Tacos and burritos six ways: Kansas City Mexican restaurant launches food truck

After a year of struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cacao Restaurante has landed on a way to boost sales.

The Mexican eatery in South Kansas City now has a food truck, parked in a permanent Waldo spot, and more locations could be coming.

“This pandemic almost killed us. We are trying to do something different to survive,” co-owner Alfonso Esqueda said. “We took our most popular tacos and burritos, and the vegetarian items that people like.”

The food truck, Taco-Cacao, serves six different tacos, including chicken al pastor (chicken marinated in achiote sauce with pineapple pico de gallo and chipotle aioli) and asada (marinated steak topped with caramelized onion and cilantro). The meat tacos are $2.25, and the vegetarian tacos are $1.99.

It also sells six different burritos for $6.99 each, family packs, sides such as guacamole, rice and pinto beans, as well as Mexican sodas.

In 2016, Alfonso Esqueda opened Cacao Restaurante with his uncle, Victor Esqueda, in Prairie Village. When the building was sold, they relocated in 2018 to 1046 W. 103rd St., a former Applebee’s.

They plan to slowly add new items to the food truck menu so they can maintain high quality food and service.

The food truck, white with red trim, is in a rented parking space at 7927 Wornall Road, on the east side of the street.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Customers can order online or at the truck. The owners plan to expand hours for the spring and summer. They also plan to add delivery.

The Esquedas took on three partners in the food truck. If the Waldo location takes off, they plan a couple more Kansas City locations.

This story was originally published March 30, 2021 at 5:00 AM.