A new taco joint — with splashy murals on its walls, more than 80 tequila offerings and a twist on tacos — is opening Thursday in Midtown Detroit.
Condado Tacos, a build-your-own-taco concept, is located in the historic Creamery Building on Selden Street, next door to the Smith & Co. restaurant and just around the corner from Selden Standard.
This is the second location for the Columbus, Ohio-based chain. Its first metro Detroit location opened last August on Main Street in downtown Royal Oak.
At Condado Tacos, the concept is having tacos your way. Customers can choose tacos and quantities from a pad of order form sheets with check-off boxes. You can choose preferred toppings, proteins or vegan or vegetarian options and flour, corn or spicy tortilla shells. Filling options include roasted chicken, tequila-lime steak, jackfruit and pulled pork. Taco prices start at $3.60.
There’s also a preset of taco options that include the El Tradicional, a flour softshell with guacamole, house-made chorizo, cilantro, onions and queso fresco. There’s also a breakfast taco called the Dirty Morning Taco and is a flour softshell with queso blanco, rice, black beans, scrambled eggs, cilantro, onions and Condado Tacos signature dirty sauce.
Condado also serves house-made guacamole topped with pickled red onions, queso and a variety of salsas including its signature salsa roja and a mild and slightly sweet pineapple salsa with tomatoes, peppers and onion. Guacamole topping options include a pineapple with chipotle honey or pico de guaco with tomato, peppers, cilantro and lime. A half order of guacamole is $5 or $8 for a full order.
Several varieties of queso are offered including Buffalo chicken with chicken, spicy buffalo sauce and a sprinkling of blue cheese. Prices for queso start at $4 for half order and $7 for a full order.
The theme for this location is “Condado Party Central Station.” It’s based on Michigan Central Train Station and repurposing once abandoned buildings, according to a Condado Tacos news release. Inside, the walls are covered with colorful murals commissioned by local artists. On one wall is an artist’s rendering of the historic train station.
Paul Zajac, a veteran in the metro Detroit restaurant scene, is Condado Tacos Midtown general manager. The 4,000-square-foot Midtown location is larger than the Royal Oak location. In the dining area, there are tables and high top table seating for 140 and 30 at the bar. An outside patio accessed through glass garage-style doors will seat nearly 50 and faces a park.
“We are very excited to be a part of this community,” Zajac said. “Just like Condado, where you are building tacos that are unique as you are, Midtown is one of the most unique areas in all of metro Detroit. It has tremendous diversity, just like our menu. … This area has had such a renaissance, with people moving back to the city and exploring the city and trying new things and we certainly one of those items everyone makes on their stop.”
Nearby Condado, there’s no shortage of places for tacos. A few blocks north of Condado Tacos is Alley Taco on Willis Street. On Woodward is the chain Bakersfield, known for its tacos, tequila and whiskey.
In Spanish, Condado means “county.” The chain also has locations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Indianapolis. A third location in Troy is anticipated later this year, according to a Condado spokeswoman.
On opening day, the first 100 people in line receive a $25 coupon voucher for their next visit. Also, all day long the restaurant will offer one free taco with food purchase as well as half off house margaritas.
Condado Tacos is located at 634 Selden between Second and Third streets.
Hours: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. Food service stops at 1 a.m. Happy Hour is 4-7 p.m. Monday-Friday with ½ signature margaritas and $1 off tacos.