A rapidly growing, fully halal-certified fast-casual Mexican chain plans to soon open its first Pennsylvania location at Schoenersville Centre in Bethlehem.
New York City-based Taco Tek is slated to move into the former Moe’s Southwest Grill space, 3211 Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem, Lehigh County, The James Balliet Property Group, the shopping center’s leasing agent, posted on its Facebook page.
Representatives of Taco Tek are hoping to open by late August, Michael G. Makhoul of The James Balliet Property Group, told lehighvalleylive.com.
Moe’s shuttered in May after opening at the shopping center in 2012. Taco Tek currently has other sites in Harlem and The Bronx. The business venture launched in the spring, according to the chain’s website.
Taco Tek is known for its fresh ingredients with no preservatives, zero freezers, and made-to-order meals. Workers chop produce every morning and marinate meats overnight.
Menu items include burritos and burrito bowls; nachos; quesadillas; salads; and street tacos.
Guests choose from such proteins as grilled or honey chipotle chicken; ground beef; steak; shrimp; or vegetable (tofu). There’s Mexican rice or cilantro lime rice, as well as black or pinto beans.
Then, the items get topped off with such selections as regular or spicy queso; fajita veggies; cheese; salsa; and guacamole.
One of the chain’s specialty items is the steak or chicken birria tacos, which include slow-cooked meat packed into corn tortillas and griddled until crispy. They are then served with a side of rich dipping broth, cilantro and onions.
Sauces include the flavor of either cilantro; sweet mango; verde; or chipotle for some added heat.
Entrees often get paired with chips and queso or guacamole or seasoned fries. Desserts include Dulce de Leche and Oreo churro drinks.
Additionally, the chain is known for its late night hours. The New York City sites are open 10 a.m. to 3 a.m., seven days a week.
The 2,962-square-foot empty storefront currently is the only vacancy at Schoenersville Centre, located just north of Route 22 at the signalized intersection of Schoenersville Road and Avenue C.
The strip mall already houses over a half dozen other tenants, including Starbucks, SuperCuts, Saladworks, Haaz’s Halal Heat, Health Network Labs, Jimmy John’s, and Manhattan Bagel.