At a time when most restaurants are struggling, Taco Zocalo — formerly known as the food truck Chef on Wheels — has taken another leap at expansion.

The Reston-based restaurant, which is located at 1810 Michael Faraday Drive, opened its second location in Ashburn (44927 George Washington Boulevard) on May 1.

Although state-mandated restrictions on restaurants due to the COVID-19 crisis create less than ideal conditions for a restaurant opening, chef and owner Basir Ahadi says he is confident the business will do well, thanks to his loyal customer base.

“The Reston location is doing well considering our limitations and the current situation. We are hopeful taco Zocalo will come out this pandemic stronger than we were before it began,” Ahadi said.

The business hired eight new employees for the new locations. Ahadi said he was motivated to employ people who lost their jobs because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Currently, Taco Zocalo offers takeout and delivery via third-party operators.

A loan from the Small Business Administration has helped the business finance payroll, Ahadi said. The landlord of the Ashburn location has also been flexible in working with the business on a monthly basis.

Taco Zocalo started as a food truck under the name Chef on Wheels in 2011. The business opened its first brick-and-mortar location in 2017.

Photos via Basir Ahadi