King Taco opens limited downtown Las Vegas pop-up through Saturday

King Taco has opened a temporary location in downtown Las Vegas, with the pop-up running only through Saturday, November 7. The brand, originally from Los Angeles, is serving its full menu at the site near 6th and Fremont streets.

Lines stretched halfway down the block before doors opened. General Manager Raquel Martinez said customers were waiting in chairs for hours. She noted that many locals had asked for the brand to come to the Valley for quite some time.

King Taco was founded in 1974 by Raúl and Lupe Martínez. The business started from a converted ice cream truck parked outside a bar in East Los Angeles. It has since grown into a chain with multiple locations and is now celebrating 52 years in business.

The pop-up menu mirrors the Los Angeles locations exactly. Martinez said the menu includes asada, red and green salsas, and carnitas. She emphasized that the food is prepared in the same way it is back home.

Sal and Liz Quezada, who moved to the area 35 years ago, waited in line. Both are California natives. Sal Quezada said the couple used to stop at the original King Taco after partying in their youth. He described the chili and meat as unmatched. They have waited for the brand to establish a presence in Las Vegas since their move.

Dina Uribe, a first-time customer, joined the crowd with her son. She expressed excitement about trying a restaurant that has been open since 1974. She said she loves downtown Fremont and wanted to see what the hype was about.

The pop-up is scheduled to close on Saturday. No permanent location has been announced for Las Vegas.