Pita Puff closes, Cilantro Taco Grill opening in Elgin

The fourth suburban location of Cilantro Taco Grill is expected to open next month in Elgin in the spot formerly occupied by Pita Puff, which abruptly closed Saturday.

Cilantro Taco Grill owner Temoc Morfin said he's targeting a May 5 opening at 512 Waverly Drive in Elgin. The date coincides with the Mexican holiday commemorating Mexico's victory over France in the Battle of Puebla.

The family-owned enterprise first opened in Stone Park in 2013 and now also has locations in Addison and Rosemont, Morfin said.

Pita Puff owner Sam Celebi said he decided to leave after realizing the rent was too much. He and the building owner were in discussions for about three weeks and agreed to part ways without any court action, Celebi said. "I never read the contract," he said, adding he was "devastated."

Celebi, who lives in Schaumburg, said he's looking for a new location in Schaumburg, where the majority of his clientele - including for catering - is from. Celebi said he was a partner in the Elgin restaurant when it opened in 2012 and became its sole owner in October.

The new Cilantro Taco Grill will be a "real fast Mexican authentic restaurant with a very simple but very delicious menu" with a charbroiled steak specialty, said Morfin, who lives in LaGrange. "We don't have much to do in there. We have to clean real good and paint, that's about it," he said.

The family is working on opening a fifth Cilantro Taco Grill location in Lombard, he added.