Food Truck Owners Plan Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant
La Parrilla Restaurant Bar is planned for Mitchell Street.
1724 W. Mitchell St. Photo taken Dec. 23, 2025 by Sophie Bolich.
A pair of seasoned restaurateurs are planning their next venture on Milwaukee’s South Side, opening a new bar and restaurant at 1724 W. Mitchell St.
La Parrilla Restaurant Bar would be the second brick-and-mortar location for owners Maricela Atunez Jimenez and Jorge Vasquez Ruiz, offering Mexican cuisine and a full bar program, plus live music and dancing on weekends.
According to a license application, the business aims to open as soon as possible, pending city approval.
Atunez Jimenez and Vasquez Ruiz also operate a food truck, Taqueria Parrilla Mixe, as well as a restaurant at 4952 W. Forest Home Ave., formerly The Brass Key, which they took over in January.
Like the existing restaurant, La Parrilla would serve a variety of antojitos—or “little cravings”—such as tacos, quesadillas, huaraches and tostadas. House specialties like mole Oaxaqueño, pork ribs in green sauce and steak ranchero, along with a wide selection of seafood dishes such as shrimp fajitas and fried mojarra fish, round out the menu.
The application does not include a proposed bar menu.
In addition to food and beverage licenses, La Parrilla has requested permission to host bands, instrumental musicians, DJs and dancing.
A floor plan attached to the application shows ample table and bar seating throughout the main dining room, a jukebox and a six-foot-by-eight-foot stage for musical performances.
Atunez Jimenez and Vasquez Ruiz own the two-story building, which was constructed in 1928, according to city records. The structure was last home to Milwaukee Carpet and would require remodeling to house a restaurant.
Proposed hours of operation for La Parrilla Restaurant Bar are Sunday through Thursday from noon to 2 a.m. and Friday through Saturday from noon to 2:30 a.m. Entry would be limited to patrons 21 and older after 9 p.m.
Atunez Jimenez did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.
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