El Taco Luchador is located near the corner of Baxter Avenue and Bardstown Road. Photo credit: Hayley Piazza
BY HAYLEY PIAZZA, STAFF WRITER
Louisville has a reputation for some of the best restaurants in the country. Ole Restaurant Group opened El Taco Luchador in 2012, adding a bold tang to the Highlands area.
Cuban cousins Fernando and Yaniel Martinez formed Ole Restaurant Group in 2012. Fernando had opened Havana Rumba in St. Matthews in 2002. Five years later, Yaniel moved to Louisville to help Fernando open Mojito Tapas. Ole formed in 2012 to open a handful of restaurants including Mussel & Burger Bar, Artesano Tapas, Guaca Mole, Mercato Italiano Trattoria and Market, Red Barn Kitchen and El Taco Luchador.
El Taco Luchador, a funky taqueria, is wedged in the busy, eclectic area of Baxter Avenue and Bardstown Road. It has a neighbor in O’Shea’s Irish Pub, and the best part about the location is it’s only two miles from Bellarmine.
Because it is located in the Highlands, parking is limited, but there is always a decent chance of finding street parking or snagging one of the handful of spots behind the restaurant. This makes El Taco Luchador a great stop-in if you’re already on Bardstown or Baxter.
The atmosphere fits right in with the Highlands vibe. The restaurant is all neon, accented with Luche libre mask decor. A brightly decorated chalkboard holds the menu above a fully visible cooking space. The casual ambience allows you to walk up to order at the end of the small room.
You can’t visit without choosing one of their uniquely flavored tacos. Luchador sells its tacos from $3.25 to $3.99 each. However, they are on the smaller side, so two or three are necessary. Meats offered are pork, ribs, chicken, cod and sirloin, although veggie tacos are also available. Nine tacos are available to choose from, all made with fresh ingredients. Far from boring, Taco Luchador adds a twist on the traditional taco.
A fan of pineapple, I ordered three Al Pastors, which include “pastor marinated pork, chopped onions, grilled pineapple, and cilantro.” However, my favorite part of Mexican restaurants, salsa, was unfortunately just pico de gallo, of which I am not fond.
The sides were extremely limited. There were sweet potato or mole fries, plantains and chips with guacamole.
If tacos aren’t your fancy, the other option is tortas, which are Mexican-style sandwiches, and they range from $9.50 to $10.25. These are quite a bit pricier, but by a peek over a neighbor’s shoulder, I’d say one torta would fill your stomach.
Unfortunately, the only other option before dessert was a Caesar salad. Even desserts were on a short list: churros and flan. I opted for a sweet treat down the street later on.
After paying, I looked for a seat and had to wait for someone to leave. There were only about six tables inside and four out on the patio. About 15 minutes later, one came available. Just in time, my food was brought to me in a basket lined with parchment paper by a friendly server.
The tacos were unbelievable. The flavor was bold and sweet and filled enough that I had to -or, rather, got to- pick up what fell from the tortillas from of my basket.
Overall, the experience of lunch at El Taco Luchador was only topped by the unique, authentic flavors of the food. Though the prices aren’t quite as cheap as Taco Bell, the extra couple of dollars was well worth it.
Visit el-taco-luchador.com for more information, including menu and hours.