Popular Wichita Mexican restaurant earns a rare invite to the main Riverfest food court
.jpg "In recent years, the Wichita Riverfest’s main food court has been occupied mostly by full-time concessionaires instead of restaurants. But the popular Tacos tj 664 earned a last-minute invite last year that turned into another chance in 2022.")
The food court set up during the four-day fall installment of the Wichita Riverfest in 2021 was about half the size as normal — and at the last minute, a vendor dropped out.
That created an opening, and one of Wichita’s most popular new Mexican restaurants — Tacos tj 664 at 1014 N. West St. — was asked to fill in. It was a bit of a coup, too, because in recent years, local restaurants have rarely been invited to join the lineup at the main food court.
Owner Miguel Camacho agreed, thinking that the exposure would be good for his restaurant. And it was, he said. Tacos tj 664 gained many new customers who discovered the restaurant at the Riverfest.
The restaurant will be back again when the Riverfest opens on Friday and will once again have a booth at the main food court, which is east of Century II.
But Camacho said his Riverfest booth won’t be serving food available in his restaurant, which is known for its lively atmosphere, giant margaritas and birria-filled quesadillas dipped in au jus. At the Riverfest, he said, he’ll serve two meats that his West Street restaurant menu doesn’t have: chicken tinga and piccadillo, which is ground beef cooked with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, carrots and potatoes. He’ll also serve al pastor, which is pork.
The three meats will be available in tacos, nachos or quesadillas, he said.
“We don’t want to have too many options that make people wait too long in the line,” he said. “We want something really quick.”
The two new meats will, however, be on the menu when Tacos tj 664 opens its east-side restaurant, which is taking over the old Emperor’s Grill space at 3526 N. Rock Road. Though Camacho originally planned to have it open by now, supply chain issues have caused delays. The sign will likely go up next week, and he hopes to have the restaurant open by July 14. (The West Street Tacos tj 664 will be closed for vacation from July 1-11 and reopen on July 12.)
The Wichita Riverfest food court opens at 11:45 a.m. on Friday with a ribbon cutting and daytime fireworks.
Among the other favorite vendors returning: Hoopinger Philly Steaks, Tad’s Bodacious Burritos, Tad’s Chicken on a Stick, Made 2 Grill, Chan’s Concessions, Texas Reds and D&J Pronto Pup.
A new food court vendor this year will be Santa Lucia Concessions, which serves Mediterranean fare like gyros, Greek salads, falafel on a stick, baklava and more.
As usual, people will need to first buy food court tickets before they visit the individual vendors. Tickets will be sold at booths set up in the food court.
Visitors will need their Riverfest buttons to get into the food court except during the food court business lunch hour, which lasts from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays.
The food court’s hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays.
To see all the vendors’ menus, visit wichitariverfest.com/food
This story was originally published June 3, 2022 at 5:25 AM.
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