A Mexican chef known for his tacos, quesadillas and burritos who brought his food truck to New Kensington’s monthly Fridays on Fifth last year will be establishing a restaurant in the city.
Jose Tecuanhuehue plans to open Taqueria El Pastorcito in March. It will be at 929 Fourth Ave. in the space where Original Hot Dog Factory was for a little over a year before closing late last year.
Tecuanhuehue, 38, a native of Puebla, Mexico, came to the United States in 2000 and moved to Pittsburgh after living in Indiana. He has lived on the city’s South Side for seven years with his wife of 11 years, Bernice, and their two sons, 7 and 13, and daughter, 11.
He was a cook in restaurants before working in construction for a few years just to try something new before deciding with his wife to start his own business. He launched his food truck, a small trailer, in June, taking it to breweries, festivals and other events.
“I heard New Kensington used to be bad. From what I hear now, I know they are rebuilding everything. I really want to be a part of that,” he said. “I want to be a part of that with my business.”
Those who attended Fridays on Fifth will find the same food at the restaurant as was available from Tecuanhuehue’s truck, along with more and different offerings, such as an octopus torta.
“We are going to have a different kind of tortas,” he said. “We’ll see how the customers respond. If there’s anything they are asking for, we can make it happen.”
An effort of New Kensington and its recreation commission, Fridays on Fifth features food trucks along Fifth Avenue and is intended to showcase the city’sbusinesses.
“I think it’s fantastic that a food truck that came to our Friday’s on Fifth event regularly was supported by so many people that they felt strongly enough to open their business in our downtown,” Mayor Tom Guzzo said. “They were very popular, and their food and good service was very well received here on those Fridays.”
Tecuanhuehue said he was invited to New Kensington by Tony Vigilante, a lawyer in the city who owns the Fourth Avenue building where the restaurant will be. Vigilante and his wife, Nicole, a member of the recreation commission who owns Trovo on Fifth Avenue, have been instrumental in organizing and promoting the event.
Vigilante said he asked Tecuanhuehue to come to the first event in July, which was a surprise success. He attended every one through the last in October.
Fridays on Fifth are scheduled to resume April 22, and Tecuanhuehue said he will continue participating in them.
Vigilante said Tecuanhuehue’s food is “really authentic,” almost exactly the same as what one would get in Mexico.
“He provides excellent food, and he’ll draw people in,” Vigilante said. “He has people that are fans that are going to come from other areas.”
Michelle Thom, operations manager of nearby Voodoo Brewery New Kensington, a co-sponsor of Fridays on Fifth, said it’s nice to see one of the event’s food truck operators open a restaurant in the city.
“I think it’s great. We need more restaurants downtown,” she said. “New Kensington is a destination again.”
Vigilante, who has his office downtown, said he has seen a significant increase in foot traffic, which is needed for the businesses there to thrive.
He expects it to continue increasing as more businesses and facilities, such as the Digital Foundry, open.
Tecuanhuehue’s business will be set up not to rely solely on customers coming through the door. In addition to opening the restaurant, Tecuanhuehue said he will launch a second food truck.
Thom said that seems like a good game plan.
“He’s combining his food truck and the catering side with a physical restaurant,” she said. “They are running it themselves as a family.”
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Brian at 724-226-4701, [email protected] or via Twitter .
