MILLBROOK, June 3 — Casa Humo, the new wood-fired taqueria tucked into a converted auto-parts shop at 418 Fenwick Street, has wasted no time making a name for itself. Owner and head chef Rosalinda Vega says she wanted to bring the cooking style of her hometown in Oaxaca to Millbrook — slow-smoked meats, hand-pressed tortillas, and salsas made fresh every morning. Since opening May 9th, the restaurant has been packed nearly every evening, with lines forming well before the 5 p.m. dinner service.
What's on the Menu
The menu is tight and intentional — only eight taco options, plus a rotating weekend special. Standouts include the birria de res, served with a deeply spiced consommé for dipping, and the smoked mushroom taco, which has become an unexpected hit with the lunch crowd. Vega sources her corn masa from a family farm in Grady County and says she has no plans to expand the menu anytime soon. "If I add more things, I lose focus," she said with a laugh during a brief break from the kitchen Friday evening.
A Neighborhood Buzzing
- Casa Humo is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- No reservations — walk-in only
- A small patio with eight seats opens weather permitting
- Catering inquiries can be made through the restaurant's website
The opening has been a welcome boost for the lower Fenwick corridor, which lost three businesses during the past two years. Neighboring shop owners say the foot traffic has already spilled over. Derek Ohlsen, who runs the vintage record store two doors down, told the Courier he's seen a noticeable uptick in browse-in customers on weekday evenings. "People wait for their tacos, they wander in here. I'm not complaining," he said.
