New Hacienda taqueria takes the Americanized taco to the next level
Just in time for Christmas, Bryan Neel and Robby Vernon threw open the doors to Hacienda Tacos last week in the Shoppes at Northpark, 12086 N May Ave.
The modern taqueria takes over the space previously occupied by a City Bites location. Boasting a full bar, Hacienda offers counter-service for the food and plentiful seating, including a communal table in the mall walkway. When the weather improves, outdoor seating will be added.
Neel is a co-founder of S&B Burger Joint and Hillbilly’s. He also was owner of the Electro Lounge. Once S&B was sold to a local restaurant group, Neel decided to attend The Coach House Apprenticeship Program to improve his cooking chops. During that time, he left S&B and Hillbilly’s to develop his own concepts.
Hacienda Tacos is his first foray. To take on the project, Neel partnered with Robby Vernon, a veteran of the local restaurant scene most prominent for the years he’s put in at La Baguette. Vernon is a native of New Mexico, which explains the prominence of green chile on the menu.
Vernon and Neel did much of the build-out on the new space themselves, creating a kitschy, comfortable setting for gourmet tacos, burritos, enchiladas and booze.
Tacos range in price from $3.95 to $8.50 with fillings as simple as ground beef to seared Ahi tuna with smoked pork carnitas, mojo chicken, battered fish and classic tacos al pastor in between. Green chile stew is the soup sharing the menu with four salads: a Caesar, a taco and a couple of signatures. Hacienda offers burritos filled with cheese, beans or both.
Enchiladas and burritos also are served on dinner plates that include beans and rice. Flan is the signature dessert.
I swung by Thursday for the soft opening for a deluxe Hacienda taco and an al pastor. The deluxe is crispy shell stuffed with spicy ground beef, guacamole and sour cream. This interpretation of the Americanized taco created by Glen Bell for his roadside taco stand that eventually became Taco Bell is the best of its kind not made in my kitchen. Seriously. Finally, someone has taken the gringo version of the taco to the next level. Look forward to many happy returns.
The al pastor is made of smoked pork, cilantro, seared pineapple and feta. This isn’t your south Oklahoma City al pastor taco, which isn’t a knock. The smoked pork on this version is better than any you’ll find on the south side. That it’s not slathered in red chile sauce like standard versions is a testament to how good the pork is. It would be rude to cover it in sauce. A few bits of pineapple and feta with this tasty pork and a couple of squirts of the avocado-tomatillo salsa was all I needed.
Neel and Vernon offer a fleet of salsas I look forward to eating my way through. Hacienda is open for lunch and dinner.
Just a ghost of the past
New Year’s Day will be your last chance to dine at the spookiest restaurant in town since 1964.
Patrick Boylan said he is closing J. Bruner’s at The Haunted House, 7171 Miramar Drive, effective Jan. 2.
The converted Carriker mansion operated as The Haunted House from 1964 to 2015 until co-founder Marian Thibault passed away.
Boylan purchased the restaurant lock, stock and barrel at an auction in the spring of that year and reopened under the new name a month later.
The restaurant derived its name and reputation over the murder or owner Martin Carriker, committed on the property, and the ensuing deaths of his wife (natural causes) and stepdaughter (overdose) shortly thereafter.
To ensure one last dinner in the iconic dining room, call 478-1417.
Giving it another spin
Look for the restaurant space atop Founders Tower to reopen early
next year under the name
3Sixty Bar and Grill.
The new concept replaces The George Prime
Steakhouse, which had revitalized the space two years ago only to suffer an Old Testament-worthy succession of misfortune.
Details are scarce for now, but I know a chef has been hired and will begin Jan. 1. Owners hope to open well in time for Valentine’s Day. I’ll have a lot more details after the new chef starts at 3Sixty. Watch for updates on the Food Dude blog (newsok.com/ blogs/food-dude).
Pei Wei Asian Diner is opening its sixth location in the metro area in the Quailbrook Shopping Center, 4401 W Memorial Road, replacing a
Panera Bread location that moves a few blocks east to have a space with a drive-thru window.
The opening puts Pei Wei, a fast-casual offshoot of P.F. Chang China Bistro, close to 200 locations worldwide. Company headquarters are in Scottsdale, Arizona . ... Nic’s
Grill has reopened, meaning long lines are back in vogue on N Pennsylvania Ave., just a few blocks from NW 10. Owner Justin Nicholas closed down his world-famous burger joint to tend to the opening of Nic’s Place Diner
and Lounge, 1116 N Robinson Ave., earlier this year. The plan was to shutter Nic’s for only two weeks, but that extended closer to six. Both concept are now up and running so the gospel of a Nic’s cheeseburger can be shared at a higher volume.
Happy new year
What a year, huh? And I’m not even talking about anything to do with celebrity deaths, hacked emails or university scandals.
Oklahoma City said goodbye to some iconic restaurants this year, but introduced more new concepts than I can remember since I started covering this beat in 2008.
Next week, I’ll count down the top stories for 2016 in Oklahoma City’s restaurant industry and share a few favorite culinary memories from the year that was.