When the payment system crashed at Tacos TJ 664 in Wichita, the Shear family finally made it through the wrap-around line only to discover the restaurant was accepting cash only and they didn’t have enough money for the fresh shrimp tacos they’d been craving. Mother Calli Shear thought “oh well” and headed for the door when a stranger in jeans with a Nick Nolte-like voice stopped them and handed them a $100 bill. He refused to take it back, refused their offer to Venmo him, and told them dinner was on him tonight before walking to the line to tip the staff with his change. Calli couldn’t believe strangers like that existed anymore and posted his picture on a Facebook foodie group asking if anyone knew him, and the post went locally viral until Jared, the “Taco Hero,” was found.
When asked why he made the spontaneous decision, Jared explained that he grew up poor and a family took him in when he needed it most, finishing raising him until he turned 18. He said if they hadn’t done that, he never would be in the place he is today and wouldn’t be able to help somebody out like that, owing everything to them. Tacos TJ 664 presented Jared with an honorary certificate as the “Wichita Taco Hero” and awarded him free tacos for the rest of the year. Restaurant manager Priscila Camacho said they wanted to thank him because he deserves it, even though he probably wasn’t intending for it to have the impact it did, proving that not all heroes wear capes, some just buy you tacos.
