SAN RAMON, CA – San Ramon’s taco scene is getting a serious upgrade.
Rico Rico Taco, the Oakland taquerÃa known for handmade tortillas, spit-roasted al pastor, and a brighter, more polished take on classic Mexico City-style street food, is preparing to open at City Center Bishop Ranch.
The restaurant has been listed in City Center’s dining directory as a “Coming Soon” modern Mexican taqueria, and its new San Ramon ordering page now lists a location at 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road.
More to the point, their early signage is up!
Where It’s Going
Rico Rico will take a 1,464-square-foot space between West Elm and Fieldwork Brewing Company, replacing the former C Casa spot.
Back in March, their initial signage on the windows was there, but the C Casa sign was still up.
So we traded fancy tacos for…fancy tacos!
It’s tucked into the quieter side of the development, but there’s still solid foot traffic with families, office workers, moviegoers, and weekend shoppers already moving between Fieldwork, The LOT, Slanted Door, LB Steak, Boba Guys, and the rest of the Bishop Ranch lineup.
What Makes Rico Rico Different
The Oakland original built a following around fresh tortillas, al pastor sliced from a vertical spit, and a menu that feels casual but carefully assembled.
The restaurant’s online menu highlights tacos with al pastor, carne asada, carnitas, pollo asado, shrimp, fish, mushrooms, nopal, and veggie fillings.
It also lists burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, huarachitos, plates, breakfast tacos, breakfast burritos, agua frescas, beer, and micheladas.
A Big Bay Area Name Comes Through the Tunnel
Rico Rico’s Oakland location has already earned serious Bay Area attention. The San Francisco Chronicle’s Soleil Ho praised the restaurant in 2019, singling out its al pastor, fresh tortillas, and overall taco craft.
SFGATE later reported that Rico Rico’s owners were drawn to City Center because of its family-friendly environment, restaurant mix, shared marketing, built-in events, and steady visitor flow.
That fits into a larger pattern at Bishop Ranch. City Center, designed by Renzo Piano and opened in 2018, has become a 300,000-square-foot suburban dining hub with San Francisco and Oakland-born restaurant names moving into the Tri-Valley.
Is It Open Yet?
This is the part to watch closely.
City Center and local listings have continued to describe Rico Rico Taco as “coming soon,” while Toast now shows a San Ramon location with posted hours and a full online menu presence.
They had been working on a liquor license, too, which is often the last step before a place opens up.
The San Ramon page also says it is “currently not accepting online orders,” which suggests the restaurant may be close to opening, in a soft-opening phase, or still finalizing service.
When we stopped by a few months ago, the signs were up but we didn’t get a confirmed opening date.
We’ll follow this one and keep you posted–and share a review when it’s officially open! Make sure to join my free 925 News newsletter so I can keep you updated.
