Wynwood Mainstay Coyo Taco Toasts to 10 Years

A decade ago, three restaurant industry veterans took a chance on an emerging Wynwood neighborhood with a simple idea: fresh, quality Mexican street food paired with a hidden mezcal bar. Today, Coyo Taco is a Miami institution with multiple locations worldwide, from Fort Lauderdale to Paris.

"When we opened, there weren't really any taco spots in Miami. A couple of mom-and-pop shops and bodegas opened soon after us, but we opened first," says Scott Linquist, chef-partner who joined forces with Sven Vogtland and Alan Drummond to create the concept. "We tried to do a little soft opening, but we literally had like 60 people waiting outside on our first day and had a line down the street every day for the first three months."

From Obama to Major Lazer: A Decade of Memories

The restaurant's unassuming appearance underscores its status as a city landmark that has hosted presidents, international soccer stars, and music industry icons.

Former President Barack Obama made a surprise visit in 2018 while the owners were away in Portugal, opening a new location. The visit created quite a stir among customers and staff and was covered heavily by local media. Obama arrived with then-gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, graciously taking photos with the team. "Obama coming to Coyo was such a treat," recalls Vogtland. "He was super gracious to our team and took photos with all of our staff."

The speakeasy-style back bar in Wynwood has become legendary for its DJ nights. Vogtland, a DJ himself, established relationships with acts like Oscar G, Walshy Fire of Major Lazer, and other Miami music fixtures who still perform regularly at the venue. "These DJs have been with us for ten years now. They've just worked, and they have a great reputation nationwide," Vogtland says.

These ties with big musical acts have been so strong since opening in Wynwood that at its anniversary celebration on Friday, March 28, Coyo Taco in Wynwood will turn into a massive block party. Performing at the party — hosted on Coyo's very own parking lot — will be Grammy Award-nominated music producer and DJ Walshy Fire of Major Lazer and Diplo, who will take center stage alongside the lineup of resident DJs who have soundtracked the speakeasy over the years. The free event (RSVP required) will feature food offerings, multiple bars pouring specialty cocktails, ice-cold beer, and signature $10 margaritas.

From Wynwood to the World

What began as a single taqueria in what was then "pretty edgy and a little bit dangerous," Wynwood has grown to 12 locations, including international outposts in Portugal, Panama, Paris, and most recently, Medellín, Colombia. The Bayside Marketplace location is part of the shopping center's revitalization efforts to attract more locals. The spot will showcase Coyo's first redesign since its 2014 launch.

"After our ten-year anniversary, we decided we're going to kind of reinvent and change our design and decor, make it a little more modern," Linquist explains. The new location will feature indoor-outdoor bars and an updated aesthetic while maintaining Coyo's signature blue color scheme.

Coyo's expansion paralleled Wynwood's transformation from an industrial area into Miami's go-to arts and culinary hub. When they first opened, there were few food spots in the neighborhood; today, Wynwood boasts more restaurants than you can count–more than a dozen of those taquerias–with Coyo serving as one of the area’s longest-running success stories. "We were pioneers," Vogtland reflects. "At that time, Wynwood wasn't what it is today. There was Joey’s and Panther Coffee and not much else. We became this gathering spot that brought people to the neighborhood, even late at night."

Keeping It Authentic in a Challenging Market

Despite the current restaurant climate — with inflated food costs, labor shortages, and rising rents — Coyo has maintained its commitment to a quality product. Their guacamole is smashed to order using Hass avocados, and the team still prepares all salsas daily, with tortillas hand-pressed in each store throughout the day.

"It's very costly," Linquist admits. "I always explain it like a fine dining restaurant. We use the same high-quality ingredients you'd find at upscale restaurants. They charge $30-$35 for small portions; we charge $11 for two tacos."

And the restaurant has certainly faced a series of challenges over the past decade. In August 2016, Wynwood became the central hub for the Zika outbreak. "We were ground zero for Zika in Wynwood," Vogtland recalls. "All the big TV networks were in Coyo, from Al Jazeera to BBC. All were really coming to us for interviews when Zika hit our street."

During COVID-19, Coyo pivoted effectively to takeout and delivery, helping them weather the pandemic better than many competitors. Since opening, Coyo's costs have increased by nearly 30 percent across the board, while menu prices have risen more modestly.

A Brand Still Synonymous With Miami and Quality as It Expands Worldwide

Coyo's menu has evolved while maintaining fan favorites. The shrimp taco — showcasing gulf shrimp with citrus slaw and chipotle aioli — was named "Best Taco in America" by the New York Post. Its cochinita pibil — slow-roasted pork prepared in traditional Yucatan style with achiote, citrus, oregano, and habaneros wrapped in banana leaf and roasted at low temperature for 12 hours — remains a signature dish that even Obama ordered during his visit.

A few years ago, it added birria tacos to the menu — now its second most popular item. The birria taco features beef brisket spiced with guajillo and ancho chilies, cinnamon, and oregano, served alongside a traditional Mexican broth for dipping. "We took really traditional recipes but modernized them to suit the American palate," Linquist explains. "We tried to make it user-friendly where the tacos are already composed with all the salsas and condiments."

Looking ahead, the team has plans beyond their Bayside expansion. "We're trying to work on growth in Florida outside of Miami," Linquist says. "We're looking all up and down Florida all the way up to Palm Beach, putting Coyo in places that need it where there aren't 13 other taco shops."

As the restaurant celebrates a decade of growth from scrappy taqueria to an international brand, its commitment to quality remains unwavering. In a city that has seen countless restaurant concepts come and go, Coyo's longevity speaks to something deeper than just good tacos — it represents a restaurant that captured Miami's essence and exported it to the world. "If I wear a Coyo T-shirt or hoodie anywhere in the world from London to Tokyo, people stop me, and they just say 'Miami,'" Vogtland says with pride. "It's just a name that has become recognized with Miami, and I'm so proud of that. We are Miami."

Coyo Taco. Various across South Florida; coyo-taco.com.