Tacoma Mexican restaurant had been closed for 5 months. It’s now open with a full bar, fresh menu
Antojos Mexican Grill reopened its Sixth Avenue restaurant this week, five months after closing for renovations due to a plumbing issue that has since been resolved.
The space has been remodeled to accommodate a full-service bar and lounge area. The kitchen has also updated the vast menu. Dishes range from homemade tamales and enchiladas to platters of steak, chicken and shrimp, as well as tacos and tortas.
The location originally opened in 2022, joining its older sister at 5502 Orchard St. W. in University Place.
The same ownership team is behind the El Antojo and El Rinconsito taquerias.
El Antojo has restaurants in McKinley Hill and Lakewood, plus three others in Western Washington and one in Yakima. It just added a new location at 5015 Tacoma Mall Blvd., just south of Azteca at South 48th Street.
Antojos Mexican Grill on Sixth Ave took over the large building that was once occupied by Greek restaurant, Opa.
The company, which is headquartered in Fife, did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the reopening or the issue that led the restaurant to shut down in February.
According to city spokesperson Maria Lee, on Feb. 8 a city environmental inspector learned that the business was “discharging water out the back of their building” and letting it enter the stormwater system, which is not permitted. The inspector realized that several sinks were not draining, causing water to flow onto the floor.
The city notified the Tacoma-Pierce Health Department, which sent one of its inspectors to the site that same day. The restaurant was shut down that afternoon. According to city permits, Antojos spent approximately $7,000 repairing the drains. Two weeks later, a health inspector returned, reporting that all sinks and dishwashers were in normal working condition, and approved it to reopen. But the next day, the inspector returned and shut it down again: The city, the report said, had determined that the restaurant needed to install a different grease interceptor. That work, estimated at $50,000 in permit filings, was completed and approved by the city on June 16.
The health department approved the restaurant to reopen last week, and the doors officially opened to the public Monday, July 29.
A post shared on social media noted the new bar and “completely revamped menu.”
ANTOJOS MEXICAN GRILL
▪ 6104 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-565-0505, antojomexicangrill.com
▪ Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-3 a.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
▪ Details: full-service Mexican restaurant with full bar and big menu
This story was originally published August 4, 2024 at 5:00 AM.