An upscale, creative taco shop is heading to Downtown Raleigh. Here’s where it’ll open
The Triangle’s tremendous taco trend continues with a new national brand heading to downtown Raleigh.
Barrio Tacos+Tequila+Whiskey will open its first North Carolina location in early 2025 in Raleigh’s Smoky Hollow development. The upscale Mexican restaurant will move into a brand new space along Harrington Street, next door to where The Crunkleton is slated to open.
“We’re so excited to welcome Barrio Tacos to Smoky Hollow as part of our ongoing efforts to create a wide array of dining options in downtown Raleigh,” said Stacey Buescher, managing director of operations at Kane Realty, which owns Smoky Hollow. “Their build-your-own taco concept and vibrant environment are a perfect fit for the community we’re fostering at Smoky Hollow. We believe Barrio Tacos will become a favorite for locals and visitors alike.”
Barrio launched in 2012 in the Cleveland, Ohio neighborhood of Tremont.
Barrio Tacos menu
The brand builds its menu around a choose-your-own-adventure collection of taco choices, which starts with shell options like flour and corn, plus combos of hard and soft shells filled with things like bacon, cheese, chorizo and guacamole.
There are more than a dozen protein options, from cola-marinated steak, shrimp, short ribs and Thai chili tofu. Then comes four different salsas and nine different hot sauces, ranging from the tangy tingle of cilantro-lime aioli to the Carolina reaper and its five-pepper warning.
If you don’t feel like creating the Next Great Taco, Barrio has a few signatures of its own, like classic shrimp tacos, rich steak, mushroom and onions and a rotating taco of the month.
The drink list includes a dozen different margaritas, plus other cocktails with an particular focus on whiskey.
Best tacos in the Triangle?
The Triangle has been a hot bed of taco action over the last few years as a mix of major national brands and some local restaurant owners have opened or announced new projects.
A few of the new taco shops to look for include:
- Wong’s Tacos out of Richmond, which have a Raleigh restaurant in the works
- Tataco in Durham from James Beard semifinalist Oscar Diaz and Mezcalito restaurant group
- The beloved Gym Tacos, which is nearing completion on its Durham expansion
