Taco restaurant coming to Lexington featuring Flamin’ Hot Cheetos-covered street corn
Louisville burrito chain Bandido Taqueria Mexicana is coming to Lexington. The restaurant is opening in the CenterCourt building at 535 South Upper St.
Owner Gerardo Ochoa said that he hopes to open the location near the University of Kentucky in March or April.
The menu features Southern California-style Mexican street food, he said.
“We specialize in tacos, burritos, nachos ... casual fast food, Mexican food. I’m originally from San Diego, so it’s authentic,” Ochoa said.
With room for innovation Ochoa pointed out. “We do elotes, street corn, with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, and one with Doritos. They sell pretty good here in Louisville, where we have two locations,” he said.
He opened his first Kentucky location right by the University of Louisville, at 423 University Boulevard, where former Louisville Cardinal quarterback Lamar Jackson became a fan.
Jackson came in for lunch one day and told his coach he loved the food, Ochoa said. Ever since, Bandido has done catering for the football team and now the baseball team as well, he said.
Bandido opened a second location with Falls City Brewing Co. in their East Liberty taproom.
The Lexington location will be the third, and it also will offer beer, margaritas, mimosas and wine, he said.
The restaurant also has a salsa bar with 10 different options. Customers come in to pick up their food and add any salsa they like, he said.
Besides the street corn and street tacos, big sellers include breakfast burritos available all day and Bandido Super Fries: fries topped with carne asada and all the trimmings.
Vegetarian options are available and vegan options are coming soon, Ochoa said.
This will be the third new restaurant in the CenterCourt building.
Jump Start, a smoothie place, replaced Jamba Juice, which closed in the fall, and a bubble tea place is expected to open as well.
This story was originally published January 10, 2020 at 11:41 AM with the headline "Taco restaurant coming to Lexington featuring Flamin’ Hot Cheetos-covered street corn."