New Lexington restaurants bringing heat with Spanish tapas, Indian, Brazilian cuisine

Janet Patton
·4 min read

Is it getting spicier in Kentucky or is it just me? Several new Lexington and Central Kentucky restaurants are definitely kicking it up a notch when it comes to flavor.

Some of these will be cuisines that are familiar to you already, others might be something the region either hasn’t had at all or hasn’t had in a while.

Think Spanish tapas and Indian-Mexican fusion.

So if you’re ready to heat up your winter dining and experience a more worldly palate, use this list and guide for some new restaurants to try.

Hyderabad House

2220 Nicholasville Rd. Suite 160, HHLexington.com. Open Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Closed Monday. Carry out/delivery is available but there is no drive-thru.

Hyderabada House specializes in South Indian food including biryani rice dishes and signature dishes such as Nawabi Goat Curry and Chicken Nawabi Murgh.
Hyderabada House specializes in South Indian food including biryani rice dishes and signature dishes such as Nawabi Goat Curry and Chicken Nawabi Murgh.

Hyderabad House’s menu includes biryanis, which are fragrant rice dishes cooked with meat or vegetables and spices, and Chicken 65, a deep-fried version that is then sauteed in hot red sauce.

All the meat is halal, according to Swapna Vangoor, who owns the restaurant as well as the Hyderabad House in Louisville with her husband Ram.

Lamb and goat, chicken and fish are available, as well as lots of vegetarian and gluten-free options. Many dishes also can be made vegan, Vangoor said.

Much of the menu is focused on South Indian cuisine such as biryani, which she said is spicier and uses different spices than many people may be used to.

Hyderabad House in Lexington serves spicy biryani rice bowls of many kinds.
Hyderabad House in Lexington serves spicy biryani rice bowls of many kinds.

The menu also includes pulavs, which are rich rice dishes cooked with coconut milk and cream, served only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Dosas, which are rice crepes, also are available.

The restaurant’s signature dishes include Nawabi Goat Curry and Chicken Nawabi Murgh.

There isn’t a buffet but many dishes including the biryanis are easily enough to feed two people, she said. So you can take a friend and try out something new.

MirchiMex

5355 Athens Boonesboro Rd. and 108 Sea Hero Rd. in Frankfort, mirchimex.com. Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

A gas station that has four-star online restaurant reviews? What exactly is Mirchimex?

It’s Indian-Mexican fusion, served out of two BP Gallops stations. The menu includes curries and quesadillas, tacos and burrito bowls, all with a spicy twist.

Samosa chaat, an Indian street food, from MirchiMex, an Indian Mexican Fusion concept that is served out of two Gallops gas stations, one in Lexington and one in Frankfort. Owner Sam Patel said that all the meat, even for the Mexican dishes, is marinated in Indian flavors for a spicy twist.
Samosa chaat, an Indian street food, from MirchiMex, an Indian Mexican Fusion concept that is served out of two Gallops gas stations, one in Lexington and one in Frankfort. Owner Sam Patel said that all the meat, even for the Mexican dishes, is marinated in Indian flavors for a spicy twist.
Chicken curry from MirchiMex, an Indian Mexican Fusion concept served out of a Lexington and a Frankfort gas station.
Chicken curry from MirchiMex, an Indian Mexican Fusion concept served out of a Lexington and a Frankfort gas station.

It isn’t exactly new, just largely under the radar; owner Sam Patel said that he opened a restaurant in his Lexington gas station in 2020 because the only options for customers nearby were fast food burgers.

“I said ‘Let’s do something,’” he said. They started with tacos, then added Indian food such as tikka flatbread.

He added food to the Frankfort station in 2021. People kept coming in for the food, so they gradually added more Indian items to the menu such as samosa chaat, which is an Indian street food, as well as curries and now dal makhani, a creamy and buttery black lentil dish.

In addition to Indian specialties, MirchiMex also sells tacos, quesadillas and burrito bowls made with Indian spices and flavors.
In addition to Indian specialties, MirchiMex also sells tacos, quesadillas and burrito bowls made with Indian spices and flavors.

“All the meat is marinated in Indian flavors, so it’s a unique food concept,” Patel said.

It’s all take-out, with online ordering and delivery available through third parties. The Frankfort location also has a drive-thru.

BarZelona

4371 Old Harrodsburg Rd. Suite 105, barzelonalex.com. Open Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

If you like tapas and paella, BarZelona is the place for you. It opened this fall south of Lexington off Harrodsburg Road with a menu that also includes other Latin foods such as Cuban style pork street tacos and Cuban sandwiches.

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If you’re coming for the paella (the famous Spanish rice dish traditionally made with seafood and mussels) be prepared to wait a while: The menu warns you to allow 45 minutes for cooking. BarZelona has seafood, chicken and vegetable versions on the menu.

But the wait sounds like a great time to sample their Spanish wines or housemade sangria, available by the glass or carafe.

Ceci’s Grill House

3220 Nicholasville Rd., instagram.com/cecisgrillhouse. Open 3-10 p.m. daily.

Like food on sticks? Get to Ceci’s Grill House food truck. Ceci’s serves authentic Brazilian flavors including Brazilian sausage, Brazilian cheese, picanha (beef rump cut), kafta (meatballs), chicken, tulipa (chicken wings) and much more on skewers, according to the menu.

It’s cooked on a grill over a flame and served with rice or other sides. You can get a whole meal for just under $16, according to the menu.