The Smoked Taco opens 8th Utah location in Sandy on July 8

The Smoked Taco will open its eighth Utah restaurant in Sandy on July 8, adding low-and-slow smoked meats, cheese-crusted tortillas and a new Nashville Hot Chicken taco. The launch expands the BBQ-taco chain’s South Valley footprint and includes a ribbon cutting with the South Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Why it matters: - The Smoked Taco’s Sandy opening expands the Utah-born chain to 8 locations in the state. - The new restaurant adds another dining option in Sandy’s South Valley market. - The launch introduces a new limited-time taco that could draw first-time and repeat customers.

What happened: - The Smoked Taco will open its 8th Utah location on July 8, 2026, at 11396 State St, Sandy, UT 84070. - The opening includes a ribbon cutting with the South Valley Chamber of Commerce at 10 a.m. - The restaurant is bringing smoked meats, cheese-crusted tortillas, loaded tots, queso and bold tacos to Sandy. - The chain is opening a new location in the South Valley business community.

The details: - The Nashville Hot Chicken taco is launching for the first time in Sandy as a limited-time offering. - The taco costs $4.95. - The new item includes fried chicken, a bold spice blend, corn, chipotle ranch, slaw, pickles and hot honey. - The Smoked Taco smokes its meats for 12 hours. - The menu includes fan favorites such as The Gringo, The Smoking Pastor, The OG, The Bird and The Fleeing Californian. - The new Sandy restaurant will offer dine-in, takeout, online ordering and third-party delivery. - The Smoked Taco says its food is built around bold flavor and cheese-crusted tortillas. - The company’s announcement is available more information.

Between the lines: - The Sandy opening suggests the company is leaning on menu novelty and a distinctive barbecue-taco identity to keep expanding. - The ribbon cutting with the chamber signals a push to build local visibility as the brand enters a new neighborhood. - The company is using the new location to reinforce consistency across the chain while still adding limited-time menu items.

What's next: - The Sandy restaurant opens July 8, 2026. - The Nashville Hot Chicken taco will be available as the launch-time limited offering. - The Smoked Taco is expected to continue growing while keeping the same menu style and service model across locations.

The bottom line: - The Smoked Taco is betting that smoky meats, bold tacos and a new spicy chicken special will help the brand keep expanding in Utah.