A taco concept in Fort Worth is giving the Mexican staple an unexpected twist. Called Tacos y Rocky, it's a roaming kitchen with a menu that adds Middle Eastern flavors to traditional Mexican cuisine.

The concept started out as a food truck but currently operates as a ghost kitchen with tacos to go.

Owners Bo Armendarez and Jissis Villegas met while working in the restaurant industry, then launched Tacos y Rocky as a “Mexi-Terranean” food truck in 2022.

“We quickly got into the breakfast taco game, and that’s what most people know us for," Armendarez says. "But really our passion is in our Tacos Árabes."

As chef Rick Bayless notes, tacos árabes were the original tacos made in Puebla by Middle Eastern immigrants, using meat carved from shawarma-style vertical spits, which eventually morphed into the currently popular tacos al pastor.

Tacos y Rocky co-owner Villegas is a native of Puebla who grew up with family recipes handed down from generation to generation.

“We took this taco culture from Puebla and made it our own, knowing what would resonate with Fort Worth,” Armendarez says.

Tacos y Rocky currently operates out of two ghost kitchens, doing delivery or takeout: in Keller at 121 Olive St. where they are open for breakfast and lunch; and in North Richland Hills, at 8245 Precinct Line Rd. #130 where they are open at night.

They feature a trio of "Arabian tacos" as follows:

• The Pueblan — The Original Arabian taco influenced by Iraqis and Lebanese that migrated to Puebla, Mexico. The "OG" of tacos árabes featuring tender Arabian marinated pork shoulder, caramelized onion, and chipotle salsa árabe de puebla
• The Sheikh’n — Middle Eastern and Mexican flavors marry with Texas BBQ, featuring smoked chicken glazed with Iraqi amba (mango chutney salsa), habanero pickled red onion, cardamom-marinated queso fresco, and salsa verde
• The Tejano — Texan BBQ, Mexican, and Middle Eastern flavors integrate their smoked beef cheek taco featuring smoked beef cheek, marinated queso fresco, habanero pickled red onion, and salsa verde

All of their tacos come on a housemade pita-inspired tortilla made with wheat flour, duck fat, olive oil, and butter; it's called La Tortpita™ — and yes, it's trademarked.

They also offer mezze appetizers fusing Middle Eastern and Mexican flavors such as their Papas Libanesa, featuring skillet potatoes with garlic, cilantro, and parsley; an unusual hummus that subs in pinto beans for chickpeas, with jalapeno; and Turmeric Calabacitas featuring Mexican squash, with corn, epazote, onion, and turmeric. There are also salads and a snack called Taro Energy Bites with peanut butter, oats, taro, flax seed, toasted coconut, and honey.

Even if you haven't ordered from Tacos y Rocky directly, it's possible you've tried their food, as they supply a number of Fort Worth-area coffee shops with breakfast tacos, juices, and chia seed pudding, including Rio Dulce Coffee in downtown Fort Worth, Flat Track Coffee in Ridglea, Kimzey’s Coffee in Argyle, and the just-opened Match Point Coffee on West 7th Street.

They make six kinds of breakfast tacos, ranging from $4.50 to $5.50 such as the Pueblan Egg & Cheese with pork, eggs, queso chihuahua, and salsa arabe.

“We are trying to live in that better-for-your-breakfast brand,” Armendarez says. “All of our stuff is fresh and has real ingredients.”