CHEYENNE / FRANCIS E. WARREN AFB - This week, Queso's Kitchen, a local food truck serving New Mexican eats, is planning to open Queso's Cafe at the publicly-accessible Wyoming Army National Guard JFRC building, located along Central Avenue just outside of Gate 5 at FE Warren AFB.
A quick glance at the history
According to Queso's Kitchen's website, the people behind Queso's Kitchen known as the Sanchez Family started the food truck in August 2021. It says, "[Queso's serves] authentic New Mexican food and so much more." Their menu includes chili fries, tacos (regular and deep-fried), burritos, enchiladas, and other meals similar to what one may expect to see in Mexican culture.
 Queso's Kitchen Food Truck parked near Downtown Cheyenne - Optopolis |
As for the Joint Forces Readiness Center (JFRC), WTE's Michelle Dynes reported back in 2010 that the JFRC building opened to the public on December 16th, 2010. The building was part of a $40 million project that would become the new home of the Wyoming Military Department, the Wyoming Air National Guard, and various agencies like the Wyoming Veterans Commission.
Also sometimes called the Joint Forces Head Quarters building (JFHQ), the architecture and design firm, CooverClark, notes that the building measures 220,000 square feet and includes an auditorium, classrooms, a distance learning center, medical clinics, administration, dining, and conferencing facilities.
| TOP: Wyoming National Guard signage near front door | BOTTOM: View of entire building from afar - Optopolis |
A detailed history of the restaurant space at the JFRC building isn't currently known by Optopolis; however, staff at the facility told Optopolis that, recently, the space was used by Blue Ribbon Table, whose Facebook page still displays the 5800 Central Avenue street address as of the time of writing.
➥[Did you know? The general public can enter JFRC building!]
As it turns out, the general public actually can proceed beyond the Wyoming Game and Fish Department building when headed west along Central Avenue and over I-25. Although the JFRC building technically does appear to be located on FE Warren AFB's soil, public access is provided from outside of the air force base. If you are driving to this location, just be mindful to not miss your turn, as you likely won't be allowed to go beyond Gate 5 at FE Warren AFB without base access.
| Top left: WYDOT HQ sign, the JFRC building is beyond this sign at Central Ave and Bishop Blvd. | Top right: FE Warren Gate 5 signage; you must pass by these signs to access the JFRC building. Bottom left: JFRC signage denotes the entry to the JFRC building | Bottom right: ID Check sign and other warnings and notices (Keypad blurred). - Optopolis |
Note that you'll likely want to have your ID handy when entering the JFRC building, however, as there is a "100% ID Check" as noted at the entry to the building, and in many if not most or all cases, visitors will have to temporarily trade over their ID for a visitor card after using the sign-in sheet. Visitors can retrieve their ID just before leaving the building.
Queso's Kitchen announces plans to open at JFRC building
On September 6th, 2025, Queso's Kitchen posted an announcement to their Facebook page which reads, "Big News / Queso’s Kitchen is opening up a cafe at the Wyoming Army National Guard Building (JFRC) (Open to the public)!" Queso's Kitchen goes on to say that they, "will still be slangin food in the food truck and catering events."
| Various perspectives of Queso's and the JFRC building; one would walk past the stairs and National Guard emblem to access Queso's Cafe. - Optopolis |
In mid-October, Queso's Kitchen made a follow-up Facebook post where they announced that, "Queso’s Kitchen Café is officially opening Wednesday, October 22nd!" They display hours of 7 AM to 2 PM, and affirm that their restaurant is located in the JFRC building at 5800 Central Avenue. Based on Optopolis' observations, it appears the JFRC building is open to the public on weekdays but not weekends (their gates block access on weekends); Optopolis was told that every other Friday, the JFRC building is closed to the public. Optopolis discovered that it's quite easy to find the restaurant; once you walk beyond the ID checkpoint inside of the JFRC building's main entry, you pass the stairway then take a right followed by a left.
During Optopolis' visit in the week before their opening, Optopolis observed that the new cafe features seating and tables both inside and outside of the restaurant, as well as some seating lining the hallway inside of the JFRC building. Queso's branding could be seen on the windows of their new physical location in addition to a coming soon sign.
| Various photos of Queso's Cafe seen from inside JFRC and a glance at a coming soon sign - Optopolis |
To Optopolis' knowledge and in recent years, this is at least the fourth Cheyenne-based food truck to explore the possibility of opening a physical, permanent space, following a recent announcement from Paul Paul's Asian, Cajun and Soul; this follows the previous openings of Ranch Eats Cafe (Downtown) and Nay&Jay's (Frontier Mall).
Update 10-22: Now open!
Hours listed on the chalk board inside Queso's indicate that the cafe is open Monday to Thursday, 7 AM to 2 PM and every other Friday. The owner told Optopolis that the JFRC building is closed everyother Friday; in addition, occasionally, Queso's will be open on weekends due to drill weekends that take place once each month, and those days are planned to be advertised. Queso's owner also told Optopolis that on days that the cafe isn't open, they'll likely do catering or food trucking.
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The restaurant has two menus, one for breakfast and one for lunch, and in addition, they serve prepackaged refridgerated items including yogurt parfaits, wraps, and fruit bowls. The options on the menu are similar though slightly different from what's available at their food truck. Breakfast starts at 7 AM and runs until about 10:45 AM, then Lunch picks up at 11 AM and wraps up at 2 PM.
What do you think?
Are you excited to see Queso's Kitchen expanding to a storefront? What other food trucks should consider taking a similar route? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
PUBLISHED: 10/19/2025 at 11:00 AM MT
UPDATED: 10/19/2025 at 11:33 AM MT to clarify days which the public can access the JFRC building; Optopolis observed that the gates are closed on Saturdays and Sundays but open in the day time of weekdays.
UPDATED: 10/22/2025 at 3:29 PM MT to add imagery of the menus and additional info about hours and days open; adjusted previous update accordingly.
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