A brand new vegan taqueria called L/A Mex is debuting in Uptown, located at 1303 W. Wilson Ave.
This is the newest project from restaurateur Gina Marino-Kalish, who is planning a staggered rollout at the former home of her very own pizza restaurant, Longacre. Marino-Kalish will start with exclusive patio seating on Friday, March 25, while the restaurant will open for full-service on May 4, according to Eater Chicago. The new restaurant will sit next to Marino-Kalish’s sister restaurants, Sam & Gertie’s and Kal’ish. The restaurant is aiming to open in time for Cinco de Mayo.
The restaurant previously opened a year and a half ago during Dia de Los Muertos, but the pandemic shuttered plans to carry on. Not much information is available about the new restaurant, but one could make some guesses as to what to expect once it opens. L/A Mex will have various forms of vegan tacos and other Mexican classics. Guests can also expect to find plenty of alcohol there as well.
Marino-Kalish is no stranger to vegan restaurants. She and her husband Andy Kalish opened a vegan/vegetarian restaurant and catering company in 1998 when they first moved to Uptown. Then, in 2018, they opened Kāl’ish, an all-vegan concept serving burgers, salads, all-day breakfast, and Sunday brunch. Their other project, Longacre, served Detroit-style pizza, pasta bakes, salad, and a few sides. The duo hoped to eventually open Longacre Dining & Bar, where they’d move from the Pizza Box and include Midwest-style tapas plates.
