TACO NACO KC Overland Park

Regional cooking behind the market counter

Chef Fernanda Reyes brought a wider Mexican repertoire to downtown Overland Park when TACO NACO grew from catering and farmers’ market service into a permanent restaurant in 2021. Her training at the Instituto Culinario de México and experience in Mexican and European kitchens help explain a menu that gives guisados, moles and vegetables as much attention as grilled meat.

The brisket quesabirria combines slow-cooked beef, melted cheese, onion and cilantro on stone-ground corn, with consommé for dipping. Cochinita pibil follows a different pork preparation from pastor, and carne asada takes a chimichurri finish. The current street-style range includes tripa, buche and deshebrada, served simply with onion and cilantro. Yoli nixtamal tortillas and house salsas are part of the kitchen’s stated foundation.

Mushroom mole and potato pipián make plant-based cooking a substantive choice rather than a request to remove the meat. Their sauces and garnishes are part of the dish; strict dietary requirements still need the kitchen’s ingredient and shared-preparation information. Burritos Juárez wrap guisados with refried beans and cheese in flour tortillas. Breakfast choices include chorizo or bacon with egg, chilaquiles verdes and molletes, with serving times varying by location.

El Mercadito and the Missouri locations

The Overland Park restaurant, called El Mercadito, is at 8220 Metcalf Avenue, 913-730-8565. It opens Tuesday–Sunday 10 a.m.–9 p.m. and closes Monday. Direct pickup and delivery are available, along with separate catering orders.

• Westport, La Cantina: 4141 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 103, Kansas City, Missouri; 816-608-3366. Sunday–Thursday 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday until 11 p.m.
• State Line, La Ventanita: 7715 State Line Road, Kansas City, Missouri; 913-386-7878. Daily 10 a.m.–9 p.m.

Those regional branches belong to the same business but have different service patterns and collection points.

Select Overland Park for a direct order.