A heavy metal and South American folklore-themed taco restaurant and bar is coming to the Irish Channel soon. El Cucuy New Orleans, specializing in trompo (spinning rotisserie) al pastor tacos, homemade tortillas, and agave spirits, is under construction at 3507 Tchoupitoulas Street.

The restaurant, in the works since earlier this year, is from Austin Lane. Lane is working with New Orleans-based architecture firm Cicada on the design and NFT Group on the construction. In addition to an aesthetic influenced by “mythical monsters” and heavy metal music, Cicada is touting a restored Airstream, a large, shaded dining deck, and an “entertainment area” as key design elements. A smaller interior dining room with a bar will round out the space.

The Mexico City-style tacos El Cucuy plans to serve can be seen on its Instagram account; adobo marinated pork spins on a trompo, capped with a pineapple, and served with cilantro, grilled onion, and salsa (no word yet on the full menu of taco offerings). The bar program will be run by Jennifer O’Blenis, who has previously bartended at DBA and Mimi’s in the Marigny, among others.

El Cucuy, located about a half mile from fellow taco stand newcomer Barracuda, is expected to be completed before the end of 2019.

Do you have a hot restaurant tip? Noticed a spot in your neighborhood opening or closing? Send an email.

Looking for restaurant recs or a place to chat about favorite restaurants? Join Eater NOLA’s Facebook group.