Wichita taqueria that’s earned a big following about to get a sit-down sister restaurant

Taqueria La Chona opened two and a half years ago in the shadow of St. Joseph Hospital, and since then, the little restaurant serving the flavors of Jalisco, Mexico, has earned a big following.

Now, its owners — Serjio Valadez and wife Alma Cerrillo — are ready to expand. The couple has taken over the space at 1210 W. Pawnee that Jimmy’s Egg vacated in February and plans to open a sister restaurant to Taqueria La Chona, only this one will be a full-service, sit-down Mexican restaurant.

It’ll be called Fonda La Chona, and it will serve the same tacos, tortas and burritos that have made Taqueria La Chona, 3415 E. Harry, famous, but will also offer around 20 additional entrees, including seafood dishes, fajitas, molcajetes and more. It will also have a full bar, whereas the taqueria sells only beer, and that will allow the owners to offer margaritas, mimosas and other mixed drinks.

Valadez said he’s hoping to open Fonda La Chona by late October or early November. He’s completing a remodel and waiting on a shipment of new furniture from Mexico, and then the restaurant will be ready to go, he said.

”We’ve been growing ever since we opened, and we outgrew our spot six months into our venture there,” Valadez said of Taqueria La Chona. “Now, we’re ready to take on another location.”

Taqueria la Chona originally operated as a little taco truck that would set up in the parking lot of Carniceria El Guero, the Mexican market that once operated at 2920 W. Central.

Stay tuned for updates as opening day gets closer.