Crave Taco Week in Lexington: Restaurant locations, menu of $7.50 options
It’s spring and the minds of Lexington foodies turn to ... tacos?
Well, when aren’t we thinking of tacos, really. Now Crave Taco Week returns to let you indulge all your spicy cravings.
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This year’s event, put on by Smiley Pete, will be March 11-17. There are more than 27 participating restaurants for Lexington Taco Week.
Each one will have meaty and vegetarian options featuring three-taco plates for the low price of $7.50.
And there’s a wide range of options on the menu, from authentic Mexican restaurants to breakfast tacos and tequila-filled cupcakes.
“We are so excited to bring back Crave Taco Week this year. Restaurants are able to celebrate the taco through new, off menu flavor combinations or by re-inventing the classics,” said Amy Eddie, Smiley Pete’s director of events and promotions in a news release. “Taco Week shows the authenticity and creativity of local restaurants and chefs, and it is a true testament to the food scene in Lexington.”
Eddie said there are some new restaurants on the list this year including Mexico Mi Amor and Whiskey Bear.
Lexington Taco Week 2024
Here is a list and guide of participating local restaurants and menus of what they are serving. Check online at Cravetacoweek.com for late additions.
Agave & Rye
3535 Nicholasville Rd. and 123 N. Broadway
Meat Tacos: The Basic Betty, smash taco burger, aged white cheddar, tomato, shredded lettuce, chunky salsa.
The Morning After, smash breakfast sausage patty, pepper Jack, scrambled eggs, sweet & spicy bacon, aged white cheddar, maple syrup, chili de arbol, French toast Anglaise-dipped tortilla.
The Jalapeño Popper, smash beef burger, aged white cheddar, jalapeño popper, tomato, toasted bread crumbs, ranch.
Veggie Taco: The Love Child, smash cauliflower-kimchi rice burger, queso, pepper Jack, street corn, chipotle sauce, crispy carrots
Bandido Taqueria
535 S Upper St Suite 145
Meat: Baja Fish, Carne Asada, Pollo Asada or Carnitas
Veggie: Maui Wowie
Campestre
910 Beaumont Centre Pkwy.
Veggie: Seasoned, grilled mushrooms and onions over refried beans topped with cheese and cilantro and served with our signature hot sauce.
Meat: Hand-cut, fire-grilled rib-eye steak slices on a bed of French fries topped with hot sauce and cilantro and served with a lime.
Cinco de Mayo
122 W. Maxwell St., 3031 Richmond Rd UNIT 120, 4101 Tates Creek Centre Dr Unit 162
Meat: Crispy Chicken Tacos with crispy fried chicken on a flour tortilla with lettuce, tomato and shredded cheese and Carnitas Tacos with tender pork carnitas on a corn tortilla topped with onion and cilantro.
Veggie: Coming soon
Condado Tacos
114 Summit at Fritz Farm, Ste. 110
Meat or veggie: Make your own tacos with a choice of Kewl Ranch or Firecracker hard shell with choice of Tex-Mex ground beef, roasted chicken or veggie chorizo & poblanos; topped with lettuce, tomato, Middlefield smoked cheddar and choice of dirty sauce or cilantro-lime aioli sauce.
Don Taco
2220 Nicholasville Rd #102
Veggie: Al pastor cauliflower topped with a pineapple pico de gallo and cilantro
Meat: Cecina (marinated and dried thin sliced beef) that is then grilled, topped with grilled potatoes, sauteed onion and chorizo, then drizzled with a cream green sauce
El Asadero
133 Rojay Dr.
Meat: Baja Shrimp Taco with grilled shrimp in a warm corn tortilla, topped with cabbage slaw, pico de gallo.
Veggie: Mexican Veggie Taco with freshly grilled or sautéed vegetables nestled in a warm corn tortilla, with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and salsa.
El Charro
4371 Old Harrodsburg Rd., 3090 Helmsdale Place and 561 S. Broadway
Meat: Tacos de Barbacoa, tender marinated shredded beef tacos on a corn tortilla with onion & cilantro, served with consomé.
Veggies: Grilled poblano pepper with onion and corn, topped with crema & queso fresco on a flour tortilla.
El Cid
701 National Ave.
Meat: Birria (slow roasted beef with spices), cheese, onion, and cilantro wrapped in a corn tortilla and then grilled.
Veggie: Black beans and roasted peppers in a corn tortilla with pickled onion and cilantro.
El Gran Tako
1801 Alexandria Dr Suite 156
Meat: Tilapia Fish Taco with spicy pineapple salsa.
Queso Birria Taco, tender shredded beef birria on a corn tortilla, topped with melted American white cheese and served with flavorful consomé.
Veggie: Grilled Queso Fresco Taco, crumbled queso fresco on a corn tortilla, with rice, avocado, and spicy pineapple salsa
El Rancho Tapatio
144 Burt Rd.
Meat: Asada, Carnitas and Barbacoa (one each on plate.)
Veggie/Pescatarian: Fajita veggies (with or without shrimp), grilled rajas with cojita, cauliflower pastor (one each on plate.)
First Watch
350 E Brannon Road, 1080 South Broadway, 2251 War Admiral Way #130, 119 West Reynolds Road, 2894 Richmond Road
Meat: Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos with wheat & corn tortillas w/scrambled eggs, Cajun chicken, chorizo, cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses topped w/ avocado and housemade pico de gallo.
Veggie: Coming soon
Inebriated Baker
3401 Nicholasville Rd, Suite D-413 (Enter through the main mall entrance located between PF Chang’s and Outback,store is 100 feet on the left across from Kay Jewelers)
No meat or veggies but alcohol: Salted Lime Margarita, Key Lime Pie Martini, Strawberry Margarita or Mexican Coffee
La Taquiza
630 E Main St.
Meat: Tlacoyo Taco: Blue corn tortilla with beans, cactus salad, mexican requesón and pork rinds. Add your favorite molcajete salsa.
Veggie Taco: Blue corn tortilla with a salad of roasted corn, pico de gallo and bell peppers accompanied with crema de rancho, Mexican requesón cheese and tortilla strips.
La Taquiza
130 W Tiverton Way Ste 190
Meat: Pastor con queso marinated pork with melted cheese garnished with pico de galló, pineapple sauce, fresh pineapple and pickled red onions.
Veggie: Poblano peppers with roasted corn garnished with pico de galló, avocado sauce, sour cream, cilantro, and tortilla strips and goat cheese.
LexLive
301 South Broadway Lexington, KY 40508
Meat/Veggie: Coming Soon
Mama Tequila
367 W Short St suite 150
Meat: Asada, Carnitas and Barbacoa (1 each on plate)
Veggie/Pescatarian: Fajita veggies (with or without shrimp), grilled rajas with cojita, cauliflower pastor (1 each on plate)
Mexico mi Amor
780 N Limestone
Meat: Fresh pork marinated in house spices with pineapple, cilantro, onion and lime on a fresh corn tortilla. Your choice of salsa verde or roja.
Veggie: Poblano peppers roasted with corn, onion topped with from scratch salsas on a fresh corn tortilla.
Mi Pequena Hacienda
3501 Lansdowne Dr. and 110 Cynthia Dr. in Nicholasville
Meat: Tacos de Barbacoa, slow-cooked beef wrapped in corn tortilla topped with cilantro, onion and lime.
Tacos el Pastor, grilled marinated pork on corn tortillas, topped with onions and cilantro.
Veggie: Grilled and sautéed vegetables with corn in corn tortillas, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, avocados and salsa.
Papi’s Chevy Chase
818 Euclid Ave.
Meat or veggie: The Original Papi: Crispy corn tortilla in a soft corn tortilla taco with queso dip in between, made with grilled seasoned carnitas or nopal (cactus) and garnished with lettuce, tomato and cheese. Gluten-free, vegan, dairy free options available.
Papi’s at Palomar
3901 Harrodsburg Rd.
Meat or veggie: Steamy Ranchero Tacos, also known as Tacos De Canasta (Basket Tacos.) Served on a soft corn tortilla with chicken or grilled vegetables simmered in ranchero sauce, made with ripe tomatoes, onions and jalapeños and a few spices. Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan options.
Papi’s Repido
1214 S Broadway
Meat or veggie: Mixiote Tacos, a traditional Mexican beef or vegetable barbecue, combined with dry red peppers, garlic and spices and slow cooked in an agave leaf. Served as street tacos on a soft corn tortilla, garnished with onion and cilantro and spicy sauce on the side. Gluten-free, vegan, dairy free options.
Pie Five
3401 Nicholasville Rd Ste F-616
Meat pizza: Flavored Austin, marinated beef, roasted corn, black beans, onions, topped with cheddar cheese. Finished with lettuce, tomatoes and sprinkle of cilantro.
Veggie pizza: Drew’s Breeze, with fried avocado, roasted red peppers, corn, black beans, cheddar cheese Topped with pico and sprinkle of cilantro.
Skyline Chili
2850 Richmond Road and 354 E Brannon Rd.
Meat: Taco Salad: Skyline Chili secret recipe chili topped with shredded lettuce, cheese, chopped tomatoes and sour cream served with corn tortilla chips.
Veggie: Coming soon
Taco Tico
3110 Pimlico Pkwy.
Meat: Birria taco flour tortilla dipped in birria consommé with melted chihuahua cheese, birria meat, diced white onions and cilantro, served with a side of consommé for dipping.
Veggie: Fried Plantain and Mexican Street Corn Taco, homemade black beans, fried plantains, Mexican street corn, fresh made crispy onion straws, cotija cheese, and cilantro, served with a cilantro lime ranch.
Tacos el Potro
2417 Nicholasville Rd.
Meat: Pork Pastor, tender pork and pineapple marinated in a chili sauce, wrapped in a corn tortilla and topped with cilantro.
Veggie: Grilled peppers and onions topped with cheese and cilantro in a corn tortilla.
Viva Mexico
2573 Richmond Rd. Unit 170
Meat: Pork pastor, grilled onions, grilled bell peppers, cilantro, hot sauce, and lime in a corn tortilla.
Veggie: Roasted poblano peppers, grilled onion, seasoned potatoes, cheese, and cilantro in a corn tortilla.
Whiskey Bear Craft Kitchen and Bar
3195 Beaumont Centre Circle Suite 100
Meat: 12-hour carnitas, fire-roasted corn, cilantro-jalapeno crema, and green chile salsa, topped with fresh cilantro
Veggie: Fire-roasted corn & sweet potatoes with jalapeno, kale, and quinoa, and cilantro-jalapeno crema, served with a fresh-cut lime wedge.
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