‘Unique’ taco chain from Boise pushes west into Idaho’s ‘taco heart’: Canyon County

When it comes to delicious tacos, Boise’s options get tastier by the year.

To aficionados, though, the best are often found several miles west.

“Canyon County is very much still the taco heart of this side of Idaho,” the Idaho Statesman proclaimed in last year’s must-read Treasure Valley taco guide.

So will a chain based in Idaho’s capital city add spice to the 2C scene?

Taco fiends should have fun feasting their way to an answer.

Tin Roof Tacos opened last week at 4865 E. Franklin Road in Nampa. It’s the third location for the steadily growing chain, which debuted in 2016 at 115 S. Broadway Ave. in Boise before expanding in 2018 to 1750 W. McMillan Road in Meridian.

Founders Susan Loyd and Sandy Broun, who are sisters, bring a Tex-Mex influence to their take on street tacos. There’s a good deal of variety. Tacos fall in the $2.25 to $2.75 range.

“Our inspiration for Tin Roof Tacos was to re-create the neighborhood taco stand that we knew and loved in Texas,” Lloyd said in a media release when the Meridian store opened.

“We bring a new style of tacos to the table,” Tin Roof explains on its website. “They are not only unique, but you get more taco for less dinero.”

At Tin Roof, you’ll find customers munching freshly made tacos filled with barbecue brisket, pulled pork and Baja shrimp. A fried chicken taco — with chicken tenders fried in chile lime breading — also is popular.

Feel free to wash things down with a Texas-brewed Shiner Bock beer.

Are you a sucker for breakfast tacos? Tin Roof Tacos cranks those out all day — whether it’s an Idaho-friendly potato, eggs and cheese, or an enticing grilled beef fajita, eggs and cheese.

Tin Roof offers the convenience of online orders at its website, too.

There is, however, one issue about the new expansion. The chain might be heading the wrong direction — at least in the opinion of a Utah fan. “You are so lucky to be getting one!” a commenter exclaimed on Tin Roof’s Facebook page. “There is NOTHING like them in Salt Lake at all! Wish we had one here!”

It’s a good problem to have, Nampa. As Tin Roof puts it on Facebook: “Hot tacos, cold beer, ‘nuff said!”