Franchising

Azule Taqueria opening in NYC

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January 10, 2022

A wave of tacos from Azule Cantina is hitting Manhattan's food scene this month bringing a beach-inspired Los Angeles vibe to the heart of Midtown.

Azule Cantina is the latest expansion of K2 Restaurants' original concept Azul eTaqueria, a multi-unit fast casual brand launched in 2018 inside SocialEats food discovery platform. The first cantina is located at 31 W 52nd St., New York, with additional cantinas opening in the coming months, according to a company press release.

Chef Luis Torres, who mastered his technique under James Beard award-winning chefs and at restaurants including Pink Taco, Katsuya and Waterman's Harbor, is behind the menu. He is fundamental in the development of culinary programs for K2's restaurant concepts. Azule Cantina expands on Azule Taqueria's core menu including California staples and beach bar snacks as well as cocktails featuring Mexican liquors and wines.

"In order to make the best authentic tacos, technique and a time-honored approach is everything. Los Angeles is considered one of the world's best cities for tacos and we're grateful to have been recognized as one of the best Mexican restaurants in the city," John Kolaski, owner of K2 Restaurants, said in the release. "We're excited to roll out our top sellers alongside an expanded menu of new items exclusive to New York including shareable starters, a raw bar, and full list of cocktails, beers and wines."