Oct. 8, 2021

The owners of a Brookings restaurant that specializes in Mexican and Italian food are expanding to Sioux Falls.

Simon’s Tacos will be opening at 5300 S. Louise Ave. later this year.

It’s owned by the Alvarez Argueta family, which also owns and operates Yessica’s Mexican and Italian Restaurant, building owner Jeff Carstens said.

“I think it’ll do really well,” he said.

Simon’s menu will focus on Mexican cuisine in a concept that is different from the Brookings restaurant, the owners said. It will be more of a California-style taqueria, or taco shop.

Still, it’s a more chef-driven take on Mexican, with offerings such as birria tacos, a Nopales Cactus taco with pico de gallo and salsa, a Philly-style burrito, a chimichanga and many dishes that include seafood. There also are burgers, nachos and “super fries,” which include steak, queso, pico de gallo and guacamole, as well as “street fries” with shredded beef, grilled corn, cheese, mayonnaise and house sauce.

There will be breakfast options, too, including huevos rancheros, platanos and chilaquiles, which are fried corn tortillas with over-easy eggs, cheese, sour cream, onions, beans and spicy red or green sauce.

The restaurant will offer dine-in, counter service and delivery through third-party services. It could add a drive-thru at some point, Carstens said.

The plan is to be open by mid-November, he said.

The building most recently was Erbert & Gerbert’s Sandwich Shop, which closed at the end of last year.

Yessica’s originally was located in Huron, but the Alvarez family moved the restaurant to Brookings in 2019 to be supported by a bigger market. They live in Sioux Falls but still plan to keep the Brookings location.