A Northern Virginia restaurant will soon bring its tacos infused with Korean flavors to Groveton.
Taco Chinoz is targeting an early December opening for its newest location at 6852 Richmond Highway, general manager Pess Oh says.
Taking over a suite on the ground floor of the Beacon of Groveton apartment building previously filled by Bonchon, the Mexican-Korean fusion eatery promises on its website to serve “fresh ingredients and bold flavors to tantalize your taste buds.”
“Everything is made in house,” Oh told FFXnow. “We marinate everything, and everything is pretty much fresh … Everything’s made daily.”
First opened in Manassas in 2015, Taco Chinoz is currently operating three locations, including an existing Fairfax County spot in Centreville Square (14260G Centreville Square) and one in Sterling with a full bar.
While Oh didn’t specify whether the Groveton location will have a full bar, the restaurant has applied for licenses to serve wine, beer and mixed beverages, according to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority’s database.
The space will have seating for about 30 to 40 people, according to Oh, who describes Taco Chinoz’s vibe as “laid-back,” falling in between the counter service of a Taco Bamba and more upscale sit-down approach of a Bartaco.
“People can drink, sit down, eat tacos and also, just come in for happy hour,” she said.
The menu features a variety of tacos, burritos, bowls, loaded fries, quesadillas and nachos. Many dishes incorporate Korean barbecue flavors, including birria ramen, a lobster taco with yum yum sauce, and a specialty loaded fries option called the Chinoz that blends spicy pork belly and kimchi slaw with garlic aioli, mozzarella cheese, peppers, sweet corn and other toppings.
Oh says the buildout in Groveton is approximately 60 to 70% complete after Fairfax County issued a permit for the renovation on Sept. 16. The restaurant doesn’t appear to have applied for signage yet, per the county’s permit database.
“Our interior is very modern,” Oh said. “… We like to keep things simple, but we like to decorate with decor and our wall is painted with an artist.”
Once it opens, Taco Chinoz will join Aesthetics Day Spa and Pivot Physical Therapy on the ground floor of the Beacon at Groveton, bringing the 290-unit apartment building up to what appears to be full leasing capacity based on a retail marketing brochure.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved plans in September 2023 for an affordable, independent senior living facility next to the Beacon at Groveton in place of a previously envisioned office building. The 52-unit project is currently being advertised for sale to potential developers.
