Our Story

It all started when two partners from Texas, way back in 1979, got the idea that the Mississippi Gulf Coast would appreciate having access to some quality, made-in-house, quick-service Mexican food.

Jimmie Johnson, his wife Jean, and Lynn Parkhill made the 800’ish mile trip from Texas and opened the first Taco Sombrero on Pass Road in Gulfport with a wing, a prayer, and a lot of hard work. That was 1980. Couple years later they expanded by adding a second location to the then somewhat-remote area of Orange Grove on Hwy 49. The rest, as they say, is history.

Jimmie, Jean and their daughter never stayed rooted in Mississippi, but instead traveled back and forth from Texas often over the years. And while Jimmie passed away in 2018, Jean and Cheri remain as committed as ever to the institution and legacy that is Taco Sombrero.

Mr. Lynn has been in Mississippi so many years now you’d never know he wasn’t a native. He and his wife Vicki are beloved members of the Gulf Coast community and raised their 4 children here. Two of those grown children are in Management at the restaurant today. You’ll very likely chat with Vicki if you interact with our Social Media accounts, and almost any given weekday you’ll see Lynn’s smiling face when you visit the Hwy 49 Corporate store for lunch.

In 2016, Taco Sombrero expanded into the world of Franchising when the first franchised store was opened in Biloxi by Danny and Windy Mercer. A former employee, Danny was the perfect fit to launch a new chapter of growth for Taco Sombrero. In April of 2019 their second store opened in Ocean Springs, so there are currently three Mississippi Gulf Coast locations to serve you.

Hope to see you at one of them real soon.