TACO CABANA INC
DEF 14A, 1999-07-13
EATING PLACES
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                      SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)  of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934



Filed by the Registrant  [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  [  ]

Check the appropriate box:

[   ]     Preliminary Proxy Statement
[   ]     Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
          14a-6(e)(2))
[X  ]     Definitive Proxy Statement
[   ]     Definitive Additional Materials
[   ]     Soliciting Material Pursuant to S240.1a-11(c) or S240.1a-12


                                Taco Cabana, Inc.
           (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
  (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (check the appropriate box):

[X  ]  No fee required.
[   ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
       0-11

     1)   Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

     2)   Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

     3)   Per unit price or  other underlying value  of transaction computed
          pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11: (set forth amount on which the
          filing is calculated and state how it was determined):

     4)   Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

     5)   Total fee paid:

[   ]     Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

[   ]     Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
     Act Rule 0-11(a)(2)  and identify the  filing for  which the offsetting
     fee was paid previously.  Identify  the previous filing by registration
     statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

     1)   Amount previously paid:

     2)   Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

     3)   Filing Party:

     4)   Date Filed:




                    Taco Cabana, Inc.
               8918 Tesoro Dr., Suite 200
                San Antonio, Texas  78217


        Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
                     August 19, 1999


TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF
TACO CABANA, INC.:

     Notice is hereby given that the  Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Taco
Cabana, Inc., a  Delaware corporation (the  "Company"), will be  held at the
Airport Hilton  Hotel,  611  Northwest  Loop  410,  San  Antonio,  Texas, on
Thursday, August  19, 1999,  at 10:00  a.m., Central  Daylight Time  for the
following purposes:

    1.) To elect six directors.

    2.) To transact  such other  business as may  properly come  before the
meeting or any adjournment thereof.

     The Board of  Directors has  fixed the close  of business  on Thursday,
July 1,  1999  as the  record  date for  the  determination  of stockholders
entitled to vote at the meeting.

     We hope that you will be  able to attend the meeting  in person, but if
you are unable  to do so,  please fill in,  sign and promptly  mail back the
enclosed proxy form, using  the return envelope provided.  If for any reason
you should  subsequently change  your plans,  you can  of course  revoke the
proxy at any time before it is actually voted.

                          BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS



                          David G. Lloyd
                          Secretary

San Antonio, Texas
July 13, 1999






                    TACO CABANA, INC.
                     PROXY STATEMENT
         FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
               TO BE HELD AUGUST 19, 1999

                       THE MEETING


     This Proxy Statement is  furnished to the stockholders  of Taco Cabana,
Inc., a Delaware corporation, in connection with the solicitation of proxies
by the Board of  Directors of the Company  for use at the  Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to be  held Thursday,  August 19, 1999  (the "Meeting" ). This
Proxy Statement, the accompanying proxy, and the Company's Annual Report are
being sent or given to the stockholders of the  Company on or about July 13,
1999.

     The presence, in person  or by proxy, of  the holders of  a majority of
the outstanding  shares  of  the  Company's  Common  Stock  is  necessary to
constitute a quorum  at the  Meeting. Pursuant  to applicable  Delaware law,
only  votes  cast  "for"  a  matter   constitute  affirmative  votes.  Votes
"withheld" or abstaining  from voting are  counted for  quorum purposes, but
since they are not cast "for"  a particular matter, they  will have the same
effect as negative votes or votes "against" a particular matter. In deciding
all questions, a holder of Common  Stock is entitled to  one vote, in person
or by proxy, for each share held on the record date.

     Proxies in the form enclosed will be  voted at the Meeting, if properly
executed, returned to the  Company prior to  the Meeting and  not revoked. A
proxy may be revoked at any time before it is voted by giving written notice
of revocation to the Secretary of the Company  prior to the convening of the
Meeting, or by  presenting another  proxy card with  a later  date.   If you
attend the Meeting and desire to  vote in person, you  may request that your
previously submitted proxy card not be used.

     The record date  for stockholders  entitled to vote  at the  Meeting is
July 1, 1999.  At the  close of business  on July  1, 1999,  the Company had
issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Meeting 13,400,900 shares
of Common Stock.  As of  July 1, 1999, the  directors and executive officers
of the Company owned a total of 94,880 shares of the Company's Common Stock,
or approximately 0.7% of the total number of shares outstanding and entitled
to vote at the Meeting.





                             PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

     The  following  table  sets  forth  certain   information  concerning  the
beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of June 1,  1999, by: (i)
each person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of  more than 5% of
its Common  Stock,  (ii) each  executive  officer of  the  Company, (iii)  each
director of the Company, and (iv) all directors and officers as a group. Unless
otherwise indicated, each  of the stockholders  has sole voting  and investment
power with respect to the shares beneficially owned.

                                 Shares Beneficially Owned
        Name                       Number         Percent

     Stephen V. Clark  (1)       170,063           1.2%

     David G. Lloyd  (2)          86,000            *

     Douglas Gammon  (3)          30,000            *

     Dennis Greenia  (4)          15,000            *

     William J. Nimmo  (5)        11,817            *

     Richard Sherman  (6)         87,003            *

     Cecil Schenker  (7)         107,503            *

     Lionel Sosa  (8)              8,000            *

     Rod Sands (9)                70,000            *

     Massachusetts Financial
     Services Co.  (10)        1,199,301           8.6%

     Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. (11)        982,764    7.1%

     All directors and officers as
         a group (9 persons)  (12)585,386          4.2%
___________________________
*    Less than 1%.



                                       2




(1)  Includes 160,000  shares  subject to  presently  exercisable  options (or
     those exercisable  within  60  days).  Excludes  140,000 shares  issuable
     pursuant to options which  are not currently  exercisable (or exercisable
     within 60 days).
(2)  Includes 75,000 shares subject to presently exercisable options (or those
     exercisable within 60 days). Excludes 75,000  shares issuable pursuant to
     options which  are not  currently exercisable  (or exercisable  within 60
     days).
(3)  Includes 25,000 shares issuable pursuant to presently exercisable options
     (or those exercisable within  60 days).  Excludes  75,000 shares issuable
     pursuant to options which  are not currently  exercisable (or exercisable
     within 60 days).
(4)  Represents shares  subject  to presently  exercisable  options  (or those
     exercisable within 60 days).  Excludes 60,000 shares issuable pursuant to
     options which  are not  currently exercisable  (or exercisable  within 60
     days).
(5)  Includes 8,000 shares issuable pursuant  to presently exercisable options
     (or those exercisable within  60 days).  Excludes  18,000 shares issuable
     pursuant to options which  are not currently  exercisable (or exercisable
     within 60 days).
(6)  Represents shares  subject  to presently  exercisable  options  (or those
     exercisable within 60 days).  Excludes  6,000 shares issuable pursuant to
     options which  are not  currently exercisable  (or exercisable  within 60
     days).
(7)  Represents shares  subject  to presently  exercisable  options  (or those
     exercisable within 60 days).  Excludes  6,000 shares issuable pursuant to
     options which  are not  currently exercisable  (or exercisable  within 60
     days).
(8)  Represents shares  subject  to presently  exercisable  options  (or those
     exercisable within 60 days).  Excludes 18,000 shares issuable pursuant to
     options which  are not  currently exercisable  (or exercisable  within 60
     days).
(9)  Includes 5,000 shares subject to presently  exercisable options (or those
     exercisable within 60 days). Excludes 18,000  shares issuable pursuant to
     options which  are not  currently exercisable  (or exercisable  within 60
     days).
(10) Based upon Schedule 13G,  filed jointly in February  1996, and amended in
     February 1999, indicating  beneficial ownership  as stated in  the table,
     and shared  dispositive  power  as  to  all  shares  beneficially  owned.
     Included in  the  joint  filing  were  Massachusetts  Financial  Services
     Company ("MFS"),  indicating beneficial  ownership and  sole dispositive
     power of 1,199,301 shares and  MFS Series Trust II  - MFS Emerging Growth
     Fund ("MEG"),  indicating 770,000  shares beneficially  owned by  MFS as
     well as MEG. Address: 500 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.
(11) Based upon Schedule  13G, filed  in February 1999,  indicating beneficial
     ownership, sole dispositive power and sole voting  power as stated in the
     table. Address: 1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor, Santa Monica, CA 90401.
(12) Includes 490,506  shares  subject to  presently  exercisable  options (or
     those exercisable  within  60  days).  Excludes  416,000 shares  issuable
     pursuant to options which  are not currently  exercisable (or exercisable
     within 60 days).




                                       3





                                   PROPOSAL 1
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

  At the Annual Meeting six directors are to  be elected by plurality of the
votes cast by the holders of  the shares of outstanding  Common Stock of the
Company. Under  applicable  Delaware  law, in  tabulating  the  vote, broker
nonvotes will be disregarded and have no effect  on the outcome of the vote.
Each outstanding share  of Common Stock  entitles the holder  thereof to one
vote with respect to the election of the six director positions to be filled
at this meeting. The nominees for director  are Stephen V. Clark, William J.
Nimmo, Richard Sherman,  Cecil Schenker, Lionel  Sosa and Rod  Sands. All of
the nominees  are  presently  directors  of  the  Company.  For  information
concerning the backgrounds  of such  nominees, see "Directors  and Executive
Officers" on page 5.

  The enclosed Proxy, if properly signed and  returned will be voted FOR the
election of these  six nominees  unless authority to  vote is  withheld. The
Board of Directors has no reason  to believe that any  of such nominees will
be unable to  serve if  elected. In the  event any  of such  nominees become
unavailable for election, votes will be  cast, pursuant to authority granted
by the enclosed Proxy, for  such substitute nominee as  may be designated by
the Board of Directors. All directors will hold office until the next annual
meeting of stockholders  and until their  successors have  been duly elected
and qualified,  unless  prior to  such  meeting a  director  resigns  or his
directorship otherwise becomes vacant.

  THE BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS  THAT STOCKHOLDERS  VOTE  "FOR"  THE
ELECTION OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES.







                                       4





                        Directors and Executive Officers

     The directors and executive  officers of the  Company and their  respective
ages are as follows:

     Name                      Age      Position

     Stephen V. Clark          45       Chief Executive Officer,
                                        President and Director
     Douglas Gammon            52       Senior Vice President - Human
                                        Resources and People
                                        Development
     Dennis Greenia            49       Senior Vice President Marketing
     David G. Lloyd            36       Senior Vice President - Finance,
                                        Chief Financial Officer
                                        Secretary and Treasurer
     William J. Nimmo          45       Director
     Rod Sands                 51       Director
     Cecil Schenker            56       Director
     Richard Sherman           55       Director
     Lionel Sosa               60       Director



     Mr. Clark  has  served as  the  Company's  Chief Executive  Officer  since
November 1996, and as the President, Chief Operating Officer, and as a Director
since April  1995.   Prior to  that, Mr.  Clark  was with  Church's Chicken,  a
division of  America's Favorite  Chicken, for  seventeen years  with his  final
title having been Senior Vice President  and Concept General Manager.   He also
served on the executive committee of America's Favorite Chicken and  was on the
Board of Directors of Church's Operators Purchasing Association.   In his final
position with America's Favorite  Chicken, Mr. Clark was  primarily responsible
for the day-to-day operations of  over 1100 company-owned and  franchised units
with aggregate sales volume in excess of $600 million.

     Mr. Gammon joined  the Company  in March  1997 as  Senior Vice  President,
Human Resources and People Development.  From December 1989 to  March 1997, Mr.
Gammon served as  Vice President of  Human Resources at  Marriott International
which has over 15,000 employees in 50 states.  Mr. Gammon has  over 18 years of
experience in the human resources field as well as over six years experience in
restaurant operations.  He was the past President for the Council  of Hotel and
Restaurant Trainers.

     Mr. Greenia joined  the Company in  July 1998 as  Senior Vice  President -
Marketing. From January 1989 to July  1998, Mr. Greenia served as  President of
the Merrill Group, a  marketing consulting firm  in Atlanta GA.,  whose clients
included the  Coca-Cola  Company,  Dominos  Pizza, Bally's  Total  Fitness  and
Hardee's Foods. Mr. Greenia  has over 19  years experience both  nationally and
internationally in the food service industry holding positions with Burger King
Corporation, J. Walter Thompson Advertising and  Coca Cola USA. Mr.  Greenia is
currently also a majority partner in Mobile Media Network of Atlanta, Inc.




                                       5





     Mr. Lloyd joined the Company in October 1994 as Vice  President - Finance,
Chief Financial Officer,  Secretary and  Treasurer and was  promoted to  Senior
Vice President in May 1996.  From August 1985 to October 1994, Mr. Lloyd served
in various  capacities  with  Deloitte  &  Touche  (the  Company's  independent
auditors), with his last position being  Senior Audit Manager.  Mr. Lloyd  is a
certified public accountant.

     Mr. Nimmo has  served as a  director of the  Company since  November 1991.
Since May 1997,  Mr. Nimmo  has been a  Partner with  Halpern, Denny  & Co.,  a
venture capital firm in Boston, Massachusetts.  Prior to that, Mr. Nimmo served
as Managing Director of Cornerstone Equity Investors, Inc., and its predecessor
firm, Prudential Equity Investors, Inc., since September 1989.

     Mr. Sands has been  a director of the  Company since February  1998. Since
July 1997, Mr.  Sands has  served as the  Managing Director  of Silver  Venture
Capital Management, a private equity investment fund. From August  1992 to July
1997, Mr. Sands  served as the  President and Chief  Operating Officer  of Pace
Foods, a food manufacturer with revenues  in excess of $200 million.  Mr. Sands
currently serves on  the board of  directors of  Orval Kent  Holdings, Packaged
Ice, Inc., Texas Commerce Bank/Chase-San Antonio and Benefit  Planners, Inc. He
is also a member of St. Mary's University Business Advisory Board.

     Mr. Schenker has been a director  of the Company since January 1992.   Mr.
Schenker is a corporate securities attorney and is the managing  partner of the
San Antonio, Texas office of the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld,
L.L.P., of  which Mr.  Schenker has  been  a partner  through his  professional
corporation since January of 1984.   Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer &  Feld, L.L.P.
has regularly performed legal services for the Company.  Mr. Schenker is also a
director of LOT$OFF Corporation, formerly 50-Off Stores, Inc.

     Mr. Sherman has been a director  of the Company since November 1991.   Mr.
Sherman is a  private investor and  retail consultant.   Mr. Sherman  served as
President and Chief Executive Officer of  Rally's, Inc. from September  1987 to
January 1991.  From August 1989 to January 1991, he also served  as Chairman of
the Board of Rally's,  Inc.  Mr.  Sherman currently serves  as a member  of the
Board of Trustees of Paul Quinn  College in Dallas, Texas and as  a director of
Reed's Jewelers, Inc., Papa John's International, Inc., and PJ America, Inc.

     Mr. Sosa has been  a director of the  Company since August 1997.  Mr. Sosa
has served as the Chief Executive Officer of KJS Marketing Agency since January
1996. From 1994 to 1996 he  served as Chairman of DMB&B/Americas, a  network of
advertising agencies in the  U.S. and Latin America.  In 1980 Mr.  Sosa founded
the agency of Sosa, Bromley, Aguilar, Noble & Associates, an advertising agency
specializing in Hispanic  marketing in the  U.S. Mr.  Sosa sold  Sosa, Bromley,
Aguilar, Noble & Associates  in 1994. Mr. Sosa  is currently a Director  of the
Children's Television Workshop Network.










                                       6





     The Board of Directors has a compensation and stock option committee which
currently consists of William  J. Nimmo, Richard  Sherman, Lionel Sosa  and Rod
Sands. The  Board of  Directors also  has  an audit  committee which  currently
consists of William J. Nimmo, Richard Sherman, Lionel Sosa,  Cecil Schenker and
Rod Sands.    The Board  of  Directors does  not  currently have  a  nominating
committee.   All  directors serve  for  a term  of  one  year and  until  their
successors are duly elected.  Each director who is not also an  employee of the
Company receives an annual retainer of $25,000, and an attendance fee of $2,500
per Board  meeting.    All  non-employee  directors are  reimbursed  for  their
expenses. The Board of   Directors met four  times during 1998.  Each incumbent
director attended at least  75% of the aggregate  number of Board  meetings and
meetings of Board committees of which he was a member held during 1998.

     The  compensation   and  stock   option  committee   monitors  and   makes
recommendations to the Board with respect to compensation programs for officers
and directors and administers the Company's Stock Option Plan. The compensation
and stock option committee met two times during 1998.

     The audit committee considers the adequacy of the internal controls of the
Company  and the objectivity of financial reporting; meets with the independent
certified public accountants and appropriate Company  financial personnel about
these matters; and recommends to the  Board the appointment of  the independent
certified public accountants. The audit committee met two times in 1998.


Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     Section 16(a) of  the Securities  Exchange Act  of 1934,  as amended  (the
"Exchange Act" ) requires  each director and executive officer of  the Company,
and each person who owns more  than 10% of a registered class  of the Company's
equity securities to file  by specific dates  with the Securities  and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC")  initial reports of ownership and reports  of change in
ownership  of  Common  Stock  and  other  equity  securities  of  the  Company.
Officers, directors  and 10%  stockholders are  required by  SEC regulation  to
furnish the Company  with copies  of all Section  16(a) forms  they file.   The
Company is required to report in  this report any failure of its  directors and
executive officers to file by the relevant due date any of these reports during
the Company's fiscal year.

     To  the  Company's  knowledge,  all  Section   16(a)  filing  requirements
applicable to  the Company's  officers, directors,  and  10% stockholders  were
complied with, except for one late filing  each as to a Form 4  for Lionel Sosa
and Rod Sands.




                                        7




                            EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

  Executive compensation is set at levels which are sufficiently competitive
with companies of similar size and type to permit the Company to attract and
retain the best possible individuals. Compensation  is structured to provide
incentives for  executive  officer performance  that  results  in continuing
improvements in the  Company's financial results,  over both  the short term
and the long term.  Compensation is also  designed to align the interests of
the Company's executives and its stockholders  by providing for payment of a
significant portion of incentive compensation in  the form of stock options.
Moreover,  each  executive   officer's  compensation  is   based  upon  both
individual and Company performance.

  As may be seen from the Summary Compensation Table included on page 9, the
compensation of executive officers  consists of three  principal parts, each
of which is reviewed regularly by the committee.

  Salaries shown  in  the  Summary Compensation  Table  represent  the fixed
portion of  compensation for  executive officers  for  the year.  Changes in
salary depend upon Company as well as individual performance.

  The bonuses shown in  the Summary Compensation  Table are paid  in cash to
executive  officers   and   depend   upon   the   financial   and  strategic
accomplishments of the Company. The Committee  also has discretion to modify
the bonus  based  upon individual  performance,  including  the individual's
progress in implementing the Company's goals.

  The third principal  component of  compensation arises from  the Company's
grant of stock  options to  executive officers  (the Company's  Stock Option
Plan actually covers  several levels of  employees). The  Committee sets the
number of options to  be granted based  on a variety  of factors, including,
principally, salary grade, Company and individual performance and individual
levels of stock ownership.  All options under  the Plan are  granted at fair
market value, and therefore any value  which ultimately accrues to executive
officers is based  entirely on  the Company's  performance, as  perceived by
investors who establish the price for the Company's Common Stock.

  A written  employment  agreement  served as  the  principal  basis  of Mr.
Clark's compensation during 1998. During 1998  Mr. Clark's annual salary was
adjusted  to  reflect  his   responsibilities,  experience,  his  individual
performance and important  contributions to the  Company.   In addition, Mr.
Clark received a bonus of $163,846 and options to purchase 100,000 shares of
the Company's common stock.   The Compensation Committee  noted the increase
in the Company's earnings per share and improved operations of the Company.


Respectfully submitted,
THE COMPENSATION AND STOCK OPTION  COMMITTEE
Richard Sherman, William J. Nimmo, Lionel Sosa, Rod Sands




                                        8





     Summary Compensation  Table.    The following  table  sets  forth certain
information concerning the compensation earned during the Company's last three
fiscal years by the Company's Chief Executive  Officer and the Company's other
executive officers (collectively the "named executive officers"):

<TABLE>
                                Summary Compensation Table

<CAPTION>
                                            Annual Compensation            Long-Term Compensation
                                    ------------------------------- ---------------------------------
                                                                             Awards          Payouts
                                                                    ------------------------ -------
                                                            Other               Securites
                                                            Annual  Restricted  Underlying             All Other
                                                            Compen-   Stock      Options/     LTIP      Compen-
  Name and Principal       Fiscal   Salary      Bonus       sation   Award(s)     SARs       Payouts    sation
     Position               Year     ($)         ($)        ($)(1)     ($)         (#)         ($)        ($)
<S>                        <C>     <C>          <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>          <C>       <C>

Stephen V.Clark,           1998    281,882      163,846          -       -       100,000        -          -
Chief Executive Officer,   1997    255,420            -          -       -             -        -          -
President, Chief           1996    233,404            -          -       -             -        -          -
Operating Officer

David G. Lloyd,            1998    157,004       61,845          -       -        50,000        -          -
Senior Vice President,     1997    143,528            -          -       -             -        -          -
Chief Financial Officer,   1996    135,138            -          -       -             -        -          -
Secretary and Treasurer

Douglas Gammon             1998    142,469       53,577     38,393(3)    -        25,000        -          -
Senior Vice President -    1997    113,820(2)         -     55,135(3)    -        75,000        -          -
Human Resources and
People Development

Dennis Greenia             1998     61,060(4)    26,000           -      -        75,000        -          -
Senior Vice President-
Marketing

James A. Eliasberg         1998    204,256(5)         -           -      -             -        -          -
Senior Vice President -    1997    191,877            -           -      -             -        -          -
and General Counsel        1996    189,235            -           -      -             -        -          -

</TABLE>
- - - -----------------

(1)Certain of the  Company's executive  officers receive  personal benefits in
   addition to  salary; however, the  Company has  concluded that  the aggregate
   amounts of such personal benefits do not exceed  the lesser of $50,000 or 10%
   of annual salary and bonus reported for any named executive officer.
(2)Mr. Gammon joined the Company in March 1997.
(3)Represents relocation expense reimbursements.
(4)Mr. Greenia joined the Company in July 1998.
(5)Mr. Eliasberg  served as  Senior Vice  President and  General Counsel until
   September 1998.




                                       9





Stock Option Plans and Directors' Options

     Under the  Taco Cabana,  Inc. 1990  Stock Option  Plan (the  "1990  Option
Plan"),  amended in August  1992, and  the 1994  Stock Option Plan  (the "1994
Option Plan"), amended in August  1997,  options  to purchase up  to 1,500,000
and  1,250,000  shares,  respectively,  of  Common  Stock  may  be  granted  to
employees, outside directors and consultants and advisers of the Company or any
subsidiary corporation or entity.  The stock is intended to  permit the Company
to retain and attract qualified individuals who will contribute  to its overall
success.  Shares that by reason  of the expiration of an option  (other than by
reason of exercise) or which are  no longer subject to purchase pursuant  to an
option granted under an Option Plan may be reoptioned thereunder.  The 1990 and
1994 Option Plans  are administered by  a committee  of outside  directors (the
"Committee" ).   The Committee sets  specific terms  and conditions  of options
granted under the 1990 and 1994 Option Plans and administers the  1990 and 1994
Option Plans, as well as the  Company's other employee benefit plans  which may
be in effect from time to  time.  The Committee currently consists  of  William
J. Nimmo, Lionel Sosa, Richard Sherman and Rod Sands.

     The Company's employees  are eligible  to receive  either incentive  stock
options or  nonqualified  stock  options  or  a combination  of  both,  as  the
Committee  determines.     Non-employee  participants   may  be  granted   only
nonqualified stock options.   Stock options  may be granted  for a term  not to
exceed ten years (five  years with respect to  a holder of  10% or more  of the
Company's shares  in  the  case of  an  incentive  stock option)  and  are  not
transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and  distribution.  Each
option may be exercised within the  term of the option pursuant to  which it is
granted (so long as the optionee,  if an employee, continues to be  employed by
the Company).  In addition, an incentive option may be exercised within 90 days
after the termination of employment of the optionee (subject to any limitations
in the  particular  option),  within one  year  after  termination in  case  of
termination because of disability, or throughout the term of the  option in the
event of  the optionee's  death, to  the extent  in  each case  the option  was
exercisable at  the  termination date.    A nonqualified  stock  option may  be
exercised for  such  period, but  not  later than  the  expiration date,  after
termination of employment,  disability or  death, as  may be  specified in  the
particular option.

     The exercise price of all incentive  stock options must be at  least equal
to the fair market value of the Common  Stock on the date of grant,  or 110% of
fair market value with respect to any incentive stock option issued to a holder
of 10% or  more of the  Company's shares.   Stock options  may be  exercised by
payment in  cash  of the  exercise  price with  respect  to  each share  to  be
purchased, by delivering  Common Stock  of the  Company already  owned by  such
optionee with a market  value equal to  the exercise price,  or by a  method in
which a concurrent sale  of the acquired stock  is arranged, with  the exercise
price payable in cash from such sale proceeds.




                                       10



     The  1994  Option   Plan  provides   that  each   outside  director   will
automatically receive a grant of 3,000 nonqualified stock options  each year on
the fifth business  day following  the first  public release  of the  Company's
audited earnings report on results of operations for the preceding fiscal year.
Each such option  will become  exercisable in  whole or  in part  on the  first
anniversary of the award through the balance of its ten-year term.   Subject to
availability of  shares  allocated to  the  1994 Option  Plan  and not  already
reserved for other  outstanding stock options,  outside directors who  join the
Board in the future  will in addition receive  an initial grant of  options for
20,000 shares, which will become exercisable in five equal increments beginning
on the first anniversary of the  award and on each of the  next four succeeding
anniversary dates.  Such options will  be exercisable for a term of  ten years.
Such options will be awarded upon  their appointment or election to  the Board.
Options, once granted  and to the  extent exercisable, will  remain exercisable
throughout their  term,  regardless  of  whether  the  holder  continues  as  a
director.  The  exercise price  of the options  is equal  to 100%  of the  fair
market value of a share of  Common Stock at the time of grant.

     The 1990 Option Plan will terminate on October 14, 2000.   The 1994 Option
Plan will terminate on October 17, 2004.  The Board of  Directors may, however,
terminate the 1990 and  1994 Option Plans at any time prior  to such respective
dates.  Termination of the 1990 and 1994 Option Plans will not alter or impair,
without the consent of the optionee, any of the rights  or obligations pursuant
to any option granted under the Option Plans.

     As of June 1,  1999, options for 465,592  shares of common stock  had been
granted under  the  1990 Option  Plan  and were  outstanding,  with a  weighted
average exercise  price  of $6.06  per  share, and  no  additional shares  were
available for issuance  upon exercise of  options which may  be granted  in the
future.  As of June 1, 1999, options for 1,034,408 shares had been exercised.

     As of June 1, 1999, options for 1,072,417 shares of common  stock had been
granted under  the  1994 Option  Plan  and were  outstanding,  with a  weighted
average exercise price of $5.37 per  share, and 177,583 additional  shares were
available for issuance  upon exercise of  options which may  be granted  in the
future.  As of June 1, 1999, 150,884 options had been exercised.




                                        11



     Stock Option  Grant  Table.    The  following  table  sets  forth  certain
information concerning options granted  to the named executive  officers during
the Company's fiscal year ended January 3, 1999:

                Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year

                      Percent                           Potential Realizable
                       Total                               Value at Assumed
                      Options                              Annual Rates of
                     Granted to  Exercise                   Stock Price
            Options  Employees      or                     Appreciation
            Granted     in        Base                  for Option Term (2)
             #(1)      Fiscal     Price    Expiration   --------------------
   Name       (3)       Year     ($/Sh)       Date        5% ($)     10% ($)
- - - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen     100,000     21%        6.125     4/24/2008   385,198    976,167
V. Clark
David G.    50,000      10%       6.1875     6/09/2008   194,564    493,064
Lloyd
Douglas     25,000       5%        6.125    11/16/2008   96,299     244,042
Gammon
Dennis      75,000      16%        6.25      7/26/2008   294,794    747,067
Greenia
James A.       -         -           -           -          -          -
Eliasberg
- - - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------



 (1) All  such stock options were granted for the number of  shares indicated at
     an exercise price equal  to the fair market  value of the Common  Stock on
     the date of grant as determined by the Company's Board of Directors.   All
     such stock options noted  above were granted 10  years prior to  the noted
     expiration date.    The  options become  exercisable   beginning one  year
     after the date of grant in five equal annual installments.   The Company's
     current Option  Plans  do  not  make  provision for  the  award  of  stock
     appreciation rights  ("SARs") and  the  Company  has no  SARs  currently
     outstanding.
 (2) As required by rules of the Securities  and Exchange Commission ("SEC"),
     potential values stated  are based  on the assumption  that the  Company's
     Common Stock will appreciate in value from the date of grant to the end of
     the option term (ten years from the date of grant) at  annualized rates of
     5%  and  10%   (total  appreciation  of   approximately  63%   and  159%),
     respectively, and therefore are  not intended to forecast  possible future
     appreciation, if any, in the price of the Common Stock.
 (3) Upon  occurrence of a change of control  of Taco Cabana, as defined in the
     related Stock Option  Agreements, all outstanding  options, to  the extent
     not exercisable, will immediately become exercisable.




                                       12






     Stock Option Exercises and Holdings  Table.  The following  table provides
information concerning the exercise of options and value of unexercised options
held by the named executive officers at January 3, 1999:


         Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
                and Fiscal Year-End Option Values


             Shares                  Number of
            Acquired               Unexercised
               on      Value         Options         Value of Unexercised
           Exercise   Realize     at Fiscal Year     In-the-Money Options
 Name         (#)      ($)           End (#)       at Fiscal Year End ($)(1)
- - - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Exercis-  Unexercis-  Exercis-    Unexercis-
                                  able       able       able         Able
- - - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen V.      -         -     120,000     180,000    315,000       372,500
Clark
David G.        -         -      65,000      85,000     84,375       134,375
Lloyd
Douglas         -         -      15,000      85,000     41,250       205,625
Gammon
Dennia          -         -           -      75,000          -       112,500
Greenia
James A.        -         -           -           -          -             -
Eliasberg (2)
- - - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)Values stated are based on  the last sale price  of $7.75 per share  of the
   Company's Common Stock on the NASDAQ  National Market System on December 31,
   1998,  the last  trading day of  the fiscal  year, and  equal the  aggregate
   amount by which  the market value of the option shares  exceeds the exercise
   price of such options at the end of the fiscal year.
(2)Mr. Eliasberg served  as Senior  Vice President and  General Counsel  until
   September 1998.






Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None.




                                        13




                          STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH

               Comparison of Five Year-Cumulatvie Total Returns
                           Performance Graph for
                            Taco Cabana, Inc.

                         (GRAPH APPEARS HERE)

  Measurement                   NASDAQ
    Period                       Stock              NASDAQ Stocks
  (Fiscal Year   Taco Cabana,   Market        (SIC 5800-5899 US Companies)
    Covered)         Inc.     (US Companies)   Eating and drinking places
- - - --------------   ------------ --------------   ---------------------------
  12/30/1994        50.7          97.8                  72.2
  12/29/1995        28.2         138.3                  87.9
  12/27/1996        41.2         170.2                  85.4
  12/26/1997        26.1         200.7                  72.6
  12/31/1998        43.7         293.8                  66.8

Notes:
A.  The lines represent monthly index levels derived from compounded daily
    returns that include all dividends.
B.  The indexes are reweighted daily, using the market capitalization on the
    previous trading day.
C.  If the monthly interval, based on the fiscal year-end, is not a trading day,
    the preceding trading day is used.
D.  The index level for all series was set to $100.00 on 12/31/1993.



                                      14



                          INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS



     The financial statements and schedules of  the Company as of January 3,
1999 and for the year then  ended were audited by Deloitte  & Touche LLP. It
is anticipated that if the nominees are  elected as directors, the new Board
of Directors  will  reappoint  such  firm  as  independent  certified public
accountants for  the current  fiscal year.  A  representative of  Deloitte &
Touche LLP will be present at the Meeting,  will have an opportunity to make
a statement if he or she  desires to do so and will  be available to respond
to appropriate questions.

                               ANNUAL REPORT

     The Company's Annual Report  for the year ended  January 3, 1999, which
includes  the  Company's   financial  statements,   accompanies  this  proxy
statement, but is not incorporated as part of the proxy statement and is not
to be regarded as part of the proxy solicitation material.

                               OTHER MATTERS

     The Company's management  knows of no  other matters  that may properly
be, or which are likely to  be, brought before the  meeting. However, if any
other matters are properly brought before  the meeting, the persons named in
the enclosed proxy, or their substitutes, will vote in accordance with their
best judgment on such matters.





                           STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

     The Company intends to conduct the  next annual meeting of stockholders
in approximately  June  2000.  Proposals  by  stockholders  intended  to  be
presented at the annual meeting to  be held in 2000 must  be received by the
Company by March 1, 2000 to be included in the Company's proxy statement and
form of proxy relating  to that meeting. Such  proposals should be addressed
to the Secretary of the Company at the address indicated in this notice.




                                      15



                   COST AND METHOD OF PROXY SOLICITATION

     The accompanying Proxy  is being  solicited on behalf  of the  Board of
Directors of the  Company.  The  expense of preparing,  printing and mailing
the form of Proxy and the material used  in the solicitation thereof will be
borne by the Company.  In addition to the  use of the mails,  proxies may be
solicited by  personal  interview,  telephone  and  telegram  by  directors,
officers and employees  of the Company.  Arrangements may also  be made with
brokerage  houses  and  other  custodians,   nominees  and  fiduciaries  for
forwarding of solicitation materials to the  beneficial owners of stock held
by such persons, and  the Company may reimburse  them for reasonable out-of-
pocket expenses incurred by them in connection therewith.



                              By Order of the Board of Directors



                              David G. Lloyd
                              Secretary






                           TACO CABANA, INC.

       THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR
   THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1999

The undersigned hereby appoints STEPHEN CLARK and DAVID G. LLOYD, and each of
them, proxies, with the powers the undersigned would possess if personally
present, and with full power of substitution, to vote, at the annual meeting
and at any adjournment thereof, all shares of Common stock of the undersigned
in Taco Cabana, Inc. held of record on the record date, upon all subjects that
may properly come before the meeting, including matters described in the proxy
statement furnished herewith, subject to any directions indicated on this card.
If no directions are given and the signed card is returned, the proxies will
vote FOR item 1 and at their direction on any other matter that may properly
come before the meeting any adjournment thereof.

Instruction                                         (change of address)

To withhold authority to vote for any           ___________________________
individual nominee, strike a line through       ___________________________
the nominee's name in the list below:           ___________________________
                                                ___________________________
    Stephen V. Clark   William Nimmo            (If you have written in the
    Richard Sherman    Cecil Schenker           above space, please mark the
    Lionel Sosa        Rod Sands                corresponding box on the
                                                reverse side of this card)


No.                                                    SEE REVERSE SIDE



                           TACO CABANA, INC.
      PLEASE MARK IN OVAL IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER USING DARK INK ONLY

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR item 1              WITHHELD
                                                       FOR       AUTHORITY
1.  Election of Directors
    (see reverse)

Note:  Please sign exactly as name appears on the certificate.  When shares are
held by joint tenants, both should sign, if a corporation, please sign in full
corporate name by president or other authorized officer, if a partnership please
sign in partnership name by authorized person.  When signing as attorney,
trustee, guardian, officer or partner, please give full title as such.


- - - ---------------------------------
Signature                    Date


- - - ---------------------------------
Signature                    Date






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