Born Bold, Built to Celebrate
In 2020, Danny Cruz and Vilexis Salas launched Tacos del Cartel as a culinary love letter to Mexico's vibrant streets and New Orleans' soulful energy — and the audacity to open a restaurant when the world stood still.
Tacos del Cartel | Our Story
A Dream Born in 2020
In 2020, Danny Cruz and Vilexis Salas opened the first Tacos del Cartel in New Orleans — refusing to pause when the world did. They believed great food, shared among people you love, is its own act of defiance.
The Tortilla as Canvas
Here, the taco is never ordinary — it's a medium for storytelling. From the slowly spinning trompo al pastor crowned with caramelized pineapple to Oysters Rockefeller Tacos that taste unmistakably of the Gulf Coast.
The Show Behind the Bar
Fire-breathing bartenders, cocktails in sculptural vessels, smoke curling over rose-shaped glasses — the drink program is its own performance. Order a Geisha or a Beeyuzuful and you'll understand why guests come back just for the ritual.
Oaxaca Meets Mardi Gras
Pink floral canopies, alebrije murals pulsing with color — every table feels like the center of a celebration. Guests don't just come to eat; they come to be transported.
New Orleans to Perkins Rowe
From one NOLA dining room to four locations across Louisiana and South Florida, the spirit has never changed — only the address. Your table at Perkins Rowe is waiting.
