1995: Brian Wheeler, 25, inexperienced but fueled by passion, dives into the world of Tex-Mex. He opens “Tijuana Flats,” turning his dream into reality.
Over the years, Tijuana Flats flourishes. Expanding to over 140 locations and employing a team of 3,000, it ignites a taco revolution.
2015: Seeking new culinary horizons, Brian sells Tijuana Flats to a private equity firm and shifts his focus to develop “Tibby’s New Orleans Kitchen.”
Under new management, Tijuana Flats diverges from Brian’s founding vision, altering its core essence.
2021: Inspired by their father’s legacy, Wheeler sons, Jake and Gavin, see an opportunity; their vision: simple, yet flavorful. Motivated, they get to work.
2023: After years of dedication, the Wheeler trio launches “Big Taco.” More than just a restaurant, it’s a celebration of family heritage with a commitment to revive tasty, simple, made to order tacos & burritos.
About Big Taco
Shoutout to Big Taco in Oviedo. My wife and I enjoyed “our” “Taco Tuesday” visit very much. Great deal and very filling. The tacos were delicious and loaded with fresh goodness. The enchiladas were great too.
Just tried Big Taco for the first time as we were craving Tex-Mex and like to give new places a try! I ordered a burrito bowl with Carnitas, my husband got two big tacos, and we got a chicken quesadilla to go. The burrito bowl was pretty good, the Carnitas were juicy and flavorful, but I would have preferred a little bit more meat and more lettuce as there seem to only be a very small amount of lettuce included. I tried the sweet chili Thai sauce, which was tasty with a little bit of heat. The chips are on the thicker side and well seasoned and tasted fresh. The queso Blanco was pretty good, although I like a little bit more peppers or some chunks in my queso. The tacos were good, beef was flavorful. They have hot sauce wall where you take a bottle to try. I wasn’t drawn to any sauces but for the hot sauce fan, this may be a good selection. The service was great, very attentive. The decor is interesting, with paintings of famous images with masks to match the Big taco guy. All in all, decent addition to the tex mex options.
Staff was extremely welcoming and friendly. Very attentive to everything in the dining room. Atmosphere was just the right volume for a casual dining experience (and it was pretty full when we arrived). And of course the food - absolutely solid. We had a Chimichanga, Steak Tacos and the Gambler (street fries). Excellent presentation, and the flavor to match. A nice accidental find as we were cutting through the parking lot. We will definitely be back.
My friends and I stopped in here for a fun taco Tuesday. We arrived during the dinner rush around 7 PM and the restaurant as well as the outside seating was full. This place has very much a Tijuana Flats vibe without the big corporate fuss. We ordered at the front and were able to luckily find a table to sit down at inside. Our appetizer arrived within five minutes and the rest of our food showed up in less than 10 minutes after we received the appetizer. I ordered the Mexican pizza with steak and it was absolutely delicious, but I was not aware that I had to ask for specific toppings. I thought everything came standard (lettuce, tomato, onion, jalapeños, olives, sour cream) so I ordered the jalapeños and the olives on the side, but when my Mexican pizza came, that was all the toppings. Just be sure that you explicitly see which toppings you want so that the same thing does not happen to you. Then again, I could be wrong and maybe the Mexican pizza doesn’t come with any toppings?My friend ordered the Carnitas tacos and she practically licked the plate! I finished off my Mexican pizza. Our spinach and artichoke appetizer dip was delicious and flavorful. The chips that came with it were nice and crispy and not overly salty or oily overall I had a really good experience for my first time at Big Taco and will definitely be back in the future!
Big Taco has quickly become one of our favorite spots in Oviedo — the vibe is fun, colorful, and always full of good energy. The food is consistently top-notch (the tacos are loaded with flavor, and my wife loves their quesadillas — always fresh, never the stale or soggy kind you get elsewhere). But what really makes this place stand out is the staff. Alyssa took care of us on our last few visits and she’s fantastic — friendly, attentive, and always checks in at just the right time. She makes sure everything’s perfect and somehow remembers our usual order every time. It’s clear she loves what she does, and it shows in the service. If you’re in the area and want great food with great people, Big Taco is the spot — ask for Alyssa and you’ll be in good hands!