The Recently Closed Taqueria el Barrio Finds a New Home

Early fall has brought the disappointing news of quite a few restaurant closures, including Taquerio el Barrio near BU. It had only been open since summer 2019, but the little taco shop from Alex Sáenz and Servio Garcia of Cambridge’s Bisq got popular quickly, with diners adoring its Northwest Mexican-style tacos, quesadillas, and more. Good news: It’s reopening this week in a new space.

Taqueria el Barrio [Official Photo]

Taqueria el Barrio will open on Wednesday, October 14, at Fenway’s Time Out Market Boston (401 Park Dr., Boston), joining Bisq’s sandwich-focused offshoot at the food hall. (Taqueria el Barrio will have its own space at Time Out. And Bisq, by the way, recently added Sáenz’s acclaimed fried chicken to its food hall menu.)

Taqueria el Barrio features house-made flour tortillas that can be stuffed with various fillings, including carne asada, fish, birria, vegan chorizo, and more. It brings the number of Time Out vendors currently operating up to 11, plus two bars, and the market is offering takeout and delivery as well as onsite dining. Contactless ordering is available via an app.

The speedy return of Taqueria el Barrio will please its fans; the shop got a lot of buzz in its short time near BU. The Boston Globe’s Devra First praised the “flavorful, reasonably priced food made with love,” making special note of the torta ahogada and fish and steak tacos. For Boston.com, Erin Kuschner wrote of the smoky, garlicky salsa asada, which she could eat “by the tubful.” And Eater Boston’s former associate editor Dana Hatic was a particular fan of the cheese quesadilla, a “sleeper hit.”

As for the former Taqueria el Barrio space at 1022 Commonwealth Ave., near the Boston/Brookline border, banh mi favorite Pho Viet’s is reportedly moving there from the nearby Super 88 market.

• Taqueria el Barrio Coverage on Eater [EBOS]