Popular Mexican chain Barrio Tacos is now open in Ybor City

There’s a new go-to spot for tacos, margaritas and weekend brunch in Ybor City, and its name may sound familiar to folks from the Midwest and Northeast.

Located at 1822 E 7th Ave., Tampa Bay’s first Barrio Tacos celebrated its grand opening back in June and has been dishing out margaritas, whiskey-based cocktails, chips, salsa and build-your-own tacos since.

While Barrio Tacos features a few traditional Mexican options like chorizo, a range of salsas and guacamole, there’s tons of eclectic dishes on its menu as well, from Coca Cola-marinated steak and Thai chili tofu to buffalo chicken queso and its chicken shawarma taco that’s a special this month.

On Saturday and Sundays, the new bar and restaurant also dishes out eggs Benedict and bloody Mary tacos, avocado tostadas, sangria, mimosas and more.

Owner and franchisee Jason Crawford—who moved to Ybor City with his wife  and co-owner Lauren back in January—tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that they wanted to make sure Barrio Tacos not only payed homage to Ybor City’s history and culture, but to the institutional restaurant La Tropicana that formerly occupied the building.

“We wanted to make sure that  its history and legacy is still recognized—we certainly have big shoes to fill,” Crawford says about La Tropicana. “We strive to honor what was established here for so long, and hope to be part of Ybor for a long time, too.”

While the outside of the building resembles the old Cuban restaurant, Crawford says that Barrio Tacos’ revamped interior  has a “wow factor” that features the brand’s Day of the Dead-themed decor, unique metalwork and art that pays homage to Ybor City’s eclectic culture. Aspects from La Tropicana that were preserved include the dining room’s layout, the bar top and several of its old stained glass windows.

Crawford also wants to remind his new customers that although Barrio Tacos resides on Ybor City’s bustling 7th Avenue, the new restaurant is family-friendly and offers both a kid’s menu and high chairs.

While the taco company operates several franchises in states like Michigan, Ohio and Massachusetts, the only other Florida location of Barrio Tacos resides in Orlando.

Head to @barrio_yborcity on Instagram for more information about Ybor City’s newly-opened taco and margarita joint.

Barrio Tacos is now open from 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

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This article appears in Jul 18-24, 2024.