Birria El Gordo has closed its Marietta location. The restaurant cited rising operating costs as the reason behind the closure.
Birria El Gordo Announces Closure of Its Marietta Location
Birria El Gordo, a Mexican restaurant in Marietta, closed on September 3. It was located at 350 Pat Mell Road SE. The closure marks the end of the restaurant’s six-year presence in Marietta.
The restaurant announced the closure on social media, thanking the community for years of support. “After 6½ incredible years, it’s time for us to say goodbye,” posted the team.
Birria El Gordo began as a family-run pop-up during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a February 2021 Atlanta Magazine report, the Pineda family operated a neighborhood restaurant called Billares Guerrero at the location. They began selling birria from the space and quickly grew the pop-up from there.
Birria El Gordo was known for its birria, tacos, and quesabirrias. The birria was available in several varieties, including birria de res, birria de chivo, birria de pollo, and vegan birria. Other popular menu items included mulitas, vampiros, quesadillas, and birria ramen.
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Customers React to the Closure
The closure drew reactions from longtime customers, who shared memories of the restaurant and its food on social media.
One longtime customer wrote on Instagram, “This was the first place I ever tried birria, not long after y’all opened. Drove from Lithonia, probably waited an hour with the time in the line, and once I got to the table. It was worth every minute. Sorry to see y’all go.”
Another customer wrote, “You were definitely one of the first true Birria places in Georgia, inspired me to start in Gwinnett. Thanks for the memories.”
A customer also wrote, “I’m so heartbroken. I’ve gone so many times. I’ve put people on. I traveled an +1hr to get some tacos.”
Birria El Gordo’s closure marks the end of a six-year chapter for the Marietta restaurant.
