Taco Chelo, a modern taqueria combining culinary and visual arts in downtown Phoenix since 2018, is opening a second location in Tempe near Arizona State University next month.
The new 1,600-square-foot restaurant will be located along the bustling thoroughfare of College Avenue at the corner of 6th Street, bringing downtown Tempe an impressive menu of authentic, family-style Mexican cuisine.
“This expansion is an incredible milestone for us and is a testament to the dedication from the entire team that’s made Taco Chelo a staple in downtown Phoenix,” says Taco Chelo Co-Owner and longtime restaurateur Aaron Chamberlin. “I grew up in the East Valley, which makes bringing the restaurant to my old stomping grounds in Tempe even more special.”
A collaboration between Chamberlin and Chef Suny Santana and artist Gennaro Garcia, Taco Chelo boasts a concise menu of tacos wrapped in hand-pressed, made-to-order tortillas, along with signature entrees and curated cocktails. The taqueria’s culinary experience is inspired by Chef Suny’s family recipes and traditional cooking methods hailing from Monterrey, Mexico. Taco Chelo is named for Chef Suny’s mother, Consuelo, nicknamed “Chelo,” who influenced his cooking style and passed down recipes that appear on the menu.
“Creating the culture at Taco Chelo over the past five years has been a rewarding journey, both professionally and personally,” says Chef Suny. “Building community through food has always been the goal. Connecting guests with a place that honors my heritage, and having it be so well-received that we can do it again, is beyond what I could have imagined.”
Taco Chelo’s Tempe location will feature the taqueria’s hallmark art and design that play an integral role in its unique character and dining experience. Guests can expect custom-made artwork, handcrafted furniture and lighting, as well as handmade tile and finishes thoughtfully curated by artisans across Arizona and Mexico. The restaurant’s design will be led by Garcia, a restaurant design veteran and native of Sonora, Mexico, who incorporates his cultural background into every design element and whose work can also be found at Tempe Public Market Cafe, Barrio Queen, Ghost Ranch, Salt Tacos y Tequila, Bodega and more.
“The design at Taco Chelo Tempe is different than anything I’ve ever done before,” says Garcia. “It plays on the elements people know and love from the original restaurant, but it’s going to inject a new level of vibrancy for a truly immersive experience.”
Taco Chelo Tempe will be located at 521 S. College Ave., Suite 112, and is set to open by the end of the year. For more information, visit www.tacochelo.com
Photos courtesy Taco Chelo
