Restaurant known for birria tacos abruptly closes; 2 other locations remain open
After more than four years in Orange Park, El Agave Azul has closed at 992 Blanding Blvd.
The restaurant, which introduced Jacksonville to its traditional birria, tacos and other classic Mexican street fare first as a food truck and then as a brick-and-mortar, closed Wednesday, according to a social media post.
“Sadly we have to inform [you] that [our] store in Orange Park [is] permanently closed. Thanks so much for the support and love this 2 years in Clay County. I hope we can come back soon!,” the post read. (According to state licensing and restaurant inspection records, though, the restaurant first opened in April 2019).
El Agave Azul’s two other Jacksonville restaurants – one in the Baymeadows area and a second that opened earlier this year in Neptune Beach – remain open along with its food truck.
The restaurant — from co-owners Zergihno “Sergio” García and Rolando Mora — was among the first in the area to serve birria, a fork-tender, slow-cooked stewed meat — typically beef or goat — that originated in the western Mexican state of Jalisco. The meat is featured in the restaurant’s signature Birria Tacos, Birria Quesadilla and Birria Pizza, made with three layers of 12-inch flour tortillas filled with birria, a “touch of pizza sauce,” cheese, onions and cilantro along with two sides of consommé, according to the menu.
The pair launched their food truck in 2015, followed by restaurant openings in Orange Park (2019); 8763 Old Kings Road S. in Baymeadows (2020) and 220 Third St. in Neptune Beach (2023).
More restaurant closings: In 2023, some longtime favorite Jacksonville restaurants have closed. Here's a list.
Gary T. Mills is the Deputy Managing Editor for The Florida Times-Union. Follow Gary on X, formerly known as Twitter, @garytmills.
Support from readers like you makes stories like this one possible. If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, please consider becoming a subscriber to support local journalism in Northeast Florida.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: El Agave Azul closes Orange Park, Florida, restaurant
