Rio Grande City · South Texas

Caro’s Restaurant Menu — Home of the Puffy Taco

Caro’s has served Rio Grande City since 1937 and is known for puffy tacos, puffed tostados, enchiladas and combination plates. Compare the restaurant-supplied menu below, use the order planner to work out a food-and-drink subtotal, and check the split lunch-and-dinner schedule before visiting. Call the restaurant for direct pickup arrangements.

Family restaurant since 1937Puffy tacos & tostadosSplit lunch & dinner hoursRio Grande City · Texas
See the Menu Hours & Directions
Start here

What exactly is a puffy taco?

Founded by Modesta Caro in 1937, Caro’s remains a family business. In May 2026, KRGV reported its recognition as a Texas Treasure by the Texas Historical Commission, interviewing family members about continuing the restaurant’s recipes. That history gives the menu context: puffy tacos and enchiladas are part of a long-running local tradition, rather than a recently added trend.

A puffy taco uses a corn-masa shell fried so it expands, then shaped around the filling. Texas Monthly’s Tacopedia identifies Caro’s as a Rio Grande City example of the style. Order size matters here: the supplied Famous Puffy Tacos plate has three tacos with rice, beans and tostados, while the smaller plate has one taco and sides.

These steps explain the style generally; they are not a claim about a proprietary Caro’s recipe. Ask the restaurant about fillings, ingredients or dietary needs.

1

Masa shell

A puffy shell begins with corn masa, rather than a packaged hard taco shell.

2

Puff in hot oil

Frying expands the dough, creating a crisp shell with a softer interior.

3

Shape and fill

The shell is shaped to hold a filling; ask which beef or chicken options are available.

4

Choose timing

Eat while the shell is crisp. For pickup, ask how the tacos and toppings will be packed.

Interactive · drag to plan

Build an order around your appetite

Move the slider to choose a snack, smaller plate, combination or sharing order. Add your party size and a drink choice to calculate a subtotal from the prices shown in this menu. Portions and appetite differ; this is a starting order you can adjust.

Just a tasteThe classicFeed the table
Combination plate
One Mexican Plate per person

For one person: one Mexican Plate, listed at $11.95, with an enchilada, a puffy taco, rice, refried beans and tostados. No drinks are included in this starting calculation.

1 × Mexican Plate · $11.95

Food and drink subtotal: $11.95

Subtotal excludes tax, gratuity, substitutions and extra items. The supplied menu lists a 15% gratuity for tables of six or more; confirm how it applies. Sharing quantities follow the dish’s menu name and are not a guarantee that everyone will be full.

What to order

The Caro’s greatest hits

Beyond the puffy tacos, these are the plates locals and travel writers reach for again and again.

The pick · $11.95

The Mexican Plate

The supplied Mexican Plate is $11.95 and includes one enchilada, one puffy taco, rice, refried beans and tostados. Compare it with the $12.95 Chef’s Special, which adds a chalupa to that combination.

The famous app · Half $4.95 / Full $7.95

Tostados de Guacamole

Choose a half order at $4.95 or full order at $7.95 when comparing a starter with a meal. The Guacamole Salad is a different listed format: a dozen puffed tostados with guacamole on the side, also $7.95.

Comfort · $11.95

Carne Guisada

The $11.95 plate includes carne guisada, rice, refried beans, corn tortillas and tostados. Compare its sides with the fajita plates, which list charro beans and guacamole instead.

For the table · $30.95

Botana for 2

The supplied menu lists a beef-or-chicken Botana for 2 at $30.95 and the mixed-fajita version at $32.95 total. The mixed amount is the alternative total price, not an additional $32.95 charge. Ask about the portion and accompaniments when ordering.

Caro’s Restaurant

The Menu

The full Caro’s menu with current prices — appetizers and salads, puffy tacos and chalupas, house specials, fajitas, steaks, seafood, and more. Tap a category to filter.

Page updated:
Listed menu offer

The Caro’s Combo

The supplied menu lists a Full Puffed Tostado Platter with a beer or margarita as the Caro’s Combo. Ask whether the offer is running on your visit date, its service window and which drinks qualify before ordering.

$12.50Confirm current availability
Appetizers & Salads
  • Tostados de Guacamole
    Our famous puffed tostados topped with homemade guacamole
    Half $4.95 · Full $7.95
  • Panchos
    Puffed tostados topped with beans and cheese
    Half $4.95 · Full $7.95
  • Tostados Mixta
    Puffed tostados, half one topping and half another
    Half $4.95 · Full $7.95
  • Puffed Tostado Platter
    Puffed tostados with nacho cheese, chicken, beef, or refried bean (extra topping +$1)
    Half $4.95 · Full $7.95
  • Guacamole Salad
    A dozen puffed tostados with a side of homemade guacamole (add beef or chicken fajita +$7.95)
    $7.95
  • Tossed Salad
    Lettuce, tomato, mushrooms, cucumber, tostado strips, blue cheese (add chicken fajita $13.95 / beef fajita $17.95 / chicken breast $12.95 / fish $15.95)
    $7.95
Puffy Tacos & Chalupas
  • Famous Puffy Tacos
    3 beef or chicken puffy tacos with lettuce and tomato, plus rice, refried beans, tostados
    $10.95
  • Tacos a la Mexicana
    3 corn tortillas with chicken or beef fajita, rice, refried beans, cilantro, onions, tostados
    $15.95
  • Chalupas
    2 chalupas with refried beans, cheese sauce, chicken or beef, lettuce and tomato
    $9.95
  • Chalupas Deluxe
    2 chalupas topped with guacamole, served with a side of rice
    $12.95
Plates & Specials
  • Caro’s Special #1
    2 puffy tacos, 1 enchilada, refried beans, rice, tostados, guacamole salad
    $12.95
  • Caro’s Special #2
    1 puffy taco, 2 enchiladas, refried beans, rice, tostados, guacamole salad
    $12.95
  • Caro’s Special #3
    1 puffy taco, 1 chalupa, 1 envuelto, 1 enchilada, refried beans, rice, tostados
    $13.95
  • Caro’s Special #4
    8 oz. ribeye, chicken breast, enchilada, guacamole, charro beans, rice, salsa, tortillas, tostados
    $19.95
  • Chef’s Special
    1 enchilada, 1 puffy taco, 1 chalupa with rice, refried beans, tostados
    $12.95
  • Mexican Plate
    1 enchilada, 1 puffy taco, rice, refried beans, tostados
    $11.95
  • Enchilada Suizas
    2 beef or chicken enchiladas in green tomatillo sauce with mozzarella, rice, refried beans, tostados
    $10.95
  • Enchilada Plate
    2 cheese enchiladas, rice, refried beans, tostados (add chicken or beef +$1)
    $10.95
  • Envueltos
    2 beef or chicken envueltos, rice, refried beans, tostados
    $10.95
  • Entomatada Plate
    2 beef or chicken entomatadas, rice, refried beans, tostados
    $10.95
Fajitas, Beef & Chicken
  • Carne Guisada
    Homestyle carne guisada with rice, refried beans, corn tortillas, tostados
    $11.95
  • Beef Fajitas
    Rice, charro beans, guacamole, corn tortillas, tostados
    $17.95
  • Mixed Fajitas
    Chicken and beef fajitas, rice, charro beans, guacamole, corn tortillas, tostados
    $15.95
  • Chicken Fajitas
    Rice, charro beans, guacamole, corn tortillas, tostados
    $13.95
  • Tampiqueña
    Beef or chicken fajitas, 1 puffy taco, 1 enchilada, rice, charro beans, guacamole, corn tortillas, tostados
    $22.95
  • Chicken Breast
    2 chicken breasts, rice, charro beans, guacamole, salsa, corn tortillas, tostados
    $12.95
  • Chicken Fried Chicken
    Lettuce, tomato, toast, gravy, and french fries
    $12.95
  • Hamburger
    Served with fries (add cheese +$0.75)
    $10.95
Steaks & Seafood
  • Ribeye Steak
    10 oz. ribeye with rice, charro beans, guacamole, corn tortillas, tostados
    $24.95
  • T-Bone Steak
    16 oz. t-bone with rice, charro beans, guacamole, corn tortillas, tostados
    $24.95
  • Chicken Fried Steak
    Lettuce, tomato, toast, gravy, and french fries
    $12.95
  • Fish Plate
    Grilled or fried swai fillet with salad, french fries, and toast
    $15.95
  • Shrimp Plate
    5 grilled or fried jumbo shrimp, lettuce, tomato, french fries
    $18.95
  • Shrimp Cocktail
    Traditional shrimp cocktail
    $12.95
  • Fish and Shrimp
    3 jumbo shrimp paired with a swai fillet, lettuce, tomato, toast, french fries
    $20.95
Botanas, Smaller Plates & Drinks
  • Botana for 1
    Beef or chicken fajita with corn tortilla chips, beans, cheese, lettuce and tomato
    $15.95
  • Botana for 2
    Beef or chicken fajita with corn tortilla chips, beans and cheese (mixed-fajita version $32.95 total)
    $30.95
  • Enchilada Plate (Smaller)
    1 cheese enchilada with rice, refried beans, tostados
    $6.95
  • Chicken Breast (Smaller)
    1 chicken breast with rice, refried beans, tostados
    $8.95
  • Puffy Taco Plate (Smaller)
    1 puffy taco with rice, refried beans, tostados
    $6.95
  • Chicken Tenders
    3 chicken tenders with french fries
    $5.95
  • Canned Soda
    Chilled
    $3.00
  • Mexican Coke
    The real-sugar classic
    $3.50
  • Tea, Coffee or Lemonade
    House drinks
    $3.00

Prices and dish descriptions shown here come from the supplied in-house menu. Delivery menus may use different prices, portions or older listings. The supplied menu also lists a 15% gratuity for tables of six or more and $4.95 pricing on smaller-plate items for children under 12; confirm eligibility and charges when ordering. Call (956) 487-2255 for availability.

Before you go

How Caro’s works

A few things that make a first visit smoother — this is a small-town institution, not a chain, and it runs on its own rhythm.

Seating arrangements

Ask staff where to sit on arrival, and call ahead for a larger party or a particular seating need.

Split lunch and dinner

The listed schedule is Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–9 p.m.; Sunday is lunch only. Confirm special closures before travelling.

Direct pickup or delivery

Call the restaurant for direct pickup. Delivery-platform listings also exist, but availability, menu and checkout terms depend on the service and address.

Payment and dietary questions

Public listings report card acceptance. Confirm your payment method and ask directly about allergens, frying oil and shared preparation areas when those affect your order.

Family history, still relevant

Caro’s dates to 1937. A May 2026 KRGV report interviewed the family about carrying its recipes forward following Texas Treasure recognition.

Smaller plates and children

The smaller plates have their own listed prices. The supplied menu separately states $4.95 for children under 12; ask which items and conditions apply before assuming an adult discount.

Find Caro’s

Hours, location & directions

DayHours
Monday–Saturday11 a.m.–3 p.m. · 5–9 p.m.
Sunday11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Listed regular hours, cross-checked against location-specific listings. The 3–5 p.m. gap matters for an afternoon visit; call to confirm the day’s service, last orders and holiday changes.

Caro’s Restaurant
607 W 2nd St, Rio Grande City, TX 78582
Starr County · South Texas / Rio Grande Valley

Phone: (956) 487-2255 · Call for direct pickup, seating questions and current availability.

Get Directions
Good to know

Caro’s Restaurant — FAQ

What is Caro’s known for?
Puffy tacos, puffed tostados and enchilada combinations are central to the menu. Founded by Modesta Caro in 1937, the family restaurant was the subject of a May 2026 KRGV report about Texas Treasure recognition.
What is the difference between the Mexican Plate and Chef’s Special?
The supplied Mexican Plate is $11.95 with one enchilada, one puffy taco, rice, refried beans and tostados. The $12.95 Chef’s Special adds a chalupa. The planner uses the Mexican Plate for its combination choice.
What are the listed hours?
Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. There is an afternoon break. Confirm the day’s service and any holiday change by calling (956) 487-2255.
Can I order online or collect food directly?
Delivery-platform listings exist, so online availability depends on the platform and your address. Call (956) 487-2255 to arrange a direct order and ask about pickup or car-side collection. Do not assume the delivery menu matches the dine-in menu.
How does the order planner calculate its subtotal?
It multiplies the chosen individual dish by the number of diners. For Botana for 2, it uses one order per two people, rounding up for an odd-sized party. The optional drink adds one per person. Tax, gratuity and extras are excluded; portions are not guaranteed to match every appetite.
Are the smaller plates always $4.95?
No. Their regular listed prices differ: the smaller enchilada and puffy-taco plates are $6.95, smaller chicken breast is $8.95 and chicken tenders are $5.95. The supplied menu separately lists $4.95 for children under 12; confirm which conditions apply.
Is the $12.50 Caro’s Combo available today?
The supplied menu lists the combination at $12.50. Call to confirm whether it is running on your visit date, the service window and which beer or margarita choices qualify.
Where is this Caro’s Restaurant?
At 607 W. 2nd Street, Rio Grande City, TX 78582, in Starr County in the Rio Grande Valley. Use this address and (956) 487-2255 when comparing similarly named businesses; plan the drive using current route conditions.
Keep exploring

More Texas restaurant menus

Looking for another Texas menu? Browse our full guide to restaurants across the state — from South Texas puffy-taco institutions to big-city dining rooms.

Browse all menus

Menu information and supporting references

The menu and prices shown here retain the supplied in-house menu. Restaurant contact remains the best way to confirm a particular dish, offer or service arrangement. Supporting checks for this page included the location’s delivery listings, local reporting with family interviews and Texas Monthly’s puffy-taco guide.

KRGV: Caro’s Texas Treasure recognition · Texas Monthly Tacopedia · Favor delivery listing · Uber Eats listing · Call Caro’s