Tacos Tijuana Is Coming to Barnone at Agritopia

A Gilbert family that has spent years biking to Agritopia for dinner and drinks will soon become part of the neighborhood’s restaurant community.

Tacos Tijuana plans to open its newest Valley location at Barnone at Agritopia this October, taking over the former Uprooted Kitchen space.

Willy Johnston, CEO of Johnston & Co., has been holding onto the exciting news for months and is very excited to finally add Tacos Tijuana to the mix at Barnone.

From a Food Truck to a Family Business

Tacos Tijuana’s story began in 2016 when Adolfo Torres launched the concept from a food truck parked near 67th Avenue and Thunderbird Road.

The truck sold out on its first day, providing an early sign that the family had created something special. Tacos Tijuana later expanded into restaurants in Glendale and Mesa, building a loyal following for its authentic Tijuana-style street tacos.

Today, Adolfo’s daughter, Wendy Torres, runs the family business. Wendy has lived in Gilbert with her family for 11 years and is now preparing to bring the concept closer to home with her husband, Holmes.

The new Barnone restaurant represents the next chapter for a business that has grown from one food truck into a multigenerational family operation.

What Will Be on the Menu?

The menu at Barnone will remain intentionally focused on the items that helped build the Tacos Tijuana following.

Guests can expect carne asada, al pastor carved fresh from the trompo, corn tortillas pressed to order and the family’s signature red salsa. The salsa is still called “Salsa Adolfa” in honor of Adolfo Torres, who created the recipe.

Other Tacos Tijuana favorites include vampiros, featuring a crunchy tortilla topped with melted cheese and meat, and mulitas made with two tortillas, melted cheese, meat and traditional toppings.

The restaurant emphasizes fresh ingredients, made-to-order food and recipes rooted in the Torres family’s Mexican culinary traditions.

A Longtime Connection to Agritopia

Opening at Agritopia carries a personal meaning for Wendy and her family.

The Torres family considered opening a Tacos Tijuana location at Epicenter several years ago, but the timing did not work out. They continued visiting Agritopia as customers, often biking to the neighborhood with their children, stopping at Garage East and eating at Joe’s Farm Grill.

Barnone ultimately became the opportunity they had been waiting for.

The distinctive Quonset hut building was once part of the Johnston family’s working farm. It has since been transformed into a community gathering place featuring locally owned restaurants, artists, craftspeople and other Arizona makers.

Tacos Tijuana will add another family-operated food concept to that lineup while bringing its popular street tacos to a part of Gilbert the Torres family already considers home.

Opening Planned for October

Tacos Tijuana is currently expected to open at Barnone in October, although the exact date is still being finalized.

The family plans to celebrate opening day with live mariachi music and additional promotions. More details about the celebration and official opening date are expected to be announced as the restaurant gets closer to welcoming its first customers.