Taco Bar Closes (But New Things Ahead)

Never one for fanfare, The Taco Bar closed quietly on May 1. Rumors had been circulating and a projected shutdown date of late May had been confirmed, so the early shuttering came abruptly and unexpectedly.

Since its opening last summer, The Taco Bar had a brief but brilliant run of it. In our Reader Restaurant Awards this year, readers voted it as an Outstanding Choice for Best Mexican and it was nominated for Best Place for Celebration (Casual). It certainly would win any category for Worst Kept Secret.

In our recently tabulated results from this year's Bar and Club Awards (results to be announced May 18), The Taco Bar won Best Hidden Gem by literate drinkers around the city. As they've shuttered their doors, we'll be awarding them an honorable mention as recognition.

Kin Hong, the driving force behind the project, cites landlord issues as the cause of closure. He advises anyone interested in renting the Gongyi Xiang space to proceed with caution. And if you've been wandering around Fangjia for carnitas in vain this past week, know that Taco Bar is no more, and cease your search. The neighbors aren't so pleased with your fists pounding on their doors.

But if anything, you'll be seeing Hong around town more and more. He recently launched a small cafe and wine bar, The Hardware Shop, on Jianchang Hutong with Kupa Studios (the design team behind Taco Bar, Apothecary, Mosto, and Modo) and has been consulting in kitchen for Great Leap Brewery's newest location in Sanlitun. Curious about those? Stay tuned. We wouldn't want to spill the beans all in one go.

Photo: lumdimsum.com