2 popular restaurants are opening new spots in Kennewick
Two Tri-Cities businesses are expanding and taking over empty Kennewick restaurants.
Rocco’s Pizza is opening a restaurant south of Columbia Center mall after Pacific Pasta and Grill moved to Richland in December.
Rocco’s Pizza’s original restaurant is at 6415 Burden Blvd. in Pasco near the HAPO Center.
The Kennewick location at 7911 W. Grandridge Blvd. aims to open by the end of March.
Diners will find the same lengthy menu of pizzas, buffalo wings and sandwiches.
One of the more unusual options is the Beer Garden pizza with sauerkraut, dill pickle and sweet hot mustard, along with salami and a Portuguese pork sausage, linguica.
Other choices come with fun names like Pickle Face, Big Grizz and the D.A. Delight Combo topped with bacon, chicken, smoked ham, olives, garlic, jalapeño and onions.
The choose-your-own menu also offers toppings like Thai peanut sauce, anchovies and smoked oysters.
There’s no guess work with their specialty pizzas — all are the same price ranging from a 10-inch small for $16.95 up to $26.95 for a 16-inch.
Gluten free and vegetarian choices are available. And Rocco’s specialty and sub sandwiches range from $9 to $14.
The Pasco location is open 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
Online: RoccosTricities.com or Facebook
Mexican food
The popular Taqueria El Sazón Mexican food restaurant is moving into the empty building on Clearwater Avenue that was a Wendy’s for decades.
The Wendy’s closed early last year.
Taqueria El Sazón has a restaurant at 2226 W. Court St., and opened a Kennewick location nine years ago in the home of the former Ruff’s Giant Burgers.
At the time, Duane Ruff told the Herald that he was leasing the land and building at 4115 W. Clearwater to the restaurant when he retired from 35 years of running the all-American hamburger joint.
Property records show that S Square One LLC in Bellevue bought the property in 2019 and was listed for rent late last year.
El Sazón boasts of 99-cent Happy Hour tacos 2 to 5 p.m. each day and from 8 p.m. to closing.
On the regular menu, you’ll find authentic tacos and tamales for less than $2, with meat options beyond pollo (chicken), asade (beef) and birria (shredded beef).
Options include lengua (tongue), buche (stomach) or tripa (tripe). Also look for double-decker quesadillas called mulitas, sopitos (similar to tostadas) and gorditas (masa-dough pockets with cheese and meat fillings).
Call: 509-547-6997 for Pasco or 509-735-1555 for Kennewick. Online: taqueriaelsazon.com and Facebook.
New coffee spot
The Human Bean, 4305 W. Clearwater Ave. in Kennewick is now open.
Brandon and Kenda Gadish of Kennewick opened a franchise of the Oregon-based coffee drive-thru chain at a former Dutch Bros. at 4305 W. Clearwater Ave.
The closest other Human Bean is in Walla Walla — there are only five in the state.
The Kennewick coffee shop has bagel sandwiches, croissant sandwiches, bagels, muffin tops and cookies in addition to the drink menu.
Hours of the drive-thru are 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.
If you know of a retailer, restaurant, coffee shop or other business that is opening, closing, expanding, remodeling or changing its focus, send an email to reporter Allison Stormo at astormo@tricityherald.com.
This story was originally published February 20, 2021 at 5:00 AM.