Los Aztecas in Downtown Louisville offers authentic Mexican food at a welcomed change of pace from the chain Mexican restaurants scattered around the city. If you're looking to have a secluded, intimate meal, Los Aztecas is probably not the place for you. With its raucous, electric activity, Los Aztecas is definitely more a place for those who like the bustle of city life.
The Experience
Like many Downtown Louisville establishments, Los Aztecas looks very small from the outside, but once you walk in the large wooden double doors, the interior stretches shotgun-style and opens to a spacious bi-level dining room. A full bar adorns the right half of the restaurant while table and booth seating are pushed to the left of the building.
The Food
The food at Los Aztecas is what you would expect to find at any authentic Mexican restaurant. Spicy sauces, gooey cheeses, crispy tortilla chips, and what seems like an endless number of combination platters are offered on the menu. While the presentation of the food at Los Aztecas is fairly run of the mill, the flavors are rich.
The beef tamales, which sell for $2.50 each or three for $6.75, are tender yet firm and smothered in a spicy red sauce that perfectly balances the hearty corn husks and the sweet beef they envelope. They are truly a menu highlight. Burritos are served in large, generous portions and perfectly pared with just enough rice, refried beans, or guacamole salad.
Tacos are stripped down to beef or chicken and cheese, but the meat is loose and juicy, making the tacos taste like they just came straight out of a kitchen in Mexico City. And as far as deserts, no better sopapia can be found. The dish comes served in a fan of half-crescents heavily dusted in sugar and cinnamon, swirled with chocolate sauce, and topped with a dollop of whipped cream in the middle. The sopapias alone are worth stopping for a sweet snack paired with a cup of coffee.
The Service
The waiters and waitresses are more than kind at Los Aztecas and are especially attentive to the diner's needs. Even with a full house, the wait staff always seems on point, poised to get your order, refresh your drinks and salsa, or provide you with an extra napkin or two. However, due to the volume of service, their attention is divided, so it can be hard to flag down a server if one is needed between table checks. The staff is never rude, but they are always busy and can come across as being a bit detached from your experience.
The Review
Los Aztecas is no Tumbleweed. If you are looking for an Americanized version of Mexican food, then you will probably not find Los Aztecas to your liking. Flavors at Los Aztecas are bold and lack the sometimes unnecessary accoutrements of heavy sauces and gobs of lettuce, sour cream, or cheese. Also, the bustling atmosphere might be a turn off to some, but more than a draw for those who like a lively meal scene where people-watching and a louder noise level do not interfere with their dining experience.
With that said, there are two specific and unrelated drawbacks to dining at Los Aztecas. The first is parking. The establishment has an attached parking lot adjacent to the building that is best entered from S. 5th St. However, if the lot is full, and it usually is, it isn't uncommon for a patron to have to walk several blocks to get to the restaurant after finding a parking spot.
Second, during busy hours, the kitchen is rather slow, especially if you have a large party. It is not uncommon to wait upwards of 30 minutes for an entrée. This may just be a moot point, but for someone in a hurry it can become a definite problem and jeopardize the dining experience.
Recommendations
- Beef Tamales
- Combination Platter Options
- A La Carte Menu
Pros
- Excellent, flavorful food
- Extensive menu that includes kid-friendly dishes
- Thrifty prices
Cons
- Atmosphere can feel circus-like at times, can be hard to have a cross-table conversation at peak dining times.
- Parking can be problematic, especially during peak dining times.
- Kitchen can be unbearably slow. Be careful not to fill up on chips before your meal arrives.
