This is not an April Fools joke! After almost three years of taco-fueled anticipation, the 40+ year old Tacos El Gordo chain of Mexican restaurants is approximately two weeks from openings its downtown San Diego location.
Tacos El Gordo, which first launched in Tijuana in 1972, is a fast-casual taco shop chain that specializes in authentic Mexican street tacos. El Gordo currently operates three locations in Tijuana, four branches in the Las Vegas area of Nevada, and three more in San Diego's South County. We announced in May 2016 the company had taken over the space previously occupied by Starbuck's within the historic William Penn Building in the Gaslamp Quarter with an opening to come the following year, but the long-stalled progress on the central San Diego location led many to believe it would never happen. The delay was likely due to a myriad of issues spanning from a lack of workforce to a more than $40,000 fine from the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration over unsafe working conditions.
The new downtown San Diego branch of Tacos El Gordo will offer 2,200 square-feet of interior space with a 900 square-foot mezzanine seating area. Like other locations, the menu will be centered around tacos made with various cuts of grilled carne asada and marinated pork adobada shaved off a vertical "trompo" roaster. Expect lines out the door upon opening.
Tacos El Gordo's downtown San Diego location is expected to open at 511 F Street in the Gaslamp by the weekend of April 12. For more information, visit tacoselgordobc.com and check out the menu below.
