From fry cook of a fast-food chicken joint to king of a Texas taco empire, Mike Rypka started Torchy’s Tacos, in 2006 from a single food truck. The restaurants, now in 75 locations in five states, have a colorful and super fun atmosphere. Mike is a down to earth, honest and transparent guy he's rarely seen dressed in anything other than shorts, sneakers, and perhaps a fedora because he's not a formal guy and he's not afraid to get his hands dirty. From what we can tell, he's passionate about two things...cars, and damn good tacos.
We recorded this episode live at a Torchy's location in the Mueller development in East Austin so the sound is a bit challenging, but the content is awesome. Mike talks to us about the struggles and challenges of starting and growing a regional restaurant chain while growing a loyal following of brand enthusiasts and empowering his employees to deliver on the promise of the best damn tacos one can find.