Restaurants near Preston & 265

Well, I have a new job, and while I'm super-psyched about it, it does mean commuting to the South End, which is well outside my area of expertise. My outfit is on Commerce Crossings Drive, just south of the Preston Highway/265 intersection.

I'm hoping my trusty Hotbytes comrades can maybe give me a few suggestions for good places to eat that might be reasonably close. I enjoy just about every kind of cuisine, but have a special affinity for Mexican, Cuban, Thai, and Vietnamese food.

Special bonus points for places open late, as I'll be getting off work about 10pm, but I also need lunch and dinner places as I'll likely be in the area at a variety of different times.

Thanks in advance!

-John

You are going to be close to a lot of good Mexican food. That corridor from 265 up to 264 is loaded with good Mexican joints. My favorite was La Tapatia 8106 preston...but recently when I drove by it looked the name had changed...not sure on that though. Just past Gilmore in the strip mall with the Korean place is La Rosita carnacita. Really good tacos here. I cant remember the name,but another good taco shop is in the mall that has Unique thrift shop and Big Lots. Its in the little satellite strip as you enter the parking lot. Ive always thought it be fun to go start at one end of Preston and do a "taco crawl" and try to cover as many shops as possible.

[Robin Garr]

You are going to be close to a lot of good Mexican food. That corridor from 265 up to 264 is loaded with good Mexican joints.

All good, but also don't forget Rosticeria Luna, in a short strip next door to a panaderia on the east side of Preston about a block south of Gilmore Lane. Great Mexican roast chicken (plus tacos, huaraches, etc., run by a guy who used to be an exec with the popular El Pollo Loco chain in Colombia.

Asian? Thai Smile V and Koreana II are both on the strip and worth checking out.

I'm not sure I'd want to make the drive from south of 265 to gilmore. That's a decent hike with countless traffic lights. But, as others have said, there's a number of other mexican joints in and around the Preston and Outer Loop area.

I grew up in that area but am not aware of tons of local options. There is Sharom's (fried fish), just east of Old Shep on Outer Loop and Hickory Pit BBQ on Old Shep.

You can get to Sharom's pretty quickly by cutting across Manslick (or Miles) to Old Shep.

You could also jump on 265 to go to Fern Creek or take the scenic route (Mt. Washington Rd. to Cedar Creek Road).

Everything but Sharom's and the mexican places at Preston and Outer Loop are a pretty good hike.

If you went 265 West to National Turnpike, you could get to Vietnam Kitchen and that area, but again, not all that close.

Hillview (south on Preston from your location) is mostly chains. I don't know what is further down Preston in Bullitt County.

This is my neck of the woods and unfortunately we have almost nothing but chains out this way...We do have one mexican independant place cant remember the name it is where the Our Best was, in the shopping center across the little street from the Walmart center and I dont mean Qdoba, there is also a friendly Asian place in the same center, also No1 Chinese is next door to Kroger that is our go to place for Chinese...Kroger is on Mud lane you wouldnt even have to go out on Preston for that one if you went out the back way. My son works for Insight in Commerce Crossing so I am very familiar with the food places on the way in and out...

Alas, Sharoms has closed. there is a sign on the old Mr Gatti's across the street saying they are opening there soon, but I have seen NO work being done the in 2 months. There is a new Cuban place where the Chili Pot was, but they are not open on Monday, the night we are in the area.

For another option, whoever manages your building could invite a food truck or two for lunch. I'd be happy to coordinate it for you with the trucks. Your responsibility would be to issue the invitation and email all the other companies that we're coming. We can't just roll onto private property - we need to be invited.

Alas, Sharoms has closed. there is a sign on the old Mr Gatti's across the street saying they are opening there soon, but I have seen NO work being done the in 2 months. There is a new Cuban place where the Chili Pot was, but they are not open on Monday, the night we are in the area.

The plumbing overhaul turned out to be more extensive than first expected. They are still planning to re-open in the old Gatti's.

YEA!!!! Cannot be soon enough!!

Thai Smile 5 is on Preston near Fern Valley.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I seriously love tacos, so I'm glad to hear there are some solid choices in the area.

I walked right by #1 Chinese because it looked like your typical strip mall Chinese joint, and my experiences with those have been less than inspiring. With a recommendation I'll be going back to check it out.

@Leah That's a heck of an idea. This is only day three on the job for me, but once I settle in I will definitely see if I can make a food truck visit happen.

I used to hit the Hickory Pit all the time when I was in that end of town, and I may have to put it back on my list I hope it's still as good as I remember.

Again, thanks for the help, and feel free to throw in any more. I'm subscribed to the topic so I'm certain to see 'em.

-John