Earlier this month, Austin PBS released a new documentary series shining light on some of Austin’s well-known taco restaurants and food trucks. “Taco Mafia” focuses on Nixta Taqueria, Discada and Cuantos Tacos.

Produced by Alex Wolff and Joe Rocha, the eight-episode documentary series follows the lives of local taqueros and how they have come together as the self-proclaimed “Taco Mafia.” The group supports each other while navigating a post-pandemic world and continues to give back to the local community.

Wolff said inspiration for the documentary sprouted while trying to find the best taco place in town after moving to Austin.

“I followed (the owners) on Instagram and saw how they support each other’s businesses, how they support each other during times of need and how they take care of their community during major crises as well,” Wolff said. “I knew that they were doing something special beyond making world-class food, and there was definitely a story there to tell.”

When joining the project in 2022, the most pronounced aspect of the Taco Mafia that stood out to him was their community service, Rocha said. The group helped during the 2021 Texas winter storm, which left many residents without electricity, water and/or food, by providing meals to individuals while trying to keep their restaurants afloat during the pandemic.

“There’s thousands of cooking shows; there’s hundreds of taco shows,” Rocha said. “The way that we were going to do this in a different way was to talk about these folks’ lives and all this work they are doing in the community. The winter storm was a very devastating event for Austin. We were all here during that, and they were one of the lights, shining hope during that whole time.”

Edgar Rico, co-owner of Nixta Taqueria and James Beard Foundation Award recipient, started the restaurant with his wife Sara Mardanbigi in 2019. Rico said the mafia started as a friendship between the Discada owners Anthony Pratto and Xose Velasco, and Cuantos Tacos owner Luis ‘Beto’ Robledo. 

“Austin, as a whole, is definitely very much a competitive scene, but I think we’re trying to change that landscape,” Rico said. “We feel like a collaboration really builds people up and builds other restaurants up when they are supporting each other instead of being in fierce competition with each other.”

Rico showed enthusiasm for the show’s success and working with his friends.

“The Taco Mafia is a big part of what drives our restaurants,” Rico said. “We truly believe that we have a really strong community of people that truly value and believe in what we’re doing: being authentically ourselves and delivering high-quality hospitality and food to all our guests that walk through our doors.”