MOUNT VERNON – Panchos Tacos has landed in Knox County — specifically, Mount Vernon.
The history of Panchos Tacos starts with husband and wife Luis and Natalie, launching their first restaurant, El Campestre, in 1998 in Mansfield. In 2014, they opened Los 3 Mayas, on Ashland Road in Mansfield, with a brother, Jesus.
Jesus started a taco cart with his former business partner Alejandro Anchondo two years later. Panchos Tacos became so popular the pair opened a brick-and-mortar location in 2017 on Lexington Avenue in Mansfield.
Panchos Tacos expanded again, this time into Bellville, in 2022.
In the past year, the Panchos Tacos food truck could be found at the Mount Vernon Kroger’s parking lot before moving to its new physical location location at 110 Mount Vernon Ave.
The building gives customers greater options to choose from, Alejandro Carrizal said. Carrizal, the godson of Luis and Natalie, helps operate the new Mount Vernon location.
Carrizal said the Mexican restaurant, which opened April 1, stays busy every day. Hand-crafted margaritas with freshly squeezed juice are among the signature items. Others include rice bowls and street tacos.
“It’s our quality, our service,” Carrizal said. “We find the best people to work with.”
The restaurant celebrated its opening with a ribbon cutting from the Knox County Chamber of Commerce on Monday, with Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr and Bellville Mayor Teri Brenkus there for the occasion.
The Panchos Tacos restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.