Lexington Taco Week: More local restaurants, more special menu items
A popular Lexington dining event is back with more restaurants and more special options.
Lexington Taco Week returns March 9-15 at more than 20 local restaurants with chef-driven, off-menu, special tacos.
The 22 local restaurants — up from last year’s 19 — will have 47 different taco options, compared with 42 in 2025. The price for these off-menu creations? Only $8 for a taco plate.
The lineup includes creative breakfast tacos, fish tacos, vegetarian and vegan tacos, gluten-free tacos and authentic Mexican versions. There are newcomers to the foodie event, such as Athenian Grill and Little Fork, to go with returning favorites such as Mi Pequeña Hacienda and La Taquiza.
“We’re thrilled to bring back Lexington Taco Week this year,” says Amy Eddie, Director of Events and Promotions at Smiley Pete, which produces the annual dining event that started in 2019. “This is an opportunity for restaurants to showcase their taco innovation, whether it’s through exciting new flavor combinations or reinvented classics. Taco Week truly highlights the authenticity and creativity of Lexington’s vibrant food scene.”
There will be a preview night event March 8 at Wise Bird Cider and there’s an app available for download on iTunes and Google Play where you can check in at restaurants, rate tacos and earn prizes.
Agave & Rye
3535 Nicholasville Road, 123 N. Broadway
The Braised and Worshipped: Slow-roasted birria, queso cushion, mozzarella, street corn salad, cowboy candy.
The Honey Trap: Grilled herb chicken, hot honey drizzle, pickled onions, aged white cheddar, chipotle serrano aioli.
The Jedi (V): Tempura-fried shiitake mushrooms, sesame ginger sauce, pickled Cucumber, pico.
Athenian Grill
Mall Location: 3801 Mall Road, Suite 120; Chevy Chase: 313 S Ashland Ave; Park Plaza: 120 E Main St.
Athenian Taco: Classic gyro, horiatiki fresca, spicy feta crema, served on flour tortilla.
Athenian Vegan Taco: Vegan gyro, horiatiki fresca, Latin tahini sauce, served on flour tortilla.
Campestre
910 Beaumont Centre Pkwy.
Skinny Tacos: A low-carb fave -grilled shrimp with dynamite sauce on a crisp lettuce wrap, fresh pico de gallo, creamy avocado.
TS Laredo Taco: Golden-toasted tortillas, grilled chicken, sweet corn, black beans, diced tomatoes, white cheese.
Condado
114 Summit At Fritz Farm, #110
Lucy’s Fire (D): Sweet Lucy with Firecracker shell, roasted chicken, lettuce, cilantro + onions, smoked cheddar, corn salsa, and cilantro-lime aioli.
Blue Dream (D): Flour soft + Kewl Ranch shells with queso blanco, Tex-Mex ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado ranch sauce.
Rango Tango (Veg): Flour soft + hard corn shell with guac, Thai chili tofu, Thai chili red cabbage, pickled jalapeños, pineapple salsa, habanero-mango sauce, and cilantro-lime aioli.
Desperados Cantina
1224 Manchester St., #110
Chamoy Shrimp Taco: Marinated shrimp, green apple slaw, grilled pineapple salsa, spiced cream, cilantro.
Chochinita Pibil Taco: Oven-roasted, tender pulled pork, marinated in a lively, robust, and tangy mixture of achiote paste, citrus juice, and spices and choice of side.
El Gran Tako
1801 Alexandria Drive, Suite 156
Tacos Cochinita Pibil: Seasoned pork served with cilantro and pickled red onions on corn tortilla.
Ensenada Tacos: Breaded tilapia fillet garnished with pico de gallo, salad and house special dressing served on corn or flour Tortilla.
Quesabirria Tacos: Seasoned shredded beef with cilantro, onions and cheese on top and consomme on the side on corn tortilla.
El Rancho Tapatio
144 Burt Road
Meat Option: pastor, asada and carnita tacos in corn tortillas served with Mexican corn and sauteed onions with avocado sauce.
Veggie Option: Fajita veggies, rajas con queso and cauliflower pastor on corn tortillas served with Mexican corn and sauteed onions and avocado sauce.
First Watch
350 E. Brannon Road, 1080 S. Broadway, 2251 War Admiral Way #130, 119 West Reynolds Road, 2894 Richmond Road, 124 Towne Center Dr #114
Barbacoa Breakfast Tacos: Three wheat-corn tortillas with seasoned braised beef barbacoa, scrambled cage-free eggs, melted Cheddar and Monterey Jack, lime crema, Cotija cheese, housemade pico de gallo, fresh avocado and scallions with a side of seasoned black beans.
Jalapeno’s Restaurant
1030 S Broadway, Lexington, KY 40504
Vegetarian plate: Two tacos stuffed with vegetarian chorizo sausage, sauteed zucchini, red peppers, and avocado served with a bowl of green pea and carrot soup.
Tacos de Acambre: Two tacos filled with shish kabob skirt steak, sauteed onion, tomatoes, and peppers served with a bowl of charro beans..
La Taquiza on Main St
630 E Main St.130 W Tiverton Way Ste. 190
Description not available.
Little Fork
1170 Manchester St, Ste 140
Smoky Sweet Chipotle Veggie Taco: Corn tortilla with chipotle black beans, roasted cauliflower, sweet potato, pineapple, cilantro, lime, and green apple crema. Served with salsa & chips.
Sweet Heat Chicken & Chipotle Taco: Corn tortilla with chipotle black beans, sautéed chicken, pineapple, cilantro, lime, and green apple chipotle crema. Served with salsa & chips.
Mama Tequila
367 W. Short St. Ste. 150
Meat Option: Pastor, asada and carnita tacos in corn tortillas served with Mexican corn and sauteed onions with avocado sauce.
Veggie Option: Fajita veggies, rajas con queso and cauliflower pastor on corn tortillas served with Mexican corn and sauteed onions and avocado sauce.
Mazunte Bodega
903 Manchester St.
Mushroom and Beet Taco: Mushroom and beets served with beet salsa, salsa Fresca, ricotta, onion, and cilantro.
Ruben Taco: Marinated flank steak, Mexican slaw, queso Oaxaca, chipotle mayo, onion, and cilantro.
Both tacos are two per plate with a side of rice.
Mexico mi Amor
780 N. Limestone
Chile Relleno Taco: House made gluten free tortilla filled with fried poblano pepper stuffed with monterey cheese and corn.
Campechano Taco: House made gluten free tortilla filled with steak, chorizo, and sauteed onion.
Al Pastor: House made gluten free tortilla filled with Al Pastor marinated pork, sauteed onion, and cilantro.
Mi Pequena Hacienda
3501 Lansdowne Drive, 110 Cynthia Drive
Tacos Tijuana: Steak with onion, cilantro, guacamole, beans, pastor pork.
Fish Tacos: cabbage, pico de gallo, sour cream.
Tacos Gobernador: cabbage, pico de gallo, sour cream.
Veggie Tacos: zucchini, pico de gallo, lettuce, avocado slice (V).
Papi’s Citation
1988 Stockton Way
Chicharrón Tacos: Two tacos stuffed with crispy chicharrón and salsa, served upright and packed with bold flavor.
Garden Veggie Tacos: Three tacos filled with sautéed garden vegetables and grilled jalapeño, topped with avocado sauce — same fan favorite as Palomar.
Papi’s Chevy Chase
818 Euclid Ave
Seafood Chipotle Tacos: Three seafood tacos tossed in smoky chipotle sauce and topped with crispy chicharrón for the perfect crunch
Veggie Chipotle Tacos: Three tacos filled with sautéed mixed vegetables in rich, smoky chipotle sauce.
Papi’s at Palomar
3901 Harrodsburg Road
Rolled Potato & Chorizo Tacos: Three crispy rolled tacos filled with seasoned potato and chorizo, drizzled with crema and avocado sauce, topped with queso fresco, served over lettuce.
Garden Veggie Tacos: Three tacos with sautéed garden vegetables and grilled jalapeño, finished with avocado sauce.
Papi’s Rapido
1214 S. Broadway
Chicken Al Pastor Tacos: Three tacos filled with marinated chicken al pastor and sweet pineapple for the perfect savory-sweet bite.
Cauliflower & Pineapple Tacos: Three tacos packed with seasoned cauliflower and fresh pineapple — bold, bright, and deliciously satisfying.
Taco Tico
3110 Pimlico Pkwy
Chicken & Waffle Taco: Crispy fried chicken on a waffle with brown sugar peaches and maple bourbon syrup, finished with whipped cream and powdered sugar.
Tacos de Alambre: Steak, chorizo, and bacon with peppers and onions, topped with melted white queso on a flour tortilla.
Chicken Flauta: Fried corn tortilla stuffed with slow-braised chicken, topped with queso, lettuce, sour cream, and pico.
Plate Offer: Any two specialty tacos + fresh fried chips with Signature, Fire, or Verde Salsa.
Wild Eggs - Tates Creek
4228 Saron Dr Suite A
Rancho Revival: Two flour tortillas filled with fluffy scrambled eggs and tender carnitas, topped with salsa roja, pickled onions, and fresh cilantro.
Wild Eggs - Palomar
3735 Palomar Centre Dr
Morning Mash Up: Two flour tortillas packed with scrambled eggs and seasoned taco beef, melted cheddar jack, fresh tomato, avocado, sour cream, and green onion.
Wild Eggs - Hamburg
1925 Justice Dr
Elote Shrimp: Two flour tortillas filled with fluffy scrambled eggs and elote-style shrimp, topped with roasted corn & black bean salsa and finished with avocado crema.
This story was originally published March 5, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
