A doughnut shop might not be the first thing that comes to mind when talking about tacos, but in San Antonio, it’s more likely than you think. Since 1954, Original Donut Shop has been slinging its namesake pastries, but the addition of tacos on the menu over the years has only driven even more traffic to the time-honored business. The toasted bean and cheese alone is enough to inspire folks to wait in long lines both in-store and at the drive-thru for their morning fix.
We visited the restaurant on an ordinary Monday in September to see what exactly could be done to optimize wait times and maximize taco times at the Fredericksburg Road staple. While there, we spoke to Monica Delgado, a longtime employee who went from drive-thru cashier to general manager within her 20 years of service. Delgado explained that the lines are just a part of the job, and their current setup allows them to efficiently get through the lines as quickly as they can.
“We can handle it because we use both of the windows,” Delgado said, noting that most days they also have two drive-thru lanes for taking orders. “We have kind of a small restaurant in the back, with a tortilleria and a line server just for the other drive-thru.”
Delgado also credits the friendly spirit of Original Donut Shop as a reason people keep coming back, emphasizing the generosity of the Morris family, whose patriarch, Patrick Morris, founded the restaurant under the name Hot Donuts all those years ago.
How to conquer the lines at Original Donut Shop
It was just a few minutes after 8 a.m., and vehicles were already in the queue at Original Donut Shop, with about five cars waiting to pick up grub. Only one of two drive-thru lines was open, which I’d later learn was the usual for Mondays and Tuesdays. I’ve only previously visited on weekends, when lines go all the way to the adjacent Texaco parking lot. From those visits, I learned that the earlier you arrive, the sooner you get to eat…