The bad news: Tabla is closing. The good news: Güero No. 1 Tortas is moving in. On Tuesday, December 3, the longtime Kerns neighborhood Italian spot will put away its pasta rollers to make way for the food cart wunderkinds from down the street. 

Güero owners Alec Morrison and Megan Sanchez, the anchor tenants at the SE 28th Avenue food cart pod for nearly four years, say they are excited at the chance to dabble in new flavors and ideas from their frequent travels in Mexico.

The counter-service spot will serve up eight or nine tortas, with bowls, salads, fried snacks, and one helluva burger. “The street burger is everywhere in Mexico,” says Morrison. Güero's version is essentially a griddle burger, complete with fried American cheese, habanero slaw, pickled jalapeno, tamarind-habanero-roasted tomato, and a big dollop of guacamole. 

Other tortas come from past specials at the cart, including the much-loved huarache (masa tortilla) topped with the same tamarind-habanero sauce, and the carnitas ahogada—literally smothered in a savory, spicy tomato sauce and topped with a fresh Yucatan slaw. 

A short list of cocktails will revolve around tequila and mescal, mixed and blended with all manner of fresh fruits and citrus. There will be classics: a margarita, michelada, and Mexican coke with Amargo-Vallet Mexican bitters. Meanwhile, Morrison and Sanchez, emphasizing the importance of communal drinking, are offering little carafes of mescal for the table, with the standard accoutrement: oranges, salt, and chiles. 

The duo plans to open by January 2017, with hopes to expand the sidewalk seating to mimic their old cart pod atmosphere. Blueprints for brunch are already in the works. 

Güero
200 NE 28th Ave
(Opening January 2017)
11 a.m.–10 p.m. daily