Restaurateur Julio Mora recently opened his restaurant Parrilla Express (parrillaexpress.com) at 6401 W. 34th Street. This new restaurant is his first and was inspired by Julio’s desire to bring outdoor grilling into an indoor, fresh and fast format. The business celebrated its grand opening in partnership with the City of Berwyn and the Berwyn Development Corporation (BDC) on November 14.

The restaurant’s primary method of preparing its menu is on a parrilla, or grill, in an open kitchen layout. Even though its name is of Spanish origin, Parrilla Express is focused on a simple menu of classic American grilled items, specializing in chicken and bbq ribs. The menu also carries a selection of ka-bobs, gourmet burgers, wings, sausages and cold sandwiches.

As his dream was ready to be realized, Julio reached out to his uncle, Margarito Mora, a 40-year veteran of the kitchen. As Head Chef, Margarito brought a wealth of exceptional recipes including menu favorites like homemade soups. He also reached out to a close friend, Carlos Ortiz, who managed a restaurant for over 20 years to take part in this project. Herminio “Junior” Mora, Julio’s brother, quickly came on board to manage the build-out of the space and operations.

Through the support of the City of Berwyn and the BDC, Parrilla Express received Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for the redevelopment of the 2,322 square foot, vacant storefront along Ogden Avenue.