Backyard Taco to open 3rd location Oct. 1 next to Mesa theaters

Backyard Taco, the restaurant born in a Mesa backyard, will open its third location Monday, Oct. 1, on the northeast corner of Stapley and Baseline in Mesa.

It takes over the former Piggly’s BBQ building in the parking lot in front of the AMC theaters.

Owners Ruben and Maricela Alvarez spent a decade grilling carne asada tacos in their backyard for friends and neighbors. A group of investors helped them launch the first Backyard Taco near Stapley and University in 2013.

In 2017, a second, much larger Backyard Taco opened at Agritopia on the northwest corner of Higley and Ray in Gilbert.

Besides the namesake tacos, the restaurant’s menu offers burritos, quesadillas, gorditas, and tostadas.

The third location will open its doors at 10 a.m. Monday. To celebrate, the first 100 guests at all three locations Monday morning will receive free T-shirts.