Dec. 11, 2024 marked a significant milestone for Taqueria Juanita. This beloved food truck, which started five summers ago by Juana Silva Cortez selling her authentic Mexican tacos, burritos, and more, is now expanding into a restaurant on the west side of Sioux Falls. The journey began with the Taqueria Juanita trailer parked at a gas station on Ninth Street and Kiwanis Avenue. In her third season, Cortez moved to a new spot at 12th Street and Willow Avenue with a vibrant trailer and began reaching a wider audience with events across Sioux Falls.

Realizing the Dream

Cortez and her husband, Miguel Silva Rodriguez, have always dreamed of having their own place. As Cortez said, "The customers have been asking for us to have our own spot so they can enjoy our food all year. It's always been our goal." If the remodeling goes as planned, they hope to open in early January. They have been working hard, painting the interior to make it as colorful as the food truck. The purple food truck is recognizable, and Cortez wants to maintain the same clean and good presentation with the restaurant.

Expanding the Menu

The menu at Taqueria Juanita is set to expand. Cortez plans to include soups and offer her popular birria as a daily meat option. On Sundays, there will be special dishes like menudo, carnitas, and chicharrons. For breakfast, the restaurant will serve items like chilaquiles made with tortilla chips and eggs in red or green sauce, chorizo-and-egg burritos, and a Southwest version with potatoes and other veggies. In the summer, Cortez envisions offering more seafood dishes like parrillada, a fajita plate for sharing with shrimp, octopus, and oysters. The restaurant will also serve beer, Mexican soft drinks, and other beverages.

Operating Model

Customers will place their orders at the counter, and the dining room can seat 50 to 60 people. Rodriguez will continue to work full time at Gage Brothers but will also assist at the restaurant. As Cortez said, "We'll be a family business. Our two older children have already helped on the food truck, and they'll be part of this too. We also have a great team that has been with us for a couple of years. They're like family."

Future Plans

The family plans to keep the food truck and use it for larger special events initially. Someday, if they have enough staff, Cortez hopes to see the food truck operating daily on the east side of the city. To stay updated, follow Taqueria Juanita on Facebook.