Family’s Mexican restaurant chain expands to Brandon

By Rosemary McCoy

The growing town of Brandon is gaining a Mexican restaurant next week.

El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant opens Monday at 616 N. Splitrock Blvd.

It’s the fourth location for the family-owned business, which has El Tapatios in Yankton and Dell Rapids, and Azteca Mexican Restaurant in Sioux Falls.

“Brandon is a good-sized town with 12,000 to 14,000 people,” said Leopoldo “Polo” Moro, who owns the restaurants with his wife, Maria, and her uncle Mario. “It’s a good size to support a Mexican restaurant.”

Molcajete

The final touches are being completed on the new building. The restaurant will seat 210 people, and there is room for 35 to 40 people on the patio.

Moro, who lives in Yankton, said he will work in Brandon for the first month of operation, and his brother, Moses, will serve as the general manager. The family immigrated to the U.S. from the state of Jalisco in Mexico 17 years ago, and started the first restaurant in Yankton 10 years ago using family recipes, Moro said.

El Tapatio will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

The extensive menu features beef, chicken and seafood specialties, along with the typical fajitas, enchiladas and burritos. There are 34 dinner combinations, and a lunch menu that features a special from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day except for Sunday.

The restaurant has a beer and wine license.

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Family’s Mexican restaurant chain expands to Brandon

El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant opens Monday at 616 N. Splitrock Blvd.

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