Two friends from the Des Moines, IA, are planning on opening a taco, enchilada and tamales restaurant at 8106 Manchester Road called Fort Taco.
“The recipes come from Mexico,” partner, Gabe Patino said. “You can’t find these styles of tacos and enchiladas around here. Everything is made from scratch every day.” He called them more traditional, family recipes, than authentic Mexican.
“You know you go to a Mexican restaurant and they fill you full of chips and rice and beans? You’re just getting the good stuff here, right off the bat,” he said.
The plan is to compete with the “ma and pa shops” but have the corporate look.
“We’re focused on the experience,” Patino said. “Friendly service where they say your name, and thank you, and quick too.”
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They’re developing an app to pre-pay and pre-order, and then pickup at a window dedicated to that. The plan is to get the lunchtime crowd through quickly.
This is the first Fort Taco. If it works out they plan to dot them across St. Louis.
They hope to open mid to late June. They also plan on hiring around 11 employees.
Correction: This article previously stated that the partners said they had been involved with Tasty Tacos, in Des Moines, IA. President of Tasty Tacos, Linda Mosqueda-Blair, has said this is false. “We have never been involved with or associated with Mr. Patino and he never worked for us. We don’t want your readers to assume they will be getting Tasty Tacos when in fact they will not.”
This is an awesome idea, can’t wait to try some of the food 🙂 Good luck, Gabe!!
MMMM…can’t wait to try some!!! Hope this works out 🙂
I drove through their parking lot again this morning. It does not look like they are even close to opening up. My suggestion is to go to Fuzzy Taco on Watson. Get the Spicy Shredded Pork Taco. That place is awesome and reasonable.
I hope they fail…. they have been leading people on for the opening for months now. Even on their website it says grand opening: August 2014 then you click on another part of their website and it says September 2014…. Get your stuff together!!! I also don’t get why they would lie and say they are part of tasty tacos, they are shady! Last but not least their menu prices are ridiculous.
When are they going to open?
Jeff – It still needs the OK from Brentwood Board of Aldermen, which meets July 21.
I have been supporting them (eating there) once or twice a week since 1970! Love the Original Taco!
When Is going to open? I keep driving by 🙂 I want some taco’s 🙂
It will nice to have that space occupied! And with something that sounds yummy.
That sounds great! Hope it is good.
Tasty Tacos are Awesome. It is always a first stop for my family when in Des Moines.
Glad to hear and looking forward to checking them out.
That being said: the stretch of Manchester Road between Hanley Rd. and Brentwood Blvd. has to be one of the saddest/crappy looking areas around.
Are they of the Tasty Tacos chain in Iowa?
Laurie – they are of the Tasty Taco chain. I added that, thanks. Looks like they get pretty good reviews.
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