Press + Events

PRESS & NEWS

July 12, 2026
MISSOURI’S BEST GLUTEN-FREE DINING FOR FLAVOR-FIRST DINERS IN 2026
Taco Buddha makes gluten-free ordering feel like a victory lap. The weekend breakfast menu is where things get particularly exciting…

July 9, 2026
ST. LOUIS CITY SC AND OLD VIENNA DROP THE SPICIEST COLLAB OF THE SUMMER
On July 16, select CITY Flavor food partners inside Energizer Park will serve one-night-only menu items featuring CITY Red Hot Riplets…

July 9, 2026
ST. LOUIS CITY SC IS BACK WITH A RED HOT RIVALRY
CITY Flavor food partners to serve menu items featuring CITY Red Hot Riplets on Red Hot Rivalry Night…

June 26, 2026
THE VERY BEST TACOS IN EVERY US STATE, RANKED
The tacos dished up at Taco Buddha taste as vibrant, zingy, and delightful as they look…

June 8, 2026
ST. LOUIS MOMS’ GUIDE TO LOCAL BIRTHDAY FREEBIES
Sign up for Taco Buddha’s loyalty program and receive a $5 birthday bonus. Signing up is easy!…

May 15, 2026
5 NEW ST. LOUIS PATIOS TO CHILL ON THIS WEEKEND
The third location of Taco Buddha recently opened in Botanical Heights, and they have two patios to choose from…

May 12, 2026
8 MISSOURI “GAS STATION” RESTAURANTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY 5-STAR CULINARY DESTINATIONS
Some restaurants have backstories that make the food taste even better. Taco Buddha is one of those places…

April 3, 2026
MOM’S GUIDE TO FAMILY-FRIENDLY PATIOS IN ST. LOUIS
Nestled in University City, Taco Buddha is a favorite with the locals and boasts delicious breakfast burritos (and margaritas!)…

April 3, 2026
ST. LOUIS CITY SC’S MATCH-DAY MENU GETS A FRESH LOOK FOR THE 2026 SEASON
St. Louis CITY SC continues to deepen its local flavor roster for the 2026 season with the addition of Taco Buddha, a globally inspired…

March 20, 2026
ASK GEORGE: WHY DON’T RESTAURANTS REDUCE PRICES ON HIGH-MARGIN ITEMS LIKE ALCOHOL TO SEE IF INCREASED TRAFFIC WOULD BOOST THE BOTTOM LINE?
At Taco Buddha and Hi-Pointe, we made a deliberate decision to hold prices flat for over two years, even as input costs climbed more than 10 percent…

February 18, 2026
ST. LOUIS CITY SC – THE CITY FLAVOR PROGRAM REDEFINING STADIUM DINING IN ST. LOUIS
Is Energizer Park home to the best food hall in the country… that just happens to be inside a stadium?

February 16, 2026
ST. LOUIS CITY SC ANNOUNCES FOUR NEW FOOD PARTNERS FOR THE 2026 SEASON
Taco Buddha, Motor Town Pizza, Biscuit Town, and Goshen Coffee Roasters join the roster of locally owned vendors at Energizer Park…

February 16, 2026
ST. LOUIS CITY SC ANNOUNCES 4 NEW LOCAL VENDORS FOR THE 2026 SEASON
The soccer club is widely regarded as the only stadium in global sports to feature a fully local food program…

February 16, 2026
LOCAL FAVORITES ADDED TO ENERGIZER PARK MENU
Energizer Park will have more local favorites for St. Louis CITY SC fans to enjoy this season. Taco Buddha…

February 16, 2026
4 NEW ST. LOUIS-AREA RESTAURANTS OPENING INSIDE ENERGIZER PARK
The team announced four new additions to Energizer Park, expanding its 100% local food program…

February 16, 2026
FROM BISCUIT SAMMIES TO DETROIT-STYLE PIZZA: ST. LOUIS CITY SC SERVES UP FOUR NEW PARTNERS AT ENERGIZER PARK’S 100% LOCAL FOOD PROGRAM
Taco Buddha: Now with three brick-and-mortar locations across the region, Taco Buddha brings bold, globally inspired tacos to Energizer Park…

February 1, 2026
TOP FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS IN ST. LOUIS
The chef-driven menu is small but focused, with tacos, apps, quesadillas, sides, and muchas bebidas…

January 23, 2026
LOCAL RESTAURANTS HOPE FOR CUSTOMER BOOST DURING WINTER WEATHER
Taco Buddha even offering a sale to stock up for the storm…

January 2, 2026
HERE’S WHAT ST. LOUIS RESTAURANTS OPENED AND CLOSED IN DECEMBER 2025
But really, it’s the new places that tell the story this month. Taco Buddha opened in Botanical Heights…

December 18, 2025
TACO CHAIN OPENS NEW LOCATION IN ST. LOUIS’ BOTANICAL HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD
Taco Buddha’s first location in the city has 100 seats and a four-season patio…

December 16, 2025
TACO BUDDHA NOW OPEN IN THE FORMER ELAIA AND OLIO SPACE IN BOTANICAL HEIGHTS
The third location of the popular, locally owned taco concept features an all-season patio..

November 22, 2025
THESE ARE ST. LOUIS’ TOP 25 RESTAURANTS, ACCORDING TO YELP ELITES
Yelp Elites, a select group of influential food and lifestyle enthusiasts, recently released a list naming the 25 best restaurants in the St. Louis region…

October 7, 2025
ST. LOUIS TACO WEEK RETURNS WITH $8 TACO DEALS FROM OCTOBER 14 TO 19
This year’s lineup features flavorful creations from a mix of local favorites, all serving up $8 taco deals throughout the week…

August 6, 2025
SPENDING A DAY IN UNIVERSITY CITY
This is our personal favorite U City spot! It has plenty of outdoor seating, and tacos that feel both elevated, yet chill…

August 1, 2025
TACO BUDDHA COLLABS WITH HI-POINTE TO CREATE SMASH BURGER TACO
Taco Buddha and Hi-Pointe Drive-In collaborated to create The McCausland, a smash burger-inspired taco…

August 1, 2025
WHAT’S FOR LUNCH: TACO BUDDHA
What’s for lunch today? This morning, Taco Buddha joined us on Today in St. Louis+!

June 13, 2025
WHERE TO DINE AND DRINK THIS WEEKEND: JUNE 13-15
If you’ve never visited his fast casual locations in University City or Kirkwood, now’s the time – the restaurant’s menu is entirely gluten-free…

June 11, 2025
TACO BUDDHA TO OPEN THIRD LOCATION IN FORMER OLIO SPACE
Since opening its first location in University City in 2017, Taco Buddha has been on a roll…

May 30, 2025
ASK GEORGE: WHAT’S THE BEST PLACE IN ST. LOUIS TO GET A HEARTY, ENTREE-SIZED SALAD?
Taco Buddha (multiple locations): Those who didn’t know Taco Buddha even offered a salad should consider the Baja Salad, with…

May 27, 2025
TACO BUDDHA’S THIRD LOCATION WILL BE IN THE BOTANICAL HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD
Taco Buddha will move into the former home of Olio at 1634 Tower Grove Ave. later this year. Founder Kurt Eller is hoping to open in late August or early September…

May 27, 2025
TACO RESTAURANT PLANS NEW LOCATION
Taco Buddha’s new location will be at the former home of restaurants Elaia and Olio, concepts of chef Ben Poremba’s Bengelina Hospitality Group…

May 23, 2025
TACO RESTAURANT PLANS NEW LOCATION
A local taco restaurant has plans to open its third location, which will be its first within the city of St. Louis…

May 21, 2025
EXCLUSIVE RESTAURANT NEWS FROM KURT ELLER, TACO BUDDHA
The restaurateur reveals exclusive details about his highly anticipated third restaurant—from its location and design details to the planned opening timeline…

May 21, 2025
TACO BUDDHA OPENING IN THE FORMER ELAIA AND OLIO SPACE IN BOTANICAL HEIGHTS
One of the most popular two-location restaurants in town, Taco Buddha, will open a third spot later this summer in the former Elaia and Olio space in Botanical Heights…

May 5, 2025
TACO BUDDHA IS SERVING UP TACOS WITH SUNSHINE
Two all-season patios at Taco Buddha in Kirkwood await customers eager to usher in spring and summer while also making warm memories…

March 11, 2025
TACO BUDDHA EXPANDS WITH THE BENDECIDO ROOM IN UNIVERSITY CITY
The popular taco restaurant has transformed the building that previously housed Cursed Bikes and Coffee into a private event space…

October 16, 2024
THIS U-CITY RESTAURANT SERVES THE ‘BEST TACO’ IN MISSOURI, FOOD WRITERS SAY
According to LoveFood.com, the best taco in Missouri is called “The Taos” and served at Taco Buddha in University City…

September 27, 2024
THE BEST TACOS IN EVERY STATE
The tacos dished up at Taco Buddha taste as vibrant, zingy, and delightful as they look…

July 18, 2024
GASTRONAUTS FOOD GROUP LOOKS TO EXPAND HI-POINTE DRIVE-IN AND TACO BUDDHA BEYOND ST. LOUIS
Kurt Eller (of Taco Buddha), Ben Hillman (of Hi-Pointe Drive-In and Lewis & Clark Capital), and Mike Johnson (of Sugarfire Smokehouse and Hi-Pointe Drive-In) teamed up to create something bigger than the sum of the parts…

June 27, 2024
LIST: DOG-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS AND CAFES IN ST. LOUIS
With locations in University City and Kirkwood, Taco Buddha features a dog-friendly patio for pups to enjoy the outdoors and the smell of tacos…

June 14, 2024
RISE AND SHINE FOR BREAKFAST TACOS: YELP PICKS IN EVERY STATE
If you want the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and spicy, check out our list of the top places serving breakfast tacos in each state, according to Yelp…

April 22, 2024
HI-POINTE DRIVE-IN AND TACO BUDDHA FORM NEW FOOD RESTAURANT GROUP IN ST. LOUIS
Local favorites Hi-Pointe Drive-In and Taco Buddha are the first two restaurant brands under the newly formed Gastronauts Food Group…

March 6, 2024
WHERE TO FIND THE BEST LENTEN FISH SPECIALS IN ST. LOUIS
Taco Buddha is introducing a new fish taco for fish fry season: The Lafayette. This special features blackened pollack, tangy Louisiana-style remoulade, cabbage, cotija, cilantro and corn tortillas…

January 25, 2024
TOP FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS IN ST. LOUIS
The chef-driven menu is small but focused, with tacos, apps, quesadillas, sides, and muchas bebidas. All items are gluten-free except the flour tortillas…

September 26, 2023
YELP’S TOP 100 US TACO SPOTS

Find out where to eat the best tacos in 2023, and check out our list of the Top 15 Taco Towns across the US

September 25, 2023
MEET ST. LOUIS PODCAST: EPISODE 252: TACO BUDDHA

But the real success at his restaurants, he says, is his team. We sat down at their original location to talk about how he dove back into the restaurant world, the inspiration behind his menu and the staff that’s become family…

September 20, 2023
THIS WEEK ON THE SAUCE PODCAST: FOOD & WINE’S BEST NEW CHEF’S FEATURE, TACO BUDDHA AND ESSENTIAL ST. LOUIS COCKTAILS
They talked about recent dinners from Taco Buddha, where Liz ordered all the dips and more tacos than she needed but had no regrets…

September 9, 2023
ST. LOUIS’ TOP 25 RESTAURANTS RIGHT NOW, ACCORDING TO YELP

Information about restaurants from food critics is great, but if you want to know what real people think about local restaurants, you need to head to Yelp…

September 5, 2023
TOP 5 FROZEN DRINKS IN ST. LOUIS, CHOSEN BY OUR CRITIC

If your idea of a frozen margarita consists of the pre-mixed, is-there-any-tequila-in-this toilet-bowl cleaner served for 99 cents during happy hour at the local Tex-Mex, Taco Buddha… will blow your mind…

August 10, 2023
OUR CRITIC RECOMMENDS WOOD SHACK’S ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES, TACO BUDDHA’S TACOS

A recent weekday lunch visit revealed a restaurant as crowded as the thoroughfare it faces, but moving much more efficiently…

July 11, 2023
TACO BUDDHA OPENS THE DOORS ON ITS SECOND LOCATION IN KIRKWOOD

Known for its creative takes on tacos, fresh guacamole and legendary Margaritas, the original University City location has already won the hearts of St. Louisans…

June 16, 2023
TACO BUDDHA’S SECOND LOCATION NOW OPEN IN KIRKWOOD

An expansion two years in the making, Taco Buddha in Kirkwood (11111 Manchester) has quietly opened its doors…

October 28, 2022
10 PLACES TO GO FOR A GLUTEN-FREE MEALS AND TREATS (THAT EVERYONE WILL LOVE)
Taco Buddha has a cult following for a reason. Not only does it offer globally inspired tacos, aside from flour tortillas, you’ll find no gluten on its menu…

September 29, 2022
DOZENS OF ST. LOUIS RESTAURANTS WILL HELP CAMPAIGN AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN OCTOBER
Angela Ortmann of STLwinegirl is coordinating a large-scale event in her Love to Eat, Eat to Love series, uniting the St. Louis area during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.

September 26, 2022
KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS THAT DON’T SUCK
If you need to give your kid a proper introduction to Mexican food, Taco Buddha is the place to start. They love it.

September 9, 2022
ST. LOUIS TACO WEEK APP AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD NOW
Some of the participating restaurants will include Mission Taco Joint, Taco Buddha,…

August 8, 2022
TACO BUDDHA ANNOUNCES SECOND LOCATION COMING TO KIRKWOOD
Taco Buddha today announced a second location coming to Kirkwood in early 2023…

June 1, 2022
2022 SAUCE READERS’ CHOICE WINNERS
Every year, we invite our readers to vote on their favorite local places to eat, drink and shop. Here are the winners of this year’s Sauce Readers’ Choice poll.

May 9, 2022
BRET’S MOTHER’S DAY TACO TOUR
Find out how Bret’s TACO TOUR went for Mother’s Day.

May 5, 2022
ST. LOUIS CELEBRATES CINCO DE MAYO
Miles McMillin, a manager at Taco Buddha in University City, said this was one of the eatery’s busiest Cinco de Mayo’s in years.

April 12, 2022
TACO BUDDHA OPENING SECOND LOCATION IN KIRKWOOD

The spot needs a great deal of work, but eventually, it will be able to set up to hold 120 customers between inside and outside.

April 8, 2022
TACO BUDDHA TO OPEN SECOND LOCATION IN KIRKWOOD

After several years of seeking out–and sometimes missing out on–possible new restaurant sites, Kurt Eller is ready to announce Taco Buddha’s expansion into Kirkwood…

February 6, 2022
TOP FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS IN ST. LOUIS

The chef-driven menu is small but focused, with tacos, apps, quesadillas, sides, and muchas bebidas.

December 15, 2021
ST. LOUIS RESTAURANTS DONATE NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO UNHOUSED PEOPLE AND OTHERS IN NEED
Some highlights include fried rice from Mai Lee, curry tacos from Taco Buddha…

November 11, 2021
DINING GUIDE: UNIVERSITY CITY & THE DELMAR LOOP
The immensely appealing neighborhood boîte features oversized tacos, chunky guacamole, and frozen margaritas…

October 13, 2021
10 COMFORT FOOD DISHES TO TRY IN ST. LOUIS THIS FALL
When the temperatures begin to drop and the holidays start to loom, our cravings for rich, delicious comforts go through the roof…

October 4, 2021
THIS ST. LOUIS RESTAURANT HAS THE BEST TACOS IN THE AREA
Well, according to Yelp reviewers, the best restaurant to get tacos in the St. Louis area is: Taco Buddha…

October 1, 2021
ST. LOUIS TACO WEEK COMING BACK FOR SECOND YEAR, 30+ PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS
Taco Tuesday is every day when you’re celebrating an entire week of the foodie favorite…

May 5, 2021
TACO QUEST: A JOURNEY THROUGH SOME OF ST. LOUIS’ BEST TAQUERIAS AND TEX-MEX RESTAURANTS
This play on queso is a Southwest-inspired gem…

March 22, 2021
THE BEST PATIOS IN ST. LOUIS

An unalluring street corner in U. City is home to one of the most alluring sidewalk patios…

October 14, 2020
BEST OF ST. LOUIS 2020 READERS’ CHOICE
Voted best Mexican in the RFT’s 2020 Readers’ Choice…

October 14, 2020
BEST MARGARITA, STAFF PICK: FROZEN TO-GO MARGARITAS AT TACO BUDDHA
Well balanced, refreshing and the perfect smooth texture, these frozen margs have a top-shelf feel to them, when bottom of the rail would do…

August 15, 2020
TACO BUDDHA REOPENS
Taco Buddha is reopening Saturday (Aug. 15), the restaurant announced on social media…

July 1, 2020
WHY TACO BUDDHA DECIDED TO VOLUNTARILY CLOSE ITS OUTDOOR PATIO UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
When owner Kurt Eller decided to voluntarily close Taco Buddha’s outdoor patio out of caution, he hoped coronavirus trends would prove him wrong…

January 4, 2019
TACO BUDDHA RESTAURANT IN UNIVERSITY CITY SHUTS DOWN AFTER IN-HOUSE FIRE
An electrical fire in a popular restaurant causes temporary shutdown. The office at Taco Buddha was destroyed after an electrical fire caused significant damage Friday morning…

September 24, 2019
THE BEST NEW RESTAURANTS IN ST. LOUIS IN 2019
Inspired by co-owner Kurt Eller’s upbringing in Texas and abroad, Taco Buddha serves tacos with an international flair…

May 16, 2018
SMALL BITES: HATCH CHILES ENLIVEN TACO BUDDHA’S ‘INTERNATIONAL’ TACOS
It’s unusual, I admit, to recommend a restaurant for an ingredient rather than a dish or the overall experience. In the case of Taco Buddha it’s necessary…