'Place Was Packed': New Joliet Restaurant Opens 24 Hours A Day

JOLIET, IL —Ever since the coronavirus pandemic, restaurants that are open 24 hours a day have seemed to disappear, but Joliet just landed a new one at 1606 West Jefferson St. that will never close. Tacos El Tio No. 6 opened this weekend, and the place was packed.

Tacos El Tio will stay open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

It's authentic Mexican fast-food for carryout and dine-in.

It replaced The Beef Shack, which closed in March, right after the Portillo's triple-drive thru opened on Larkin Avenue and the Pop's Italian Beef & Sausage opened right up the street on Jefferson across from the Tony's supermarket.

At 8 p.m. Sunday, a woman named Andrea posted the following comment on Brian Bessler's Joliet Area Bar and Restaurant Guide: "Just had taco dinners from the new place on Jefferson St, the old Beef Shack, Tacos El Tio 6. He had Al pastor. I had chicken. Both Delicious!!

"When you walk in, the smell is amazing!! We took them home because the place was packed! We didn’t have to wait long for our order. Fast and efficient!! We def will be back very soon. One note: they don’t have flour tortillas. Loved to see the place jumping!! Great new spot for Joliet diners! Next time will take time to take pics!"

A person named Nita commented in the Joliet restaurant group: "BEST Al pastor hands down!! U know it's hot when they cut it directly from the spit."

On Sunday afternoon, Joliet Patch interviewed Honorio Martinez, the owner of the Tacos El Rio restaurants. He was in the kitchen slicing pork.

For now, he said, Tacos El Tio will not operate a drive-thru window at its new Jefferson Street location, even though there is a drive-through window and a menu board in the parking lot.

"Drive-thru not yet, maybe later," he told Patch.

On Sunday, Joliet Patch spoke with customer Jose Garcia of Joliet as he waited inside to pick up his carryout order. Back in its heyday, during the 1980s and 1990s, the property at 1606 West Jefferson St. was a mega-popular Taco Bell restaurant.

In recent times, the old Taco Bell building had been known as the Shrimp House, but then the abandoned building fell into neglect before the Beef Shack opened in 2018.

"The curse is over, this place is going to stay," Garcia predicted. "Everything looks good, looking at the menu. Like I'm going to try everything."

Owner Honorio Martinez told Patch that Saturday's grand opening was outstanding. "It was crazy busy, great response," he said.

He said he opened Tacos El Tio on West Jefferson Street because Joliet's area businesses needed something new.

"I don't think they have an authentic restaurant around," he said.

Tacos El Tio still has some job openings for waitresses and cooks, the owner's family said. People are encouraged to apply inside the restaurant.

The other Tacos El Tio restaurants are located at:

• 3734 W. Grand Ave, Chicago
• 5737 W. Belmont Avenue, Chicago
• 300 W. North Ave. Villa Park
• 1115 Lake St. Oak Park
• 207 W. Grand Ave. Bensenville