University City will soon be home to another taco spot. Taco Buddha is slated to open at 7405 Pershing Ave., this summer in the former home of short-lived Perjax American Kitchen.
“Taco Buddha is world flavors put into the vessel of a taco,” said owner Kurt Eller. Eller, who came to St. Louis from Austin, Texas, said his tacos are similar to those served in the Southwest. “It’s not strictly meat and lettuce and cheese,” he said.
Menu items will include a chicken tandoori taco with a mango chutney salsa and a Thai-influenced taco with beef marinated in ginger and red pepper flakes. Eller has property in New Mexico and brings back chiles from the area, which he plans to incorporate in his creations.
A variety of breakfast tacos will also be offered, as well as other dishes, like cilantro lime rice and beans and sopapillas.
Eller said he expects doors to open in late June or early July, and the counter service cafe will have 25 seats inside and 25 patio seats.
Initially, Taco Buddha will be open for breakfast and lunch on Thursday and Friday, and breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday. Eller said he expects to expand hours and be open six days a week in October.
Matt Sorrell is a staff writer at Sauce Magazine.
This article appears in May 2017.