an area featuring dining and entertainment options that continues to grow and evolve.

The Cartel Taco Bar (2018-2025)

My personal favorite was their breakfast tacos. I ordered mine with the “3Cs”—corn tortillas, chorizo, and cheese. Each taco was served open-faced and bursting with scrambled eggs, grilled onions and peppers, diced potatoes, and avocado. The chips and salsa were outstanding, almost worthy of a meal themselves; the chips were always fresh, crunchy, and dusted with a flavorful seasoning, while the salsa was spicy and addicting. I also loved their street corn—spicy, savory, and so bueno.

Chorizo and Egg taco, chips and salsa, and a Modelo beer at Cartel Taco Bar (Jan 2024)

In all my visits, I only ever had the breakfast tacos; however, their menu offered a variety of other tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and nachos. Known for their margaritas and tequila-based cocktails, they also offered a decent draft beer selection. I liked the restaurant’s rustic, minimalist decor and the large windows that filled the space with natural light.

Although seemingly a popular spot, they cited the usual financial assassins—high expenses, declining sales, and lower profitability—as the reasons for closing. They will be missed. My last visit was about a month before they closed.

Cartel’s Facebook post sharing the news (December 2025)

Cartel’s brick-and-mortar location discontinued food service on December 14, though they planned to keep the bar area open for one final week. Fortunately, they still have their food truck and plan to continue those operations.

This year has been exceptionally tough on local businesses, with three of my favorites—Cartel Taco Bar, Campo Verde, and On Tap—all closing around the same time. Go out and support your local places, especially your favorites, while you still can. You never know when they might close for good.

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Blog post by Jason S. Sullivan, 12-17-25