El Pique Tacos Opens, South End Famous Steak & Lemonade Closes

JOLIET, IL ? After running their own taco truck the past three years in Dwight, Pontiac, Odell and at a Wilmington truck stop, a mother and her son just opened their first indoor restaurant in the city where they live, Joliet. This marks the first full week of business for El Pique Tacos, 48 McDonough St.

El Pique Tacos replaced the South End Famous Steak and Lemonade restaurant that closed last year. During Thursday's interview, Juan Carrillo and his mother Liliana Abad said that their El Pique Tacos is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Besides focusing on carryout orders, El Pique Tacos also has enough seating for 20 customers. Thursday, Jan. 19, marked their first day of business.

"There are new specials every day," Carrillo remarked.

One big special ? which is quickly becoming a regular daily staple on the menu ? Carrillo said, is the $10 taco dinner.

Customers get three tacos, rice and beans for $10.

For others, the $9 torta which includes meat, beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and avocado, is becoming a popular menu option.

To call in your order, El Pique Tacos can be reached at 630-550-1009.

Joliet Patch asked Carrillo why he and his mother chose to open their first Mexican restaurant here on Joliet's southeast side.

"We're from Joliet, so we want to make the community have different choices," he said. "Just try the Mexican tacos because we cut everything fresh every day, spices, meats, salsa and vegetables."

Before opening, he and his mother spent several weeks renovating the inside of the restaurant. There is new flooring and one of the restaurant walls was knocked out.

"Everything is like brand new, basically," Carrillo remarked.

Carrillo said he was not sure why the previous owners of the South End Famous Steak and Lemonade closed.

"They just gave up or retired," he said.