A few years ago I discovered the world of home-style Tex-Mex food when I ate at Hilda's Tortilla Factory located at 149 Farm Market 2093 (Tivydale road) in Fredericksburg Texas. I'm talking about a world where the food really does look and taste homemade. OK, kids. This stuff is definitely mucho mouth watering tasty and not just reheated from the Sysco truck like the big boy chains. This is why Hilda’s Tortilla Factory is visited by a very sizeable slice of Fredericksburg locals every day.

There are at least six kinds of burritos on the menu with home-style filling names like "picadillo" [a traditional dish in many Latin American countries; it's made with ground meat, tomatoes, and regional ingredients] and "desabrada" [shredded slow-cooked flank steak]. There are also some burritos not on the menu (for instance, the vegetarian bean and cheese burrito is not listed and is a personal favorite for a lite lunch). Still, all these choices do not take away from the fact that if you are into crispy corn tortillas and ground beef like I am every month or so; then choose the tacos, either ala carte or as a dinner plate. They are going to make you smile probably as much as they make me smile.

Today I had missed breakfast, and Hilda's was just down the road about noon time so I opted for a "Taco Plate" lunch. This is usually too much food for me but for $6.77 (just about the most expensive item on the menu too) you get everything you see in the photo above. The meal includes three large loaded beef tacos, Spanish rice, refried beans, two flour tortillas, and your choice of salsa (red, brown or green). I chose the brown salsa which is made from fire roasted chilies. Extra salsa is $0.25 per cup.


Each of the three tacos are packed full of ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes , and cheddar cheese. This alone is a meal even before one gets to the refried beans, rice and flour tortillas. The rice and beans are quite decent tasting but they pale in comparison to the flavor of the tacos drizzled with brown salsa. Even Rachel Ray would say "Yummie" to one of these morsels.

The moderately spicy hot taco meat is not drenched in any kind of slushy sauce but is loaded with garlic and black pepper which gives it a welcome heat different from jalapeno or red pepper. The flavor is quite unique and I really like the taste a lot.

As for the tortilla factory… it’s not just a namesake. Hilda’s really is a tortilla factory. Simply name your style of tortilla, soft corn or flour. They are bagged and sold factory direct ready for made for oyur very own at home enchilada, taco, or burrito dinner. Or, you can opt for thin crispy corn tortilla chips ready for dipping salsa (which Hilda’s also makes fresh) Also let's don't leave out crispy flour tortillas dusted with sugar and cinnamon for a dessert treat. The corn tortillas are definitely not the crunchy yellow things that I’ve seen at Taco bell, and in Ortega boxes at the HEB.



Generally open from 7:30AM to 5:00PM, Hilda’s is take-out or dine out only. Your choice. There is no indoor seating but there is a covered porch with picnic tables for eating outside in pleasant weather. Hint: Phone your order ahead at (830) 997-6105 for shorter waits. This place is popular with the locals.