This Wichita taco restaurant has become so popular, it has to move to a bigger space
It opened in December, and since then, Tacos tj 664’s Tijuana-style street food has gained quite a following.
In fact, the old Sonic building at 803 N. West Street that houses the restaurant has looked busier in the past nine months than it has in years — and many, many other restaurants have tried and failed to make a go in the space.
But as it turns out, the kitchen and dining room are just too small to accommodate the restaurant’s growing customer base, said owner Miguel Camacho, so he’s moving it.
But it won’t go far.
Before the end of the year, Tacos tj 664 will move a few blocks north to the old Copas Loka’s Sports & Cantina space at 1014 N. West St. That space has also been home to a rotating string of restaurants over the years, including Bucks Bar & Grill.
It’s much larger than the old Sonic building, Camacho said, and can seat about 100 — as opposed to the 30 indoor seats he has now. It also has a party room, which he plans to utilize.
“It will be more comfortable, and we want to be faster for our customers,” he said. “Right now, this place is really small and we’re really struggling.”
When he makes the move, likely in about two months, he’ll be able to add mixed drinks to his list of offerings. The menu, which includes things like street tacos, burritos and quesadillas, will remain mostly the same, he said.
The current Tacos tj 664 space won’t be vacant for long, though, Camacho said. He’s planning to reopen it as a different Mexican restaurant with a new name and a new menu. He and his partners are debating exactly what direction to take, he said, but he expects they’ll make a decision in the next couple of weeks.
The restaurant will likely have to close for a brief time when it makes the move, Camacho said.
Mark Murphy of InSite Real Estate Group handled the deal.
Tacos tj 664 started in 2018 as a taco truck, and it quickly gained a following, giving the owners the confidence to transition into a brick-and-mortar restaurant. Its specialty is street tacos made Tijuana style — topped with whole pinto beans, grilled cactus and guacamole that doesn’t cost extra. The restaurant has also become known for its beef birria and for a unique taco served on a tortilla made of melted cheese.
Camacho, who grew up in Tijuana and started cooking at age 8, worked in a series of restaurant kitchens before deciding to venture out on his own. The name of the business is an ode to Camacho’s hometown: The “tj” stands for Tijuana, and 664 is the area’s telephone area code.
I’ll keep you posted on opening day for the new Tacos tj 664 and also about Camacho’s plans for his current space.
This story was originally published September 22, 2020 at 10:50 AM.
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