Rocco's Tacos Delray Beach Sets Opening Date for September

Admit it: We could all use some more tacos in our life. And, luckily, Rocco's Tacos is coming to the rescue. The wait is almost over for the grand opening of downtown Delray Beach's newest hot spot when Rocco's Tacos celebrates the launch of its seventh location later this month slated for Wednesday, September 30. 

The Delray Beach Rocco's Tacos — located in the former home of Prime Delray Beach, and before that Blue Fish Restaurant — has been a long time coming after a yearlong renovation of the 6,500-square-foot space, located at 110 E. Atlantic Ave. To celebrate the new location, owner and founder Rocco Mangel will host a pre grand-opening party from 8 p.m. to midnight on Tuesday, September 29 (open to the public). There will be a cash bar as well as complimentary chips, guacamole, and salsa — but no sit-down dinner service. 

Since opening the first location in West Palm Beach in 2007, today the South Florida-based boutique chain of Mexican restaurants is best-known for its lively bar scene, star-shaped punched metal lanterns, and a library-sized tequila selection. The newest addition will be opening its doors just in time for season, serving a wide range of Mexican-inspired dishes, giant margaritas, and maybe even a free shot or two poured by Mangel himself.

As always, tacos are built on house-made flour or corn tortillas, which come off of a comal, a flat griddle used throughout Mexico and Central America. The jalapeño rellenos are stuffed with cotija and fried, then drizzled with lime crema and avocado ranch, a favorite at each of Mangel's existing establishments. Molcajete seafood is another popular dish, a large stone bowl filled with wild Gulf shrimp, scallops, mahi, and poblano peppers baked with calabaza squash, charred tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. 

And, of course, you'll be able to find each of the restaurant's signature margaritas, served up frozen or on the rocks. The new indoor/outdoor restaurant in Delray Beach will offer more than 330 varieties of tequila.

For many snowbirds returning to the South Florida area, the new Delray Beach location may be a familiar site. Last November, Rocco's Tacos opened his sixth location in Brooklyn, New York. The New York space was his most ambitious yet, a 14,000-square-foot restaurant connected to the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge boasting six banquet rooms and an 80-foot bar upstairs.

Mangel, a Long Island native who also resides in West Palm Beach, will be making the rounds at each of his South Florida establishments later this month to welcome his latest location. Expect to find him randomly jumping onto the Delray Beach restaurant's 50-foot bar, and pouring tequila into customers' mouths — all while donning his signature white shoes. 

"The amount of love we’ve received from our South Florida fans is humbling," said Mangel in a press release. "We’re blessed to have the support of locals who join us for experiences week after week, and constantly recommend our restaurants to out-of-town guests. We couldn’t be more excited to open our newest location right in the heart of Delray Beach, where we can continue to serve our South Florida family."

Rocco's Tacos Delray Beach is located at 110 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. The grand opening is set for Wednesday, September 30, and will be dinner service only. Visit roccostacos.com.

Nicole Danna is a food writer covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on the BPB New Times Food & Drink Instagram.