Taco Buddha is set to open its third location later this year in St. Louis’ Botanical Heights neighborhood, taking over the former home of Olio at 1634 Tower Grove Ave.
While a firm opening date has not been announced, founder and partner Kurt Eller said the team is aiming for “late August or early September,” pending city permit approvals. “But don’t hold me to that,” he added.
Taco Buddha, known for its globally inspired Southwestern tacos, currently operates in University City and Kirkwood.
The Botanical Heights location includes both the former Olio and attached Elaia spaces, which have sat vacant since early 2024. While only the Olio building will be used for dining, the kitchen in the Elaia space will be activated for operations. The remainder of the Elaia building, Eller said, is “on the backburner,” with potential plans down the road.
Design plans for the new location include a four-season patio on the building’s south side, a smaller dining area on the north side, and interior renovations to reflect Taco Buddha’s signature look. The restaurant will seat about 30 guests inside and around 70 outside, creating a footprint similar to its University City spot.
Eller, along with partner Ben Hillman, said they were drawn to the energy of the neighborhood. “We love the fact that we’ll be going into a thriving area alongside awesome concepts like Indo, Union Loafers, AO&Co. – the list goes on,” said Eller. “The communal feel of the neighborhood really attracted us and feels remarkably similar to some of the magic we’ve found in UCity and Kirkwood.”
Construction is expected to begin in mid-June.
This article appears in May 2025.