The front of Pancho Villa BBQ with “COMING SOON” sign.

FAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) - The opening date of Pancho Villa BBQ at 6716 Madison Ave. in Fair Oaks has been moved back to early 2024, its owners say, as they wait for final renovations to be finished and inspections and necessary permits to be fully approved by Sacramento County.

Husband and wife Luis and Tammy Chavez, and co-partner Alberto Hernandez, are owners of Pancho Villa BBQ and Catering, a popular mobile food truck which serves the greater Sacramento and Placer counties, and they have earned a well-deserved following for their smoked American BBQ with a hint of Mexican fusion cuisine.

“We’re very much excited to welcome our customers to the restaurant and we appreciate their support and their patience as we move closer to doing so,” she said.

The trio had hoped to open their new 4,400-square-foot restaurant in what was once a Godfather’s Pizza restaurant in the Madison Village Plaza, near the corner of Dewey Drive and Madison Ave., at 6716 Madison Ave. this fall.

An outside smoker building has been built and exterior signage announces the restaurant “coming soon.”

While construction continues, Pancho Villa BBQ has launched a customer rewards program on its Facebook page and continues to book catering events throughout the area, Chavez said.

Chavez said the restaurant’s menu is still in the process of being finalized, but center stage will be its generous portions of baby back ribs in its own BBQ sauce and tri-tip which it is best known for.

“Our philosophy is simple, make great food and serve it well,” she said.

The new restaurant will have a capacity of 180 patrons, and will start with an initial kitchen staff of 10. Family members have helped with much of the interior décor now in place in its large dining room, Chavez said.

Pancho Villa BBQ, a member of both the Citrus Heights and Fair Oaks Chambers of commerce has earned first place honors for food truck of the year in Fair Oaks in 2022. The truck has also been featured on Fox40 television and Good Day Sacramento.

The public is invited to continue to follow Pancho Villa BBQ on social media and on the web at panchovillabbq.com where news of its opening date will be announced, Chavez said.

Call or text for menus or event locations: 916-510-9868, or visit: [email protected].