The Taco Stand

08/26/2025

Nice little write up in today’s Athens Banner Herald about out beloved little establishment.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16oo8mX93p/?mibextid=wwXIfr

If you could eat Athens history, it would probably taste like Taco Stand. See link below ⬇️ bit.ly/4lJI2Pi

08/21/2025

New T-shirts are in!! Pete the Cat and our classic red shirts! Available in sizes Small thru XXL. $25 each! $5 from each purchase will be donated to the Athens Humane Society (Pete shirts) and (red shirts). Get them while they’re hot!!

04/23/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1APSvv3Cwd/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Opening on Milledge Avenue in 1977, The Taco Stand has been an Athens staple since its inception. It is known by Athenians as a place of community and a melting-pot of all Athens residents, from students to locals.

The Taco Stand still serves all of their original recipes in their original building, and the establishment has been known for providing delicious Mexican cuisine which can satisfy anyone’s craving! You can enjoy a meal here any day from 11:00am-9:00pm.

📸: Jenny Lock via Odyssey Media

01/23/2025

Eastside location is OPEN thanks for your concern!

We are so touched by everyone’s concern over our building being torn down. We are open and serving! Our old location at the end of our strip was torn down and they are doing work on our awning. We hope to continue to operate while work is being done but we apologize for any work trucks blocking our door
I also want to extend a huge thank you to all of our customers for keeping us in business
The regulars who come in twice a week (or twice a day!), the friends or relatives who have to stop by first thing when they get in town, the parent grabbing food for their whole family or the one picking up a special meal just for their kid, the group that meets up without fail every week and end up chatting for hours, you know who you are!
We love you and we are so grateful for you!
We have seen so many restaurant closures that really hurt and we personally know restaurant business is not easy but seeing your beautiful faces every week literally keeps us going
We are so happy to be a part of what keeps Athens so special
Please remember to support local this week, this month and this year
Love ya❤️

11/26/2024

The Milledge Ave location will be closed Tuesday through Thursday so our staff can spend time with family. We’ll be back open 11am on Friday. Have a great Thanksgiving everyone! We ❤️ Athens!

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween to all you wild ( ) animals!
Athens sure knows how to do it right 🎃👻🩷

09/27/2024

08/26/2024

Come out tomorrow night, Tuesday August 27th, and help support the Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School PTO with our yearly percentage night, where a portion of all sales will directly benefit the PTO. 11am-9pm.

08/20/2024

Cone to the Lyndon House today at noon for a free lunch and to hear me gab about why I think The Taco Stand is such an integral part of our local history and scene.

As Athens continues to grow and evolve, one cornerstone remains—our city’s rich culinary landscape. An iconic spot, Stricklands Restaurant, opened in 1960 on Broad Street as Essie's, later renaming itself and relocating to its current location on Atlanta Highway in 1995. Strickland’s has cemented itself as a beloved Athens staple, feeding everyone from blue-collar workers to professors, managers, students, juries... and even a few judges and mayors!

Inspired by places like Strickland’s? Join us TODAY at 12 p.m. for History Hour at the Lyndon House Arts Center, where we’ll explore the histories of Athens' iconic restaurants, past and present. Justin Kau and Ashley Shull from the Athens-Clarke County Library Heritage Room will share insights on legendary spots like the Mayflower Restaurant, Essie’s Cafe, and more! Mark Opel, owner of The Taco Stand and the The Starlite Showroom will also offer his unique perspective on the evolution of Athens' dining scene as the owner of both a long-established local favorite and an exciting new venue.

Don't miss out on this journey through time and taste– and get a complimentary lunch from Rashe's Cuisine! Vegan/vegetarian options available, arrive early to ensure you get your pick.

06/12/2024

About six months ago I had a gentleman come into my shop, The Starlite Showroom, and purchase a stereo from me. As we talked, I learned the customer was a career electrician who finally gave it up to pursue a career in art, “I’ve been very fortunate to have been able to follow my dream and make a decent living at it.” We chatted some more and as I was loading the stereo into his car he reached into the backseat and says, “here’s some of my artwork” and pulls out a Pete the Cat book. As a parent of two kids, I was very well aware of who Pete the Cat is but had no idea that he’s another product of the Athens art scene! I was star struck! The artist, James Dean, and I hit it off and have a good mutual friend, Camille Morgan.
Last week, one of my employees, Jenn Crawford, texted me a picture of an original Pete the Cat at the Taco Stand painting for sale locally. “You’ve got to get this for the restaurant! I texted James to see if I could make a deal with him and he generously insisted that I take it for free and hang it up in the restaurant!! So cool!!
If you’re a Pete the Cat fan and want your own original painting, James sells locally at Junk in the Trunk here in Athens and at Hodge Podge in Monroe. Viva la Pete!!
Athens I ♥️ you!!

04/17/2024

We got new menu boards!!! This move will save our little restaurant over $40k per year in yellow duct tape. 😂. We think did an amazing job and it looks so clean and pretty. Let us know whatcha think!