A short walk from McCallum on North Loop Boulevard lies Double Trouble, a recently opened restaurant that doubles as a coffee shop in the morning and a taco spot in the afternoon and evening. Double Trouble, however, is no ordinary taco restaurant—they have become well known for their unique mixture of traditional meat tacos as well as innovative vegan tacos. After hearing about their “tofish” taco, which is a fish taco made with tofu, I knew that I had to try Double Trouble.

Once I arrived for lunch, I ordered the Del Rey tofish taco, the vegan BBQ short rib taco and a glass of hibiscus mint tea. The menu selections were tough to make because Double Trouble has so many other delicious-sounding options such as flautas, picadillo empanadas and a smoked tempeh and tofu scramble taco, all of which were made vegan. Double Trouble also offered a variety of dishes for meat eaters, from barbacoa tacos to their smash burger.

After placing my order at the counter inside, I went outside to wait for my food to arrive. I was greeted with a lovely outdoor space. The backyard was shaded by pecan trees and decorated with multiple murals and an old Volkswagen van. Kids could play while their parents dined at the play area for kids, and there was even a stage for live music so you could catch a show while enjoying your tacos. Plus, there were plenty of sturdy picnic tables and Adirondack chairs to eat at, which meant that even on a busy night, you could find a table, giving Double Trouble a welcoming atmosphere. 

While I waited for my food to arrive, I sipped my hibiscus mint tea. Colored a beautiful deep ruby, the tea was deliciously refreshing and cool. The hibiscus flavor really shone through, creating a tart, almost citrusy beverage. While it was tough to taste the mint, all in all, the drink was a refreshing treat.

Rating: 8.5/10

Double Trouble had great service, and my food quickly arrived.

Excited to try the unique tacos, I dove into my meal. The first taco I tried was the vegan BBQ short rib taco, which was entirely worth all of the $6.50 I paid for it. While this might seem like a lot of money for one taco, I promise you that it was worth it. Double Trouble redefined the BBQ classic by turning it into a vegan taco and incorporating ingredients like sesame seeds, jalapeños and raspberry barbeque sauce. The vegan ribs, which were made of tempeh, tasted similar to or better than the real thing. Unlike some tempeh dishes, the tempeh ribs weren’t chunky, soggy or flavorless, but instead crunchy, perfectly textured with a smoky flavor suggestive of grilling. The blue corn tortilla was light and fluffy, and the sauce provided a beautiful sweetness that counteracted the spiciness of the jalapeños. Some parts of the taco lacked jalapeños, however, which meant that the sweetness of the sauce became a little overpowering at times. Luckily, I could easily solve this by adding a few jalapeños next time. All in all, this taco was delectable and perfectly accompanied the tart hibiscus mint tea.

Rating: 9.5/10

Next, I tried the Del Rey tofish taco, which cost $6. As a pescatarian (someone who eats seafood but not meat), I love fish and was initially skeptical that a vegan version could live up to its fish counterpart. Upon tasting Double Trouble’s tofish taco, I was pleasantly proven wrong. The tofish was fried to a deep golden brown, and although it didn’t flake like a piece of fish, it had an enjoyable texture. Double Trouble didn’t skimp on the amount of tofish either—they provided not one, not two, but three tofish filets, validating the $6 cost. The shredded cabbage and avocado helped balance out the fry on the tofish, and a chipotle mayo added a delicious spice. Sadly, some areas around the edge of the taco were less flavorful because they didn’t have the chipotle mayo. The rest of the taco made up for it though, and Double Trouble’s tofish taco tasted almost as good as a real filet of fish.

Rating: 9/10

My lunch at Double Trouble was some of the best vegan food I have ever had. While my order might have been expensive, at $12.50 for the tofish and vegan BBQ short rib taco, the tacos lived up to their prices as unique takes on classic tacos. The tofish and BBQ short rib tacos weren’t simply imitations of their meaty versions; they were better. Even if, like me, you aren’t vegan, I highly recommend going to Double Trouble and ordering their Del Rey tofish and BBQ short rib vegan tacos—it’s a doubly delicious combo.