A restaurant specializing in Tijuana-style street food will open on Wichita’s west side
A Wichita taco truck that’s earned a following during its first year in business is about to open a stationary restaurant.
Tacos tj 664, which specializes in the the type of street food popular in Tijuana, Mexico, is set to open next month in the old Sonic building at 803 N. West St. that’s been home over the years to a string of short-lived restaurants. Its most recent occupant was Mo & Izzy’s Hash House, which closed last October.
Owner Miguel Camacho, who opened the Tacks tj 664 food truck almost a year ago, said the restaurant should be ready in about a month. Its specialty will be tacos made Tijuana style — topped with whole pinto beans, grilled cactus and guacamole that doesn’t cost extra.
Camacho, who grew up in Tijuana and started cooking at age 8, said he worked in a series of restaurant kitchens before deciding to venture out on his own. For the past year, he’s parked the truck near the Keeper of the Plains sculpture downtown and has taken it to festivals, events and contests around town.
But he wanted a restaurant where customers could enjoy his food year-round, he said, and he found the spot on West Street. Once it’s open, he said, the restaurant’s hours will likely be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. He’ll keep the truck but use it just for serving at festivals and events.
Camacho said he thinks Wichita will love the unique Tijuana-style street food he plans to sell. He’s contemplating adding a particularly decadent dish to his menu — a taco served on a tortilla made of melted cheese. He’s also planning to serve a spicy shrimp taco he’s become known for, and he’ll also offer the type of fish tacos popular in the town of Ensenada, Mexico.
Camacho will serve beer at the restaurant, where he’ll have indoor seating for 30. In the warm-weather months, he plans to set up outdoor seating.
Those who can’t wait for the restaurant to open have options.
The food truck will be set up in the parking lot of the about-to-open restaurant until it’s ready to go. The hours will be 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and 4 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Camacho also will be serving at the third annual Cuffs vs. Axes Charity Boxing Classic on Saturday at the Wichita Sports Forum, 2888 N. Greenwich.
The name of the business, Camacho said, is an ode to his hometown. The “tj” stands for Tijuana, and 664 is the area’s telephone area code.
I’ll let you know when the new restaurant is ready to go.
This story was originally published November 7, 2019 at 10:40 AM.
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