Tacolicious' Fifth Location Heading to San Jose

It's been two years since Tacolicious last expanded to Palo Alto, and now one of the taco-heavy mini-chains is upping its presence outside the city with a location coming to San Jose. Outdoor shopping mall Santana Row is the recipient, and the space is similar in size to the Chestnut Street location, Inside Scoop reported. Owner Joe Hargrave spent 11 months negotiating the lease, and now that it's his, he hopes to open by the Super Bowl.

That's not all Hargrave is working on, though — he and friend Donnie Masterton are still hard at work on the Tacolicious Taco Lab, a forthcoming San Miguel de Allende, Mexico restaurant meant to be an incubator for future Tacolicious dishes. Last we heard, Hargrave's plan is to have quarterly check-ins with Masterton about new menu items, then bring him up to the Bay Area to help institute them at each of Tacolicious' locations. Masterton is already at work on developing new ceviches, gorditas and panuchos for Tacolicious' upcoming menus. Now Hargrave said they are nearing opening, which they're aiming to be around Christmas. Stay tuned for more details as we hear them.

In other San Jose news, Curry Up Now is opening a location at 3250 Zanker Road #30 on Thursday, September 24. The 3,900-square-feet space will bring the playful Indian dishes (like that tikka masala burrito) the restaurant is known far, along with a 24-seat bar and outdoor patio called Mortar & Pestle Bar. There'll also be brunch on the weekends. This is Curry Up Now's ninth location (including the five food trucks).