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One of the more popular food trends at the moment, taco shops are opening as well as closing across the Central Valley. Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash<\/p>\n
Fresno and Tulare counties\u2019 taco scene is seeing plenty of movement this summer, with new signage, a sudden closure, a returning Taco Tuesday and questions surrounding one Downtown Fresno restaurant.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a Kern County taco chain continues expanding in Tulare County.<\/p>\n
BT\u2019s closes suddenly after 36 years<\/p>\n
Visalia\u2019s BT\u2019s, short for Buns and Tortillas, announced its closure with a note on the door of its Mooney Boulevard drive-thru restaurant on Aug. 17.<\/p>\n
The note, titled \u201cWith Gratitude, We Say Goodbye,\u201d thanked customers for \u201c36 amazing years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jeff Naugle opened BT\u2019s in 1990, reported the Visalia-Times Delta, operating it with his wife Colette before permanently closing it earlier this month.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor more than three decades, you welcomed us into your lives, shared countless celebrations with us, and made our restaurant a part of this community,\u201d the note read.<\/p>\n
Customers responded to the news on social media, sharing fond memories and describing their favorite meals.<\/p>\n
The restaurant was known for California-style Mexican favorites like crunchy tacos filled with ground beef and finely shredded cheddar cheese, loaded burritos and classic cheeseburgers, served with a side of shoestring fries.<\/p>\n
BT\u2019s attention to detail left an impression on customers who reminisced in the comment section of Visalia Stringer\u2019s Facebook post.<\/p>\n
![\"restaurant](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/BTs-visalia-closed.png\")
Visalia\u2019s BT\u2019s, short for Buns and Tortillas, announced its closure with a note on the door of its Mooney Boulevard drive-thru restaurant on Aug. 17. Photos by John Torres<\/p>\n
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Multiple customers mentioned taco salads made in a fried flour tortilla bowl and served in a large pink \u201cdonut box,\u201d while another pointed to their pebble ice as a standout drink component.<\/p>\n
One commenter noted that the BT combo burrito was her pregnancy craving. Many more shared that its fries were their personal favorite.<\/p>\n
The admiration ran both ways, with the note left by BT\u2019s owners expressing gratitude for the relationships they built with customers over the years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will always cherish the memories and the people who made this journey so special. Thank you for 36 amazing years. We will miss you dearly. Your Buns and Torts Family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tacos El Franc signage goes up in Fresno<\/p>\n
Signage has gone up at Tacos El Franc\u2019s future Fresno restaurant at 110 E. Shaw Ave., bringing the Tijuana-born taqueria another step closer to its local debut.<\/p>\n
The restaurant is taking over the former Heroes Comics storefront near Shaw and Blackstone avenues. The Business Journal first reported the Fresno expansion in March.<\/p>\n
Tacos El Franc was founded in Tijuana in 1996 by Don Javier Valadez, who started selling tacos from a small corner shop.<\/p>\n
The family-run taqueria later caught the attention of Netflix, which featured it in the first season of \u201cTaco Chronicles.\u201d Food critics took notice too, with its Tijuana restaurant earning recognition from the Michelin Guide.<\/p>\n
The business has since crossed the border with locations in San Diego\u2019s Gaslamp Quarter and National City. Fresno is next.<\/p>\n
Its 2,600-square-foot restaurant was leased from Erganian Family Partnership LLP.<\/p>\n
An opening date has not been announced.<\/p>\n
Tacos La Villa expands in Visalia<\/p>\n
Tacos La Villa has expanded its Tulare County footprint with another restaurant in Visalia.<\/p>\n
![\"exterior](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/tacos-la-villa-bakersfield.jpg\")
After opening a Visalia location in June, Tacos La Villa also unveiled another Bakersfield location earlier this month. Tacos La Villa Facebook image<\/p>\n
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The Kern County-based taco chain announced the opening of its newest location at 2125 N. Dinuba Blvd. on June 1, bringing its tacos, burritos, loaded fries and other Mexican favorites to north Visalia \u2014 the company\u2019s second location in the city.<\/p>\n
Tacos La Villa also operates at 2545 S. Mooney Blvd., giving the chain locations on both sides of Visalia. Its website lists another Tulare County restaurant at 785 N. Newcomb St. in Porterville.<\/p>\n
Outside Tulare County, Tacos La Villa has locations in Fresno, Bakersfield, Shafter, Lamont, Tehachapi and Southern California.<\/p>\n
Plant Slayer is back with Taco Tuesday<\/p>\n
Taco Tuesday is back at Downtown Fresno\u2019s Plant Slayer following the restaurant\u2019s monthlong summer closure.<\/p>\n
Owners Gina Perez and Jeremy Brownstein closed the plant-based restaurant for July before reopening at 2405 Capitol St. in The Galleria.<\/p>\n
With its return came the revival of Taco Tuesday, adding a weekly themed dinner to a menu known for vegan takes on burgers, sandwiches, loaded fries and other comfort foods.<\/p>\n
Plant Slayer started as a pop-up before hitting Fresno streets as a food trailer and eventually opening its brick-and-mortar restaurant in Downtown Fresno.<\/p>\n
![\"signage](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/plant-slayer-reopens.jpeg\")
Downtown Fresno\u2019s Plant Slayer reopened earlier this month after a weeks-long closure, and has resumed Tacos Tuesdays. Photo by Denine Currie<\/p>\n
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Tacos El Cabezon appears closed again<\/p>\n
The future of Tacos El Cabezon\u2019s Downtown Fresno restaurant is unclear after another apparent interruption in operations.<\/p>\n
The restaurant at 1234 Fulton St. recently appeared closed despite orders continuing to show up through delivery platforms.<\/p>\n
A DoorDash driver arrived at the location to pick up an order only to find that the restaurant had not opened that day.<\/p>\n
It is the latest turn for a business that grew rapidly from a popular taco trailer into a Downtown Fresno restaurant.<\/p>\n
Owner Armando Arias Jr. launched Tacos El Cabezon in Fresno in August 2025 at 420 W. Shaw Ave., at Shaw and Maroa avenues.<\/p>\n
The location quickly drew large crowds, but Fresno County issued a cease-and-desist order Feb. 13 over permitting requirements, including the lack of a required traffic study.<\/p>\n
Less than a month later, Arias opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant at 1234 Fulton St. The Business Journal reported that the restaurant celebrated its grand opening March 12.<\/p>\n
Problems at the former Shaw and Maroa location continued separately. A five-day notice dated March 31 sought $8,500 in unpaid rent for February and March. The property has since been leased to another restaurant operator.<\/p>\n
Then, the Fulton Street restaurant temporarily closed in April around the time Arias was reported missing.<\/p>\n
Fresno police later located him safely, and Arias said he had been hospitalized for six days.<\/p>\n
By early May, the Fulton Street restaurant had reopened and was operating seven days a week, according to The Fresno Bee.<\/p>\n
Now, the Fulton Street restaurant appears to have stopped operating again.<\/p>\n
No permanent closure has been announced.<\/p>\n
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