Taqueria on Mitchell Street Closes
Tacos El Costeño closes its brick-and-mortar, but still serves from its southside food truck.
Site of former Tacos el Costeno, 807 W. Historic Mitchell St. Photo taken Jan. 14, 2025 by Sophie Bolich.
After a series of short-lived tenants, the building at 807 W. Historic Mitchell St. is empty once again. Its most recent occupant, Tacos El Costeño, is closed, and the commercial space is available for lease.
Owner Joaquin Vasquez Garcia opened the taqueria in mid-2024 as an extension of his same-titled food truck, which continues to operate on the South Side.
Although best known for its trompoburger, made with al pastor, American cheese, pineapple and grilled onions, the extensive menu at El Costeño offered much more, including mole, quesabirria and tlayudas. An assortment of breakfast dishes and seafood, including fish tacos and shrimp cocktail, were also featured.
During his tenure, Garcia customized the restaurant space with colorful signage and a tropical mural depicting an ocean with leaping dolphins, palm trees and a friendly crab clutching a beer in its claw. As of early January, however, the dining area is dark and empty. Most of the restaurant’s window displays are gone, replaced by a sign advertising the space for lease.
Despite the closure of its brick-and-mortar location, Tacos El Costeño continues to operate as a mobile business, typically parked near the intersection of S. 13th Street and W. Howard Avenue.
The Historic Mitchell Street building has seen frequent turnover since Damascus Gate, a Syrian restaurant, closed in late 2023 after five years of operation. La Ventanita, a Puerto Rican eatery, took over the space in January 2024, but closed after one month. Its owner Abraham Torres now offers his menu for takeout and delivery in partnership with MexRican food truck.
Originally constructed in 1900, the 9,996-square-foot, two-story building is situated between two retail stores, and across the street from Hunger Task Force‘s future Southside Community Resource Center, set to open in March. Hector and Margarita Salinas are the building owners.
Garcia did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.
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