Raleigh nabs the first NC expansion of a popular Richmond taco restaurant

A taco shop from Richmond, Va., has tapped Raleigh for its first out-of-state expansion, bringing its blend of Mexican and Asian flavors further south.

Wong’s Tacos will open its first North Carolina restaurant in the GlenLake development in North Raleigh. The upscale taco shop is owned by Richmond’s EAT Restaurant Partners, which has nine other restaurant concepts in the food-loving Virginia capital.

The move to Raleigh is the company’s first expansion beyond the Richmond area.

EAT president Chris Tsui said the company spent two years working to find the right spot for Wong’s Tacos in Raleigh.

“We’ve wanted to go to Raleigh for a while now, but it’s slim pickings down there because it’s growing so fast,” Tsui said. “It’s like Richmond on steroids...The people are very friendly, the demographics are very similar, the only big difference is Raleigh is just bigger.”

The Wong’s Tacos expansion was first reported by Axios Raleigh.

Wong’s Tacos launched in 2019 in Suburban Richmond and Tsui said it was born out of a moment of inspiration during a family meal at a different EAT restaurant.

“It was at Wild Ginger, our pan-Asian concept, we had a few Hispanic chefs making family meal before service, taking fried rice but adding avocado, corn, beans, a little salsa,” Tsui said. “Immediately we thought, maybe we can build a concept around that.”

The menu creates a kind of fusion between Mexican and Asian dishes. You’ll find bulgogi fajitas, tempura fried chicken wings and coconut shrimp bao buns. The tacos include bulgogi, char siu pork belly, kung pao chicken and green curry shrimp.

“The menu is pretty creative, it’s Asian and Mexican fusion,” Tsui said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun and it’s a concept that’s very dear to us.”

On the beverage side, there are shaken and frozen margaritas and daiquris, plus Asian, Mexican and local craft beer.

Tsui said that Wong’s Tacos looks to open its doors by October.

Wong’s Tacos joins a crowded group of restaurants picking the Triangle for their expansion. Recently, DC-area brand Taco Bomba opened in Raleigh’s Ridgewood Shopping Center, while Richmond’s Soul Taco quickly opened and closed last year after it expanded to the Triangle.

Leading the Wong’s Tacos expansion is former LM Restaurants food and beverage director Andrew Bonito, who EAT hired last year.

“(Wong’s Tacos) is one of my favorite stories,” Bonito said. “It’s a concept and cuisine derived out of family meal. Having worked in the restaurant business for many years, the best stuff comes out of family meal.”

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