Barrio Tacos, the successor to La Tropicana, has big shoes to fill in Ybor City. This is the Sacred Heart, a handmade, stained glass, piece of art designed to embody Barrio Taco’s aspirational goal of becoming the community bar of Ybor City.
Consistent with this theme, a mural, continuing through the interior of the establishment, tells the story of a couple who meet at the bar and chronicles significant events during their life together in Ybor. The mural intricately weaves in Ybor historical elements and includes various “Easter Eggs” (hidden images), depicting random things some of which nod to Barrio’s Ohio roots.
It began in 2012 with two Cleveland locals who just wanted to serve food at their bar in Tremont, a neighborhood to the south of Cleveland. The owner of the Tampa franchise, Jason Crawford, also a Cleveland native, started his journey as a Barrios general manager. Over time, he became a regional manager overseeing four stores. True to their practice of awarding franchises only to employees, Jason got the Tampa franchise last year. He and his wife immediately packed their things and moved to 5th Avenue by Santo Stefano.
Jason has gone all in. From the colorful epoxy resin floors to the handcrafted metalwork and art throughout the bar, you can see the fingerprints of someone who has spent a lot of time in the hospitality business taking the opportunity to add unique, quality elements to this historic location.
Build your own taco or order from a selection of house favorites. The menu is limited to Tacos but the options and combinations are numerous. The menu features a variety of proteins from marinated meats to vegeterian options, all complimented by an array of toppings and sauces that balance heat, sweetness and tanginess. Barrio Tacos is known for its creative and customizable approach, allowing guests to mix and match to create their perfect taco, making every visit a flavorful adventure. Taking pride in using only the freshest ingredients, all items are made in-house daily or even hourly. The goal is to produce only affordable, high-quality food for their guests.
They also offer a broad selection of local beers and whiskeys, along with a curated selection of tequilas. Located at 1822 East.7th Avenue. The hours are 11am to 12am Sunday through Thursday, and 11am to 1am Friday and Saturday,
