In August we let you know that Taco Bar El Güero, the longtime Gaithersburg favorite known for its gas station origins, is preparing to relocate across the street to Downtown Crown this fall. The family-owned restaurant, which has been serving the community since 2003 and was recently on Yelp’s national list of “10 Don’t-Miss Gas Station Restaurants 2025”, will hold a liquor license hearing on October 2, with plans to complete the move later that month.
The new location, at 200 Ellington Ave., will take over the former BurgerIM and SmashBurger space in Downtown Crown. Alongside the move, the restaurant will rebrand as El Güero Mexicano, but the Valdivia family assures that the essence of Taco Bar will remain intact. Customers can expect the same menu and pricing, with the return of the beloved salsa bar and an expanded lineup of breakfast offerings. While the attached beer and wine store will not be part of the move, the new restaurant will feature beer, wine, and a curated tequila-only cocktail menu.
Founded more than two decades ago, Taco Bar began in a converted sandwich deli and beer and wine shop inside a gas station on Fields Road. Over the years, it has grown into a beloved dining destination, while retaining its identity as a local, family-run operation. In 2020, the restaurant refreshed its look with a new logo highlighting co-owner Jose Valdivia, a recognizable face to loyal customers.
The Valdivias have also expanded their culinary footprint in Montgomery County, opening Ixtapalapa Taqueria in Gaithersburg in 2017, La Gula Mexicana in Germantown in 2021, and Mayan Monkey Brewery in Olde Towne Gaithersburg earlier this year.
As for the future of the current Taco Bar site at 10003 B Fields Rd., rumors suggest that 7-Eleven could take over the space, though no official confirmation has been made. With the move, Gaithersburg’s Downtown Crown is set to gain a new chapter in the Taco Bar story… one that blends tradition, family, and a refreshed setting for the restaurant’s loyal following.
