
Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.
The owner of a Mexican food truck with an enthusiastic local following in West Hartford is branching out into a brick-and-mortar location on Park Road.
Chef Omar Bello, who has operated the Fuego Picante food truck in town for four years, said it’s become increasingly difficult to serve all of the customers flocking to his mobile kitchen, which specializes in authentic Mexican cuisine.
“The truck has been very successful,” Bello said. “But it brings in too many people. We don’t have enough room to serve them all.”
To remedy that problem, Bello is setting up a sit-down eatery, also called Fuego Picante, at 280 Park Road, the former home of Pachanga Empanadas. The restaurant will have about 25 seats inside, he said, and in the warmer months, the patio outside will accommodate around 20 seats.
The restaurant will offer an expanded menu and be open every day of the week except for Mondays. The Fuego Picante food truck will remain in operation.
Bello said he is eying the first or second week of June for an official opening.
The launch, when it arrives, will mark a significant milestone for Bello, who has worked in the restaurant industry for around 20 years and initially started his food truck because he lacked the resources to open a brick-and-mortar location.
When he relocated with his wife from New York to Connecticut several years ago, the first job he took was in a restaurant at 280 Park Road, the same space his business will now occupy.
“I’d been watching this place for a while,” he said. “I always said, ‘That’s for us. This is the place for us.’”
Fuego Picante found quick acclaim in West Hartford with its traditional dishes, including tacos al pastor, birria and guacamole, which is made fresh daily. Bello said he made a conscious decision to avoid heavily Americanized Mexican dishes, or “Tex-Mex,” in favor of a back-to-basics approach with a strong emphasis on fresh ingredients.
“People can see the love that you put into your food,” he said. “We wanted our food to be traditional and we wanted our food to look good.”
The Hartford Business Journal 2025 Charity Event Guide is the annual resource publication highlighting the top charity events in 2025.
Learn moreHartford Business Journal provides the top coverage of news, trends, data, politics and personalities of the area’s business community. Get the news and information you need from the award-winning writers at HBJ. Don’t miss out - subscribe today.
SubscribeDelivering vital marketplace content and context to senior decision-makers throughout Connecticut ...
All Year Long!
The Hartford Business Journal 2025 Charity Event Guide is the annual resource publication highlighting the top charity events in 2025.
Hartford Business Journal provides the top coverage of news, trends, data, politics and personalities of the area’s business community. Get the news and information you need from the award-winning writers at HBJ. Don’t miss out - subscribe today.
Delivering vital marketplace content and context to senior decision-makers throughout Connecticut ...
All Year Long!
In order to use this feature, we need some information from you. You can also login or register for a free account.
By clicking submit you are agreeing to our cookie usage and Privacy Policy
Already have an account? Login
Already have an account? Login
Want to create an account? Register
In order to use this feature, we need some information from you. You can also login or register for a free account.
By clicking submit you are agreeing to our cookie usage and Privacy Policy
Already have an account? Login
Already have an account? Login
Want to create an account? Register
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Our privacy policy
To ensure the best experience on our website, articles cannot be read without allowing cookies. Please allow cookies to continue reading. Our privacy policy
0 Comments