The old Kingfish will soon need a new tenant

(Image: Rocket Taco)

Rocket Taco is making an important adjustment to its Capitol Hill orbit.

Seven years after touching down on 19th Ave E, the Seattle sibling to the Whidbey Island original is making a big switch from the more than 100-year-old restaurant space where Kingfish Cafe once ruled and leaping ahead 105 years to the empty restaurant in the 2014-built 19th & Mercer “luxury apartments” building across the street.

Owner Steve Rosen confirmed the planned move to the intersection’s southeast corner and said Rocket Taco could not pass up the opportunity to operate in a newer space with a modern kitchen and expansive patio.

Rocket Taco’s new restaurant home was first designed for Linda Derschang and her Tallulah’s venture.

Tallulah’s (Image: Mallet Design Build)

The patio in its Tallulah’s days

The move marks the end of an ambitious effort that had been lined up for the shuttered space. Most recently home to Bounty Kitchen which closed in 2023 after limping through the pandemic, the restaurant was undergoing an overhaul for a major new project from an investment group and former Willows Inn chef Nick Green.

There is no word what happened with the Emilia project but its end at 19th and Mercer is the start of a new world for Rocket Taco.

It has been a pricy corner of the neighborhood. The space hit the market before the pandemic at “$8,108 + $2,555 NNN” levels.

Rocket Taco, with its “quality, affordable, hand made food,” house-made tortillas, and an emphasis on speed, consistency, and accessible pricing, debuted on 19th Ave E in February 2018. Owners Jill and Steve Rosen have operated Rocket Taco with new era efficiency from its launch with counter ordering and self-bussing as the Mexican concept did its best to make the split dining rooms and bar of the old Kingfish Cafe work.

Seven years and one pandemic later, Rocket Taco is ready to grow into its new space with a planned end of February opening — and new hopes. Steve Rosen says Rocket Taco won’t be making major changes to its menu or vibe but said they are “definitely excited about serving margaritas on that beautiful patio.”

Rocket Taco is moving to 550 19th Ave E. Keep track of updates at rocket-taco.com.

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