LOCAL BUSINESSES
Herbert’s Taco Hut has been serving San Marcos for 50 years.
“My father was ambitious,” said co-owner and son of original owners, Anthony Rizk. “He had dreams of owning a restaurant and working for himself.”
On May 19, 1976, Herbert and Dora Rizk founded Herbert’s Grocery Store using $500 they had carefully saved from his work as a mail carrier for then Southwest Texas State University and her jobs at the telephone company and cleaning homes. The business struggled at first.
“His friends would come around, and they’re like, ‘Hey, Herbert, close it down. Nobody’s coming in. You’re not making any money,”’ Anthony said. “And he was just like, ‘No, I’m gonna stick it out.’” Things started to look up, and within two to three years, Herbert was able to buy the building for the Taco Hut.
“It was very small, just this front area, and maybe four tables here in that back kitchen,” Anthony said. “Then after that, [they] made a little bit more money, and they got the B section; it’s the back section. Then about another year and a half, two years went on, and then we added the final section.”
Despite having only third- and ninth-grade educations, Dora and Herbert built the business into a thriving success. Today, it has grown to include two locations, with the New Braunfels restaurant owned and operated by their son, Bobby Rizk.
The family suffered a major loss on February 2, 2002, when Herbert Rizk Sr. passed away.
Despite the tragedy, they were able to keep the business’ momentum going in his absence — until they were hit with a huge setback in 2009.
“We had a major fire back here in the kitchen, where, as they say, all the magic happens. That put us out for six weeks. That was so devastating. Everybody was out of work. It was scary. Six weeks seemed like six months,” Anthony said. “That was something that we overcame, a huge hurdle.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the shift to curbside-only service proved “devastating” to profits.
“Those were two setbacks that happened to us, that we overcame to be able to continue on and make it to 50 years,” Anthony said. The Rizks then lost another family member in 2022, when Anthony’s brother Herbert Rizk Jr. passed away.
But through every setback and hardship, the family pressed on, carrying their legacy forward with determination and resilience.
That resilience laid the foundation for a business that would go on to earn wide recognition and attract some big names.
George Strait used to live across the street and come in to eat all of the time — even before he had made it big.
“My father would see him come in, and he would go to the jukebox, put the quarters in there, and play his song for him,” Rizk said. “Then my father would go up to him and be like, ‘Man, all it takes is one good hit.’” The Hut has drawn its share of notable guests over the years. Members of George Strait’s band still stop by, including steel guitar player Mike Daily, who’s known to order the nachos. Randy Rogers and the members of Blue October are also regular fans. The restaurant has even welcomed major sports figures, including Tony Hill and Billy Joe DuPree, both Super Bowl–winning players from the Dallas Cowboys.
Of all the standout dishes that have drawn notable guests to the restaurant, Anthony’s favorite is the Herbert’s Special, which has a little bit of everything — an enchilada, rice, beans, a chalupa, a crispy taco and guacamole. And in celebration of the 50th anniversary, on Saturday, May 16, every table that dines at Herbert’s, 429 Riverside Drive, will get a free queso, and the Herbert’s special will have its original price — $4.60, down from $14.79. People can add chicken or beef to their chalupa for no extra charge.
