Adam Saldaña is finally getting his own walls. Banzito’s Tacos, the Chicano-influenced brand with roots in all Latin culture that has spent the last several years winning over Sacramento and Lincoln through pop-ups, catering, and a food truck, is set to open a brick-and-mortar location at 216 Washington St. in Old Town Auburn this fall, taking over the former Tio Pepe Mex space.
The concept blends Saldaña’s Cuban heritage with the taco format, a combination that has built a loyal following since he first started selling at markets in 2021. From there, Banzito’s grew into catering and eventually a full food truck, which currently operates a residency outside Knee Deep Brewing in Auburn. The new restaurant will lean into an “elevated taco bar” concept, serving mostly tacos alongside Latin-inspired small bites, with prices similar to what customers already know from the truck. For Saldaña, the opening carries deep personal meaning. The dream traces back to his mother, whose love of cooking shaped his earliest food memories.
The new spot is sizable, with about 5,158 square feet total, split between a 3,148-square-foot restaurant and a 2,010-square-foot patio, according to the Sacramento Business Journal. Saldaña said he stumbled onto the listing almost by accident while browsing online, and is leasing rather than buying the space. The restaurant is currently licensed for beer and wine, and Saldaña is in the process of securing a license for cocktails, with plans to build a drink menu that complements the food.
Whether the food truck will continue to run once the restaurant opens remains undecided. For now, all eyes are on the fall opening in Old Town Auburn.
