Traveling Kitchen Food Truck plans to open carry-out location in July

One of Louisville’s favorite food trucks is about to open a permanent carry-out location. (Photos courtesy of Traveling Kitchen)

Traveling Kitchen, one of Louisville’s favorite food trucks, plans to open a permanent carry-out location in the Irish Hill neighborhood.

The carry-out kitchen not only will provide prep for the well-known food truck that specializes in Korean-style tacos, it will offer a walk-up window and potentially even outside seating for those who want to gobble their tacos on site.

“There are a lot of ideas,” Traveling Kitchen owner Pagva Victor tells Hello Louisville. “The goal is very simple and straightforward.”

The space is part of Office First Catering at 141 N. Spring St., which is in one corner of Irish Hill near the edges of Butchertown and Clifton, just behind Valero gas station and convenience store, which faces Mellwood Avenue at the corner of Spring and is close to I-64 for easy access.

Victor says the walk-up window will be accessible to customers just inside a set of double doors. He says, from a consumer and business standpoint, the concept requires little overhead and offers plenty of flexibility for both his restaurant and customers. He hopes to begin serving there two or three nights by the beginning of July, pending staffing.

“That’s the only holdup,” Victor says.

He anticipates that once the concept is up and running, hours will be Tuesday  through Saturday, 5-8 p.m., while the food truck will continue its regular schedule.

Also, while the menu will remain largely the same as the truck’s, Victor says he plans to add a gluten-free choice such as a tofu taco with corn tortillas, as well as a bibimbap rice bowl and likely a soup of the week. Meanwhile, old favorites like bulgogi beef, teriyaka chicken and spicy pork tacos - not to mention the vegan tempura tacos - will be plentiful (and don’t forget to add kimchi!).

Victor says the decision to expand the business is based mostly on customer demand. When the coronavirus shutdown hit in mid-March, he began making home deliveries with the Traveling Kitchen truck. From there, it turned into regular neighborhood deliveries, and it continued to grow.

“I realized if I open a carry-out spot in a certain hour, while I am prepping for the next day or so, It could bring more sales and happy customers,” Victor says. “My customers won’t have to track us down too much, and It could be a great addition to community.”

Get ready for tacos aplenty when Traveling Kitchen’s carry-out location opens in July.