Mexican Food Truck in Rexburg Opens Permanent Storefront

Taqueria El Pollo Loco Jr. to open on March 1 next door to Taco Time

Feb. 3, 2026 at 4:07pm

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A popular Mexican food truck in Rexburg, Idaho, Taqueria El Pollo Loco Jr., is opening a permanent storefront location on March 1. The restaurant, owned by Jose Perez, will serve a menu of authentic Mexican dishes based on family recipes passed down for generations.

Why it matters

The opening of Taqueria El Pollo Loco Jr.'s permanent location represents the growth and success of a local, family-owned business that started as a food truck. It highlights the demand for authentic Mexican cuisine in the Rexburg community, especially among the large student population from nearby Brigham Young University-Idaho.

The details

Taqueria El Pollo Loco Jr. will open at 248 South Second Street in Rexburg, next door to Taco Time. The restaurant will serve a menu of Mexican dishes including carne asada, carnitas, tamales, tacos, quesadillas, tortas, and burritos. Owner Jose Perez started the business in 2022 as a food truck while attending BYU-Idaho, and it has since grown to include a second food truck near the campus. Perez's parents, Alfredo and Ana Lilia, will be running the new permanent location.

  • Taqueria El Pollo Loco Jr. is slated to open on March 1, 2026.
  • Perez started the food truck business in 2022 while attending BYU-Idaho.
  • Perez's family has been in Rexburg for more than 25 years.

The players

Taqueria El Pollo Loco Jr.

A Mexican food truck in Rexburg, Idaho, that is opening a permanent storefront location.

Jose Perez

The owner of Taqueria El Pollo Loco Jr. who started the business as a food truck while attending BYU-Idaho.

Alfredo and Ana Lilia Perez

The parents of Jose Perez who will be running the new permanent location of Taqueria El Pollo Loco Jr.

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What they’re saying

“His nickname is El Pollo. That's what his family has been calling him since he was little. He's a little too crazy in a good way, a lot of fun to be around. We were like, 'El Pollo loco sounds like a good name.'”

— Jose Perez, Owner

“I've wanted to pursue entrepreneurship and this has helped me. It's fun to be there with my family, chasing that grill with them. We really enjoy people in Rexburg, locals and students, enjoying food that's been passed down for generations.”

— Jose Perez, Owner

“She (my mom) wants to keep going. She wants to do events, she wants to do specials, she wants to do a lot for the community.”

— Jose Perez, Owner

What’s next

Taqueria El Pollo Loco Jr. will continue to operate a food truck for community events in addition to the new permanent storefront location.

The takeaway

The opening of Taqueria El Pollo Loco Jr.'s permanent restaurant in Rexburg showcases the success of a local, family-owned business that started as a food truck and has now expanded to meet the growing demand for authentic Mexican cuisine in the community, especially among the large student population.