A local taco restaurant expands again, this time in downtown Wilmington
Shaka Taco, the popular fresh food/taco restaurant in Surf City, has been slowly heading to Wilmington since it opened in 2017. Just last year, the owners of the original location have opened in Hampstead as a part of Ironclad Golf and started an outpost on the campus of the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Now, they've joined forces with Pour Taproom at 201 N. Front St. in The Murchison Building in downtown Wilmington. Look for Shaka Taco fare, from nachos and Real Dillas to wings and tacos, served out of that kitchen.
Shaka Taco was started by former teachers Cody Leutgens and Steve Christian with a "fresh eats, fresh vibes" mentality that fits well with surfing and the coastal lifestyle. The Hampstead venue seats 60 people indoors and includes a 30,000 square-foot beer garden that hosts live music, farmers markets and cornhole tournaments. At UNCW, it's open for lunch time where tacos and a popular acai bowl can be ordered as part of the student meal plan.
"These relationships have reduced the significant resources and risk required to open a new venue," Leutgens said. They're continuing that partnership trend with Pour Taproom, which offers 50 self-pouring taps of fresh craft beer from local and regional breweries, as well as wine and cocktails. They started serving food there this month.
"Four locations is a ton of work, but the customers have been super stoked," he said.
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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Shaka Taco opens in downtown Wilmington
