El Chapinlandia Guatemalan -- best tacos in Louisville?

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum. Just read over a bad report from a Mexican place down on Preston Highway, so I thought I might recommend a better alternative in that neck of the woods called El Chapinlandia, right off the corner of Preston and McCawley. It's Guatemalan, but their tacos are the best in town IMO. You have to specify that you want tortillas hechas a mano, but they are fantastic. I don't know any other taqueria around here that makes the tortillas by hand -- just fluffy and corny and soft. Regular tortillas taste grainy and dull by comparison. When I praised them to the waiter, he laughed and said that other taquerias that use store-bought tortillas are lazy, unlike the lady in back who pats them out at El Chapinlandia. If you don't ask for them, though, you might wind up with store-bought ones, so be sure to ask. The fillings are all good and plentiful; I tend to bounce between carne asada and lengua. The al pastor is ok, but I haven't had any al pastor anywhere in the L'ville area that've been very memorable. (If anyone knows a place that's got an actual spit/rotisserie set-up for al pastor, please let me know.)

The pupusas are the best I've ever had, a great combination of crunchy exterior and soft interior. This surprised me from a Guatemalan place, because I used to live in the DC area which is full of Salvadoran restaurants, who all lay claim to pupusas as their national specialty. The chuchitos (like tamales) are great, too. The pepian, sort of a Guatemalan mole, tasted a bit too much like Maggi cubes for me, but at least it's something different. Last time I went I got a freshly-made watermelon agua fresca, too -- don't know if they do that year-round or what, but it was delicious. Language isn't a barrier; as long as you can say "tortillas hechas a mano," you're set. Anyway, just thought I'd throw that out there, as I think this place is a real gem deserving of support.

El Chapinlandia
1209 McCawley Rd.
Louisville, KY 40219

[Robin Garr]

Welcome to the forum, Iggy, and thanks for the news ... I hadn't run into that place yet, but for Guatemalan pupusas and more, I'm there! Aren't pupusas an iconic Salvadorean dish, though? Of course I know the borders are close.

Thanks Robin! Yeah, the fact that a Guatemalan place made better pupusas than any Salvadoran place I've ever been to really surprised me. But I'm definitely not complaining. For $2.25 or whatever they're a steal.

Iggy, thanks for the recommendation. I will certainly give this spot a try and report back. Some of the places along Preston make some great tacos..others are so-so.

I quite enjoy the tacos at the Gorditas Trailer that is usually parked in the Eastland shopping center lot on Bardstown road (Buechel).

My current go to taco spot is El Mariachi on LaGrange road. Excellent tacos, and lots more. They make the tortillas by hand right next door.

DD

Letting out my little J-town secret, but there is a trailer that has real al pastor they cook on what looks like a gyro spit on Taylorsville Rd in the parking lot of the gas station just past Owen Funeral Home. Hours are definatley not set by any kind of schedule and I don't have a number for them, so it's really hit and miss when they are serving. However It's really good stuff and worth seeking out despite the odd hours and big language barrier if you can't speak Spanish.
I always find it to be a good sign they are open when half of the Mexican contractors and roofers in town are lined up in the parking lot with their big sticker covered trucks blaring Tejano music, all decked out in boots and cowboy hats on a Friday or Saturday night!

Derrick, thanks for the recommendation on Las Gorditas. Every time I've been out there, either it wasn't there or I've gotten sidetracked by Dakshin (or Las Palmas's Cuban sandwich back when that was open). I like El Mariachi a lot, but I tend to get tortas when I'm there as I think the tacos and tortillas at El Chapinlandia are in a class by themselves.

Dan, I'll have to check out that al pastor trailer you mentioned. Thanks for the tip!

Since we're on the subject of Mexican food, I'll also toss out Molca Salsa, which is off I-75, exit 180 in Florence, KY. It's the only Mexican place in Kentucky that I know where you can get exotic stuff like flor de calabaza and huitlacoche tacos. Also the salsa is really fresh and spicy. We try to hit it whenever we're on the road to Ohio. Not surprisingly, the yelp reviews are terrible. It's also directly across from a Chipotle, so it's in a tough spot. I wish they would open a branch down here. Or maybe if an established place like El Mariachi or La Sierra Tarasca would put huitlacoche or flor de calabaza on the menu...

There's another trailer that has been setting up in the parking lot of the Valero gas station in Fern Creek. I'm loyal to the Gordita trailer, though, so I haven't tried it.

Maybe it's time we put together a "taqueria trail" map for the metro area. As evidenced by recent posts, quality at these places can be so hit-and-miss that it would be worthwhile to list the good ones that have been validated by at least one or two hotbyters.

Creo que es hora de una taquería meetup.

(Ya gotta love Google translate.)

[Robin Garr]

Creo que es hora de una taquería meetup.

¡Si! ¡Si! ¡Muy bueno!

A taqueria trail is a great idea. I would love to contribute to that.

Iggy, thanks for the recommendation. I will certainly give this spot a try and report back. Some of the places along Preston make some great tacos..others are so-so.

I quite enjoy the tacos at the Gorditas Trailer that is usually parked in the Eastland shopping center lot on Bardstown road (Buechel).

My current go to taco spot is El Mariachi on LaGrange road. Excellent tacos, and lots more. They make the tortillas by hand right next door.

DD

Derrick- thanks for the reminder on the name. El Mariachi is our go-to spot for tacos too, but when Doug was looking for recs last weeks I couldn't remember the name.

Deb

Maybe it's time we put together a "taqueria trail" map for the metro area. As evidenced by recent posts, quality at these places can be so hit-and-miss that it would be worthwhile to list the good ones that have been validated by at least one or two hotbyters.

Creo que es hora de una taquería meetup.

(Ya gotta love Google translate.)

As I asked last week I am in dire need of Mexican recommendations. I think this would be an awesome idea! I would certainly appreciate it!

Hi Robin,
Hope I am posting in the correct feed.

I am not in the food business but I likes to eat good. My focus is spending my precious calories on the freshest and tastiest food, the older I get, the less I can eat and not gain weight.

By reading Hot Bytes, I found Supermercado Guanajuato and El Mariachi, which are located at 9901 LaGrange Road and phone 425-2961. I stopped bye to check these businesses out. I first visited the grocery, just to look around. So many items new to me, so I purchased my favorites to try. The salsa is my new favorite and the pico de gallo is the best I have ever enjoyed, just my opinion, it's so fresh. I got to practice my Spanish when I was asked if I wanted rojo or verde salsa. The also sell the chips served at the restaurant in the grocery and sell the "raw" tacos in the bakery, I bought a bag to take home and cook. I use virgin coconut oil to fry these days, I like it. The sugar donuts looked really good in the bakery. There are real butchers in the grocery. Again, many new cuts of meat to me. I purchased raw chicken and cooked on the grill, I thought it was the best!

I ate at El Mariachi, I ordered the tacos, so good. Friendly service and comfortable atmosphere.

I am happy to support these businesses for the fresh products and friendly service.

[Robin Garr]

Thanks, Helen! You hit the right topic on the first try!

Helen,

So glad you liked it! It's one of our favs- the people are great, as is the selection and the prices. The fresh corn tortillas from the bakery are amazing, and only ~$1.80 for a stack 3+inches tall! I always end up eating one still warm in the car on the way home...
Deb