Update:
The restaurant is now open.
Original:
GATES, N.Y. (WROC) — A Rochester favorite taco truck, TacoDero, is opening its first brick-and-mortar location. They are taking over the old Mr. Theo’s diner space on Brooks Avenue near the airport.
TacoDero Restaurant and Lounge will have its grand opening on August 29th from 4 p.m. through 11 p.m., according to the restaurant’s Instagram. The grand opening will have a DJ, drinks, and of course, tacos.
The taco truck has made a name for itself, selling “L.A. style street tacos,” known as “birria” tacos, as well as their regular “Taco Tuesday” events.
Rivera was working as a personal chef in New York and discovered these street tacos — usually made with braised beef and topped with cilantro and onion on a warmed corn tortilla — on a trip to L.A. right before the pandemic.
He knew he needed to bring these flavors back to Rochester. But before the food truck was officially launched in August 2021, the business had humble beginnings.
“Starting in June 2020, I would do every Taco Tuesday out of my backyard with a couple of flat tops and just a couple of my friends helping me out,” Rivera said in a phone interview with News 8 Monday.
He says the continued support from the community, as well as their booming social media presence, has allowed them to grow and expand.
Once operating in the new space, they will start to expand their menu. Rivera added that with the bar space of the old Mr. Theo’s, they are working to create a curated cocktail menu with “Brandon the Bartender.”