Nov. 3, 2025

Plaza Azteca has opened its long-awaited east-side location.

The upscale Mexican restaurant near the southwest corner of 26th Street and Veterans Parkway started serving diners last week in its new building. Plans for the east-side location were announced in October 2024 by the restaurant group, which also has a location in Fargo.

The large menu is the same as the first location in Sioux Falls at 3500 W. 69th St., which opened in 2022, except for five extra dishes, said Victor Magana, who is part of Plaza Azteca’s management team.

Among those new items are empanadas that are filled with chicken or ground beef and cheese, and are served with pico de gallo and guacamole. There’s also a chipotle pasta with sauteed shrimp or chicken, and enchiladas poblanas, which are three chicken enchiladas topped with a mole poblano made with more than 50 ingredients, Magana said.

Birria tacos are a customer favorite, he said.

A lunch menu is served in addition to the full menu from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. There’s also a kids menu with quesadillas, an enchilada, taco, burrito, chicken fingers and mac-and-cheese.

Like the southwest location, the new restaurant features a guacamole cart, with a server making the avocado dip tableside.

The restaurant has a full liquor license and is known for its “skinny” margaritas, Magana said.

“One thing that’s important is at both locations, our margaritas are made with fresh fruit,” said Magana, who usually works at the 69th Street restaurant but is helping with the 26th Street opening.

The new location features a modern, black and white design, with a higher ceiling than the southwest restaurant, he said. It’s also a little larger, holding about 150 diners at booths, tables and seating at the bar. It has a casino area with 10 video lottery machines.

When patio season arrives next year, customers will be able to eat and drink outside on the south side of the building.

The restaurant at 5919 E. 26th St. opens daily at 11 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It can be accessed from a driveway along the 605 Orthodontics building or off of Daylight Drive.