The new Taquiza taqueria in Miami’s Little River neighborhood.
Taquiza
Taquiza is back — and happily, fans of the taqueria’s tacos didn’t have to wait long for its reappearance.
The laid-back Michelin Guide-recognized Mexican restaurant, which was created in 2014, had closed at the Broadmoor Hotel at 7450 Ocean Terrace in Miami Beach before the hotel’s renovation began. The brand, from chef and partner Steve Santana, had moved into the spot as a pop-up in 2018 and was so popular it remained.
Now, Taquiza has reopened in its commissary and tortilla factory in Little River, where it has been producing masa and tortillas for years. This is a grab-and-go operation, although you can phone ahead or order online for pickup or delivery.
Chef and partner Steve Santana at the counter at the new Taquiza takeout taqueria in Little River. Taquiza
Customers ordering at the counter can look straight into the tortilla-making heart of the enterprise, where organic, non GMO corn is transformed into fresh masa and tortillas. The brand is switching from blue to stone-ground yellow corn tortillas for its tacos, but the signature totopos will continue to be made from the heirloom blue corn.
Ask Santana, and he’ll tell you this makes sense.
“Making our own masa was the whole reason for opening Taquiza,” Santana said. “In South Beach, that worke happened right behind the counter. Little River puts it back at the center of the restaurant and gives us room to do it at a scale we never could before.”
Barbacoa taco at Taquiza in Little River. Taquiza Taquiza
Where: 8246 NE Second Ave., Miami
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Order: 305-630-8405 or taquizatacos.com for pickup or delivery or through UberEats or DoorDash
Connie Ogle loves wine, books and the Miami Heat. Please don’t make her eat a mango.