How love for tacos, community brought Taco Mafia together

During the Great Texas Freeze of 2021 that left thousands stranded in frigid temperatures and without basic necessities, Texans had no one to turn to but each other. Extended power outages meant many people ran out of food as groceries began to spoil.

In Austin, four taqueros pooled together their resources and joined forces to feed shaken-up residents, providing more than 3,000 free meals, helping feed those in retirement homes, hospitals, fire stations and the general public. It was during this harrowing time that the taqueros realized the strength and power of banding together. That’s when the Taco Mafia emerged. 

The Taco Mafia consists of Austin-based chefs and restaurant owners including 2023 Food & Wine best new chef and James Beard Award winner Edgar Rico and partner Sara Mardanbigi of Nixta Taqueria. 

“It’s a friendship that developed through the love of tacos,” Rico said. Additional mafia members include critically acclaimed and nationally recognized eateries such as Cuantos Tacos, Discada, and Palo Seco 512. 

Taco Mafia’s love, compassion, and care for one another and their craft caught the attention of Austin PBS producers Alex Wolff and Joe Rocha and led to the creation of “Taco Mafia,” a docuseries that follows the ups and downs of navigating a business in the food industry, while focusing on the support that the eateries offer one another. 

“Taco Mafia” begins streaming and airing nationally on public media stations on Oct. 9. Austin PBS watchers can view the first episode on Oct. 12. Episodes will then release weekly. 

The eight-episode series showcases the passion that the owners put into their food and the love that keeps customers coming back. It also emphasizes what it is like to have a strong support system of other food owners who genuinely care for the success and well-being of their businesses. 

“’Taco Mafia’ is a testament to not only the vibrant and diverse culinary landscape of Austin, but the power of doing good and transforming communities,” said Luis Patiño, president and CEO of Austin PBS, in a news release. 

Taco Mafia did not start off with the intention of being a collective. Their name originated from a spontaneous moment when the group gathered for a toast. “To the Taco Mafia!,” Mardanbigi of Nixta Taqueria said.

“This industry is not for the faint of heart. We’ve all had a lot of ups and downs, but the one constant has been how we always take care of one another in these moments,” she said at the Austin screening of the docuseries in September. “Onward and upward for me and mis hermanos!” 

In August 2021, the Taco Mafia once again joined forces to provide aid in the wake of a natural disaster, this time Hurricane Ida, which struck Louisiana. The Taco Mafia and Tankproof, a nonprofit helping under-served youth, collaborated with their followers to fill up a semi-truck with essentials to help those impacted by the hurricane.

“In one week, we ended up filling up an entire semi worth of goods” Rico said.

The Taco Mafia also partners with the World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit devoted to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters. “We are now working with them hand-in-hand to be ready for anything major that may happen,” Rico said. “We will be ready to go even bigger and better than the last time.” 

With the release of the “Taco Mafia” docuseries, Rico hopes that the show will inspire other Austinities. “We want people to be inspired and be proud of their cultura and their roots,” he said.

IF YOU WATCH:

What: “Taco Mafia” docuseries

When/Where: Oct. 9, airs nationally on public media stations and Oct. 12, airs on Austin PBS

“Taco Mafia” will also be available for viewing on Austin PBS app and Austin PBS website.