Rene’s Mexican Kitchen celebrated the grand opening of its newest food truck at 2201 N Florida Ave. on Wednesday, Nov. 29. The new taco truck is parked outside of Tampa Heights' Grand Cathedral Cigars and its opening coincides with the historic church-turned-lounge's three day-long cigar celebration happening this weekend.
This permanent location of Rene’s Mexican Kitchen shares the exact same menu as its OG Seminole Heights food truck and newly-opened walk-up window in Ybor City at 2802 N 16th St.
Customers can choose tacos, burritos or tortas loaded with al pastor, chorizo and cheese, carne asada, pork barbacoa and chile relleno, alongside vegetarian options like butternut squash and quinoa, oyster mushrooms and its prized huitlacoche or “corn smut.”
Chef Rene Valenzuela tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay this his new Tampa Heights outpost will be open from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday. It will remain closed on Monday and Tuesday.
He says the collaboration between Rene's Mexican Kitchen and the cigar lounge started naturally, after the owner of Grand Cathedral Cigars, Angela Yue, started frequenting his Ybor City location and eventually asked to work together.
“It’s a great partnership because we share the same type of customers. We sell craft tacos that no one else in the area serves, and they pride themselves on the highest quality of cigars,” Valenzuela says. “It’s a good opportunity to co-brand our businesses together.”
Grand Cathedral Cigars made its Tampa Heights debut in 2021 after months of renovating the former church into a sleek cigar bar, lounge and event space. It also serves craft cocktails with tons of artisan whiskeys, bourbons, vodkas and other spirits to choose from. In addition to his three locations throughout Tampa, Valenzeula also dishes out a limited menu at 1920 Ybor when the venue hosts events and concerts, but tells CL that a permanent food truck will not be opening along 7th Avenue.
To keep up with Rene’s Mexican Kitchen locations in Tampa Heights, Ybor City and Seminole Heights, head to its Facebook or Instagram, both at @Renesmexicankitchenofficial.
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