Family-run Tacos El Jefe opens on Riverside Boulevard in Loves Park
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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LOVES PARK — A new family-run restaurant focused on authentic Mexican options from breakfast through dinner has opened on East Riverside Boulevard.
Tacos El Jefe fills the former Fuji Cajun space at 6566 E. Riverside Blvd. It started with a soft opening last week and plans to hold its grand opening Aug. 6.
Nearby: Family-owned A.M. Social Brunch to fill former Pomodoro space in Loves Park
Jason Jaramillo, who runs the restaurant with his father, Jose, said the busy stretch of restaurants on Riverside Boulevard was lacking an authentic Mexican option. They hope to fill that void.
“We were trying to find a location where there was no Mexican food at all,” Jason Jaramillo said. “This is a good location for us. … There’s not really authentic food out here.”
The Jaramillos own the restaurant along with Ricardo Garcia. They also own Chilangos, which has been in operation in Rockford for about 11 years. That restaurant is at 5621 Wansford Way, which is south of Harrison Avenue across from Illinois Bank & Trust.
Tacos El Jefe specializes in a wide variety of tacos, from ribeye and sirloin to lengua, chorizo, shrimp, chicken and fish, to name a few. The menu has more than 20 options for tacos alone.
The restaurant opens daily at 10 a.m., and there are breakfast items including huevos a la Mexicana and huevos rancheros, among other options.
There are also a variety of quesadillas, tostadas, burritos and burrito bowls, tortas, fajitas, flautas, enchiladas, stuffed chili peppers, and chimichangas.
Some of the dinner options include bistek a la Mexicana — a classic Mexican dish featuring steak cooked in a mix of tomatoes, onions and jalapenos — and pechuga ranchera, which is a grilled chicken breast topped with special sauce, onions and melted cheese.
The dessert menu includes cheesecake, tres leches cake and flan.
The restaurant offers sit-down and carryout service now. The family hopes to open the drive-thru in the coming weeks.
“I just hope everyone wants to come in and try our food, try something authentic,” Jason Jaramillo said. “My father has been wanting to open a restaurant since he was little. I’m very excited for him and excited for the family.”
About | Tacos El Jefe Mexican Grill
Where: 6566 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday
Phone: 815-707-6996
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
