Award-Winning Queso, Live on Austin TV
In July 2019, Kesos Tacos brought their signature queso into the KXAN studios for a live demonstration on Studio 512 — Austin's NBC lifestyle show. The appearance came at the perfect moment: Kesos had just competed in the annual Quesoff competition and walked away with wins in 2 out of 5 categories, with judges calling for "more melted cheese please."
The Studio 512 segment put Kesos's queso-making process in front of Austin's living rooms, reinforcing what the brand had already proven on the competition stage — that this wasn't just a topping. It was the whole point.
Quesoff Competition
WON 2 OUT OF 5 CATEGORIES
Queso First — The Origin of a Name
For Kesos Tacos, the KXAN appearance wasn't just a TV spot — it was a statement about what the brand stands for. At a time when Austin's taco scene was already crowded, Kesos had found its differentiator: putting queso on every taco, not as an upgrade or add-on, but as the foundation of every plate that leaves the kitchen.
The name "Kesos" itself is a nod to that obsession. When founder Jhonatan set out to build something that could stand apart in a city full of great tacos, it was the queso — creamy, house-made, poured on top — that made the difference. By the time KXAN came calling, Kesos had already earned the kind of credibility that comes from competition wins and a loyal following on West Campus.
"Their queso had the judges at last year's Quesoff competition saying, 'more melted cheese please!'"
— KXAN Studio 512, July 2019
Quesoff 2019 — Competing for Austin's Crown
The KXAN segment aired two days before Quesoff 2019 — Austin's annual celebration of all things queso, benefiting the Central Texas Food Bank. The event brought together around thirty vendors, from restaurants and professional chefs to home cooks and neighbors, competing across four categories: Meaty, Spicy, Veggie, and Wild Card, plus a coveted Best in Show award.
Kesos had already proven themselves the year before, winning 2 out of 5 categories. The Studio 512 appearance was both a victory lap and a preview — a chance for Austin to see exactly what kind of queso had impressed the judges, and a sign that Kesos was back to compete again in 2019.
The event was free to attend with a $3 donation per person, with all proceeds benefiting the Central Texas Food Bank.
The Best Queso in Austin — by Competition
There are a lot of quesos in Austin. Kesos Tacos entered the conversation and let the judges decide. Winning 2 out of 5 categories at Quesoff — Austin's most competitive queso event — isn't a marketing claim. It's a result. The same house-made queso that impressed the Quesoff panel is the same queso poured on every taco at every Kesos location, every single day.
If you're searching for the best queso in Austin, the best queso tacos in Austin, or just want to know where to find queso near you in Austin — the answer is Kesos. Queso isn't a side dish here. It's not an upgrade. It goes on every taco, by default, because that's the whole point of the brand.
From West Campus to All of Austin
At the time of the KXAN feature, Kesos was operating from its original location in West Campus at 600 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd — serving the UT community and surrounding neighborhoods with breakfast and lunch tacos dripping with that signature queso. The TV appearance brought the brand to a citywide audience, well beyond the campus corridor where it had first taken root.
Since 2019, Kesos has grown into a three-location Austin brand — adding Spicewood Springs (Northwest Austin, 78759) and Q2 Stadium (North Austin, 78758, match days only). The queso that won over KXAN's Studio 512 and the Quesoff judges is still the same queso on every taco at every location today. Austin's most queso-forward taco brand — same recipe, more spots to find it.
Originally aired on KXAN Studio 512, July 25, 2019. Watch the full video segment above.