New Johnson County Mexican restaurant opening in this former pizza place. Here’s when
After growing up around his uncle’s Mexican place, K-Macho’s Restaurant & Cantina, Emilio Romero has caught the restaurateur bug.
Romero, 25, is opening his own Mexican restaurant, this one called Emiliano’s (slightly different from his first name), at 2137 E. 151st St. in Olathe, a former Pizza Hut. Fingers crossed, it’ll be open by August.
“The main reason is to try to retire my parents early,” he said. “I’ve seen how hard they’ve been working my whole life.”
Romero’s restaurant will sell traditional Mexican cuisine, including margaritas, pollo ixtapa (chicken with veggies and cheese, served with rice), and molcajete: bowls with salsa, chicken, steak, shrimp — “all that good stuff,” Romero said.
“It’s authentic, of course, but a little Tex-Mex,” he added.
His uncle, Armando Romero, opened K-Macho’s more than 10 years ago at 1229 E. Santa Fe St. in Olathe. He opened another at 11741 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park a few years later.
Emilio Romero began working at K-Macho’s as a junior in high school and gained the experience to start his own business.
K-Macho’s sells taco salads, enchiladas, carne asada and other Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes.
Emiliano’s isn’t the only Johnson County Mexican restaurant that’s gearing up to open. Las Palomas Bar and Grill is opening this summer in the old Wyandot Barbecue space at 7215 W. 75th St. in Overland Park.
Red Kitchen KC: Cien por Ciento Mexicana opened in downtown Overland Park earlier this year at 7926 Santa Fe Drive.
