Mr. Taco Opens Brick-And-Mortar Restaurant
Food truck-turned restaurant open for business in Clarke Square neighborhood.
Site of Mr. Taco, 2531 W. National Ave. Photo by Sophie Bolich.
After gaining a loyal following with its downtown food truck, Mr. Taco has officially put down roots on the South Side.
Owners Vanessa Molina and Julio Equihua launched the restaurant’s first brick-and-mortar location at 2531 W. National Ave. in early 2025, marking an expansion not just for the brand, but also for its menu and customer base.
The business received enthusiastic support from Area Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa, who praised the expansion during a recent Licenses Committee hearing.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” she told Molina and Equihui. “This is what I want for so many of our entrepreneurs who purchase a food truck — I want them to grow into their own brick and mortar. And that is exactly what this family has done.”
Similar to its mobile operation, which will continue to frequent N. Water Street, the Mr. Taco restaurant offers a wide assortment of tacos, including those filled with asada, pastor, seafood, chorizo and more. A vegan option features beans, lettuce, tomato, onions and cilantro.
Beyond its namesake item, the restaurant serves burritos, tortas, tostadas and alambres, plus house specialties like chiles rellenos and ceviche. The menu also features American-inspired dishes including hamburgers and loaded fries.
In October, during preparations for the opening, Molina told Urban Milwaukee she looked forward to sharing her family’s dishes with a new neighborhood.
“We’re pretty well-known in different areas of the city,” she said. “We just wanted a small space to continue serving the community.”
The Clarke Square building was most recently home to Taqueria el Toro, which has several additional locations throughout the Milwaukee area.
Taqueria el Toro owner Toribio Perez Martinez collaborated with Molina and Equihua to transition the building into a home for Mr. Taco.
City assessment records indicate that Julio Equihua Equihua, LLC purchased the building for $350,000 in September 2024.
Mr. Taco is open Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Existing members must be signed in to see the interactive map. Sign in.
If you think stories like this are important, become a member of Urban Milwaukee and help support real, independent journalism. Plus you get some cool added benefits.
Political Contributions Tracker
Displaying political contributions between people mentioned in this story. Learn more.
