Local Tex-Mex restaurant expanding, coming to former Hamburg TGI Friday’s location
When the last TGI Friday’s in Lexington closed in May 2020 during the pandemic, it left a big hole in the dining lineup at the Hamburg shopping center.
But a new tenant is moving into the prominent spot at 1916 Pavilion Way, just off Man o’ War and I-75, and bringing some local flavor to an area replete with restaurant chains.
The Local Taco Lexington, owned by Kevin Lewis, will open there this fall.
This is the second Local Taco Lexington, which has a menu of eclectic Tex-Mex items. Lewis said the location on Limestone near the University of Kentucky campus will be staying open.
“We’re just hoping to feed some of the families out there, in a place where parking isn’t so hard,” Lewis said. “We have 13 spots here (on Limestone), the new place will have a lot.”
The Hamburg location will have more seating, he said.
“We’re thinking it will have about 250 seats,” he said, plus a large patio, compared to about 100 indoor seats plus outdoor seats on Limestone.
And the new Local Taco Lexington will have a much larger kitchen, which will allow them to do more catering, he said.
The menu will be the same, including items not usually found at the typical Mexican restaurant such as the Local BBQ Taco (smoked pork butt with jalapeno cole slaw), Korean BBQ Taco (Korean-style beef tenders with Asian slaw) and the Southern Fried Chicken Taco (buttermilk fried chicken tender strips with honey-lime mayo). There also are salads, enchiladas and quesadillas, including vegetarian options.
Demolition has begun already on the interior, but renovations are being delayed by widespread equipment shortages, he said.
The new Local Taco Lexington could open in October. It will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and for brunch on weekends.
Local Taco Lexington
Where: 1916 Pavilion Way
Hours: Monday-Thursday 1-10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Online: Localtacolex.com
This story was originally published June 7, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
