May 20, 2021 By Michael Dorgan
A trendy taco chain is set to open a new restaurant in Court Square on Monday – its first location in Queens.
Tacombi will open at 27-10 43rd Ave. and will offer traditional Mexican fare such as tacos, quesadillas and burritos. The restaurant will also serve cocktails, beers and non-alcoholic fruit drinks known as Aguas Frescas.
The eatery will be the company’s tenth store in the chain, with the others located in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The operators said they have been eyeing a suitable space in Long Island City for over a decade and have been impressed with the area’s rapid development.
“It’s been so exciting to watch the neighborhood grow and change,” a spokesperson for Tacombi said.
“Our aim has always been to create a neighborhood taqueria where people can meet, share and discover authentic Mexican taco culture and we can’t wait to welcome in our new LIC neighbors,” the company said.
A taqueria is another name for a restaurant that specializes in tacos.
The company is moving into a 2,500 square foot space in a 1916 industrial building. The operators said the building’s old design – mixed with modern upgrades – is an attractive look for the restaurant.
The old façade has been brightened up with fresh paint. The large roll-up garage door has been replaced with high black windows and new entrance doors have been installed. New signage bearing the company name has also gone up.
A cream and light blue color scheme runs through the interior of the restaurant.
The operators said the décor and vibe will be similar to the company’s other restaurants, which they say appeal to children and families. The eatery will seat 65 people at full capacity. It will not have an outdoor space.
“The layout of the new taqueria is an airy and welcoming space where guests can relax and view our taqueros in action,” the spokesperson said. A taquero is a Spanish term for someone who makes tacos.
The restaurant will offer the same menu as its other establishments, which include favorites like the Baja Crispy Fish taco – a taco with Haddock from the Atlantic Ocean – and the Al Pastor taco which contains thinly-sliced pork served with cilantro, onions and roasted pineapple.
Other dishes include the Gallo quesadilla which contains free-range chicken and the Bean Y Queso burrito which has spicy refried pinto beans and Oaxaca cheese.
The company says that it uses meat and fish that are hormone and antibiotics free. The other ingredients are organic and GMO-free, according to its website.
The chain is owned by Dario Wolos who is originally from Mexico.
Tacombi began in 2005 when Wolos and others bought a 1963 Volkswagen Kombi bus in Mexico City, went traveling, and then used the vehicle later as a food truck selling tacos and Aguas Frescas.
Wolos then opened his first restaurant in Manhattan in 2010 and has been expanding since.
The new restaurant will be open from Mondays through Fridays from noon to 11 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
*Update: the restaurant will now open on May 26.*