El Tapatio adds authentic Mexican to local offerings
Maria Guitron and Leopoldo Mora are bringing authentic Mexican to Brandon when El Tapatio opens mid-month.
Work continues on the interior and exterior of El Tapatio, which is scheduled to open later this month in Brandon.
Fresh food, authentic family recipes and fast service – El Tapatio promises all of this and more when the Mexican eatery opens on Splitrock Boulevard in Brandon in just two weeks.
From fajitas to chimichangas, steak to seafood, vegetarian, meat-lover’s, and even gluten-free, the menu is wide, as is the space, with three dining rooms and a patio. The portions will be plentiful, too.
“People are not going to go hungry here,” co-owner Maria Guitron said with a smile. “We like for our customers to leave satisfied.”
Brandon’s is the fourth in the franchise for Guitron and her husband, Leopoldo Mora. They also own El Tapatios in Yankton and Dell Rapids and Azteca in Sioux Falls.
The couple discovered Brandon a few years back when their son competed in a wrestling meet in town. When the time came to expand El Tapatio, Brandon seemed a logical choice.
“We like the area, Brandon is a good community and it’s growing,” Guitron said. “There aren’t many options here.”
Adam Brown is also glad for the variety El Tapatio will bring to Brandon.
“You want something different,” Brown said. “From everything I’ve heard, people are excited. It should help drive more and more
people to Brandon and what we have here that’s special. People don’t like to drive to Sioux Falls.”
In addition to its main menu, the eatery will offer a lunch menu with smaller portions, cheaper prices and fast turnaround for locals on lunch break.
Specialties include the El Tapatio margarita – homemade with a secret mix – and the Margarona, a margarita with a Corona in it upside down.
With ceramic-tiled tabletops and Spanish-style arches, the décor echoes the flavor of the menu.
“It’s going to be good to have real Mexican here. I think it’ll do well,” Brown said.
In addition to 34 dinner combinations, El Tapatio offers a kids’ menu and a few non-Mexican options.
“I think we can accommodate any platter and any palate,” Guitron said.
El Tapatio is set to open in mid-September at 616 N. Splitrock Blvd. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. They are currently hiring for a variety of positions, and Guitron encourages those interested to stop by the restaurant to pick up a job application.
