After President Obama landed at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and before his keynote address at South by Southwest, he and Austin Mayor Steve Adler stopped for lunch at Torchy’s Tacos on South First Street.
Customers said the president ordered tacos called “The Democrat,” “The Republican,” “The Independent” and “The Trailer Park.”
The restaurant said it had little notice of the president’s arrival, with the U.S. Secret Service quickly surveying security before the motorcade arrived.
“The fact that they had so many to choose from, other restaurants to choose from, it really makes us feel really honored for him to come here and just hang out with us for a bit. We feel really lucky actually,” said Torchy’s cashier Aaron Sego.
“We were going to initially going to avoid the presidential traffic, we were going to go paddle boarding this morning, but we were like, ‘Let’s just go get tacos instead’ and then we ended up right in the thick of it,” said Julie Sweetin and Kasey Sandlin.
The president paid for the meal in cash and put a $20 tip in the tip jar.
Adler, who recently signed a “taco accord” with San Antonio, joked on social media about the stop.
FYI, stopping for tacos with the President does not violate the terms of the I-35 Accord with San Antonio. pic.twitter.com/3Yh74kPu1e
— Mayor Steve Adler (@MayorAdler) March 11, 2016
