The sign is up at North Border Taco, the brick-and-mortar version of the local food truck at 3721 47th Avenue, and it reads “Mexican Food With Attitude.”

It’s not serving crazy, edgy spins on traditional Mexican food, rather, Tex-Mex: lots of shredded cheese, rice studded with cilantro and the occasional smattering of crispy bacon. Damian Avalos opened up the North Border Taco truck in late 2013 with his mom Maria, and they’ve been a staple outside local breweries ever since. Now, Avalos is taking North Border a step further with the South Sacramento taco stand, which should be open next week. Avalos said he’s waiting on one last inspection, scheduled for today or tomorrow. 

The brick-and-mortar carries the same menu as the truck, with a few more creations, including a chile relleno burrito and a “lipstick taco,” which is colored bright pink with spicy pork and sweet raspberry sauce. No alcohol yet, but Avalos said he plans to eventually build an outdoor beer bar serving regional microbrews. The location is more a stand than a sit-down restaurant, with an order window and just 10 seats.

Why Tex-Mex? Avalos, a Sacramento native, moved to Texas with his Texas-born wife for a few years, where he attended culinary school and got his start in professional kitchens.

“That’s just our style,” Avalos said. “It’s what we know.”

Photo courtesy of Damian Avalos