Frosting It Forward

CultureMap unwraps a tasty taco giveaway for busy Rice Village diners

Cherry Nguyen wasn’t expecting to start a mini-movement, but that’s exactly what happened during a recent lunchtime rush at Torchy’s Tacos in Rice Village. “I was running around doing errands, really in the weeds,” says the Texas Children’s Hospital employee. “But this gift made my day, and made me want to stop and do something nice for someone else — so I did.”

The gift Nguyen received was free lunch, courtesy of Frost Bank. A CultureMap team surprised Torchy’s diners with a $10 gift card, courtesy of Frost Bank, as they were ready to check out. As many as 50 diners received free grub, as well as fun swag including caps and notebooks. The Rice Village location was awash in smiles and thanks in a veritable pay-it-forward fest.

It’s all part of Frost’s Opt for Optimism initiative, which encourages Houstonians to build optimism through a spirit of generosity, specifically by surprising strangers with a random act of kindness via the card. Whether you gift a cup of coffee, tacos, or the card, the idea is to share your good fortune with others — and ultimately, start a movement.

Once you’ve spread the joy, you’re encouraged to share your story on social media using the hashtag #frostitforward.

Many Torchy’s diners who experienced the pay-it-forward moment immediately did the same. Nguyen paid for the person after her, who, in turn, paid for the following customer. “I think this is absolutely amazing,” says Nguyen of the Frost It Forward theme. “Ever since Hurricane Harvey, we’ve learned that you never know what someone is going through. So it’s amazing to be able to make someone’s day.” Nguyen says she plans to use her gift cards in the future, which she apparently has.

Stopped at @Whataburger to get a quick and delicious lunch & paid for the next car’s lunch with #FrostItForward @FrostBank pic.twitter.com/zmHe2aZn9k

— Cherry Nguyen (@cherrysnguyen) September 20, 2018

If you’re looking to make a difference or make someone’s day, check out our handy guide to local charities, presented by CultureMap and Frost Bank. And be on the lookout for the CultureMap team and follow along on Instagram or Twitter — you never know where we’ll pop up next to spread the joy.

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Jacob Power contributed to this story.

Lucky lunchers were treated to tacos, courtesy of Frost Bank.

Photo by Jacob Power

Lucky lunchers were treated to tacos, courtesy of Frost Bank.

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let's all take the bus

Texas sees 5th highest surge in gas prices in the U.S. since 2025

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

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Houston residents who are feeling the sting at the gas pump aren't alone: Residents all around Texas are seeing soaring prices for regular and diesel fuel in 2026.

In fact, the Lone Star State has seen the fifth-highest percentage increase in gas prices in the country from April 2025 to April 2026, a just-released SmartAsset study has found. The current cost of a regular gallon of gas is 36.1 percent higher now than it was a year ago, and diesel is 60.9 percent more expensive.

The report, "Gas Prices Hit Records in 2026: State by State Breakdown," compared average gas prices from AAA from April 1, 2025 and April 1, 2026 and calculated the one-year change across all 50 states. The study looked at the price of a gallon of regular, premium, and diesel.

According to AAA, the cost of a regular gallon of gas in Texas at the start of April was $3.77, while premium is $4.62 per gallon. Diesel ticked over $5 a gallon — ouch — at $5.11.

Houston gas prices aren't much cheaper than the statewide average. A gallon of regular costs up to $3.76 at some Houston-area pumps, and diesel is $5.05 per gallon. AAA says the highest recorded average price for gas in the city was in June 2022, when a gallon of regular cost $4.68 and diesel cost $5.24.

Though Texas' gas prices are continuing to climb, it ranks 35th in the national ranking of states with the highest cost for regular gas as of April 2026. Texas' diesel prices are the 14th highest nationwide.

With the national average price for gas at $4.06, SmartAsset said the sudden surge in prices can be attributed to the United States' war on Iran, and "subsequent pressure on the Strait of Hormuz."

"Many states have experienced a 33 percent year-over-year increase in the cost of a gallon of regular gas – and in some places it’s even higher," the report's author wrote. "Commercial and public programs may be feeling similarly pinched, with diesel prices upwards of $6.00 per gallon in many states."

California currently has the highest average price for regular and diesel — $5.89 per gallon and $7.52 per gallon, respectively.

Arizona leads the nation with the highest one-year increase in gas prices. Regular gas in the Grand Canyon State is nearly 38 percent more expensive than it was last year, at $4.70 per gallon, and diesel is about 69 percent higher at $6.04 for a gallon.

The state with the cheapest gas prices in April is Oklahoma, where regular costs $3.27 per gallon, premium is $3.97, and diesel is $4.49.

gas prices texas smartasset