South County has a new spot for authentic Mexican street food favorites.
Tacos Wey & Grill (9040 Gravois) opened November 1 in the space previously occupied by Cecil Whittaker’s Pizza, at the corner of Gravois and Weber roads.
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The restaurant sold out on its opening day, notes co-owner Jennifer De Carrillo. A week later, customers included returning visitors, picking up orders or eating in the modest dining room.
THE MENU
The limited menu includes a number of specials, such as tamales (red salsa pork and green salsa chicken), which are typically announced on Facebook.
There are also shrimp tacos (with a cilantro crèma lime sauce), tostados (with braised chipotle chicken), and esquites (an off-the-cob corn dish mixed with butter, lime, chili powder, mayonnaise, and cheese).
Besides the taqueria standards, the options include asada fries (loaded with melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, house chipotle crema, and a choice of chicken, steak, pastor, or sautéed fajita veggies).
Tortas are made on bolillos (a Mexican white roll) layered with beans, lettuce, tomato, queso fresco, pickled jalapeños, avocado, and proteins (Milanesa-style, with a choice of chicken, pork, or beef, breaded and pan-fried).
Dorados are corn tortillas stuffed with potatoes or a potato-and-chorizo mix that are then fried.
The restaurant’s version of taco salad includes lettuce, tomato, corn, cilantro, onion, queso fresco, and a house cilantro lime vinaigrette.
The only dessert offering is churros (caramel-filled or plain), though De Carrillo says her daughter’s chocolate flan is a special.
“We want to share family recipes as well as the love we put into our food.” Jennifer says. “Our secret ingredient is love.”
THE CONCEPT & FUTURE PLANS
Asked about the restaurant’s name, De Carrillo says “Wey” essentially means “dude” in Spanish, although there are several other interpretations.
She says her husband’s family’s roots are in Zacatecas, a city in central Mexico; hers are in Mexico City. Her mother ran the former Mi Familia Mexican restaurant in South St. Louis. Tacos Wey is a true family affair, she says, with many family members pitching in to help.
The restaurant is currently open 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, as well as 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. De Carrillo says she hopes to eventually expand the hours to Wednesdays as well. Plans also include adding delivery and a liquor license, she says.
“We hope to be open every day soon,” De Carrillo says, adding that she “appreciates customers’ understanding, patience, and support.”
