My husband’s favorite complaint about me is that he never gets to go back and eat at his favorite restaurant more than once. Well sir, how else are we supposed to sample all the 2,000+restaurants in Louisville?! So most of the time my husband, being the supportive man that he is, gets dragged all over the city to try out places that makes him nervous and occasionally wreaked havoc on his digestive system (my stomach is a lot stronger!). But from those adventures, we found some amazing places to eat in Louisville that’s under the radar and uniquely its own. I’m proud to say that my Kentucky born and raised meat-and-potato-husband is now a lover of Japanese sushi, Mexican grocery store burritos, Mediterranean gyros, Cajun crawfish, Peruvian chicken and other food he would not have touched in the past.
I’m hoping my blog posts will get some of you out of your geographical and gastronomic comfort zones as well to try something different. You might not like everything, but once you find something you do like, it opens a whole new world of culinary joy. Let’s start with these 7 ethnic restaurants, some more familiar than others. But all will make your culinary adventure more interesting.
12220 Shelbyville Rd
Middletown, KY 40243
(502) 822-1808
This newcomer is the only Venezuelan restaurant in town, so you're in for a treat. Even though the menu is small, it contains a treasure trove of items you won’t find anywhere else. Start off with the tequenos, Venezuelan cheese sticks, the crusty fresh dough is baked with cheese on the inside and comes with a side of light lemony cilantro sauce. My husband ate most of my portion!
 |
| Tequenos, Venezuelan cheese sticks. |
 |
| Pabellon Arepas |
 |
| Pabellon Criollo |
 |
| Caribbean Lemonade |
What I enjoyed the most here is the newness of all the dishes; my husband is the true fan, he loved everything. My absolutely favorite part of the meal was the warm soft and gooey brownie topped with the ice cream (not sure if this is a traditional Venezuelan dish), check in on your Yelp app and get this dessert for free.
Kathmandu Kitchen and Bar | Nepali
3825 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40218
(502) 276-1527
Kathmandu Kitchen and Bar is also the only one of its kind in the city, introducing Louisville to the rich spices and flavors of Nepal and the Himalayas.
A safe choice and everyone's favorite is the fried vegetables mo mos, a type of fried dumplings with a side of garlic chili sauce. It's crunchy and delicious. For lover of spicy food, the sukuti chili is a nice treat, it's dried meat (like jerky), mixed with lemon, cilantro, green chili and onion. I love jerky so enjoyed the tough texture, seasoning and spice. Beware, you'll be sweating in places you wouldn't think can sweat.
 |
| Sukuti Chili and Fried Vegetable Mo Mo |
The chicken thukpa, a noodle soup, has a mild flavored broth, so I would recommend a skip on this. The chicken fried rice has lots of spices, which can be overwhelming for some.
 |
| Chicken Thukpa |
 |
| Chicken fried rice |
I highly recommend Kathamandu for the adventurous eater and lover of spices. The staff is definitely new to the American restaurant scene, so don't expect American style service. You probably will have to flag the waiter down when you are ready to order or to pay, get your own drinks from the fridge in the front corner and complimentary water bottles will be brought out in place of tap water in a cup.
Jasmin Bakery | Bosnian/European
2205 Steier Ln,
Louisville, KY 40218
(502) 458-0013
After a visit to Kathmandu, head a block south on Bardstown Road for some delicious European pastries and gyros. I don't like my desserts overly sweet, so the desserts and pastries here is a perfect fit. I suggest grabbing whatever you see in the pastry display; mine was a satisfying flaky concoction with a slightly sweet cherry filling. I came around 2 o’clock on a Saturday and there were only 3 items left. The owner said to come at 9 a.m. so you’ll get your pick.
 |
| Cherry Pastry |
If you still have room, the gyro here is among the best in the city. The menu is a picture of 4 items on the wall, no prices and no description. Your choices are: the little ($3.50), the big ($5), the burger or the sausage. Order at the counter and grab a seat (you pay later). It’s a European/Bosnian style gyro, so the meat and toppings are inside soft European bread. Behind the counter is an assortment of fresh baked bread, perfect to take home. The service is a bit slow, but the food is worth the wait.
 |
| The menu and bread selection. |
 |
| The Little Gyro |
Baraka Restaurant | Samolian/Asian
519 W Oak St,
Louisville, KY 40203
(502) 822-3046
Baraka is a true off the beaten restaurant but one worth making a detour some for delicious Somalian/African food. The menu offers an interesting mix of food from all over, chicken wings, spaghetti, rice, curry, Philly steak, goat, etc. A sure bet and a favorite of mine is the chicken suqaar (saute chicken cubes) with chapatti (like nan or roti bread) or the wrap form is equally delicious. The portions are huge and the prices are reasonable. Ask for the green and red sauce for added spice. As with a lot of small restaurant, some items might be out and service a bit spotty, but all will be forgiven when you try out the food.
 |
| Chicken Suqaar Chapati |
Safari Grill | African/Mediterranean - CLOSED
Louisville, KY 40214
(502) 915-0943
The owners are from Somalia and Kenya, so you're getting a mixture of African food with some familiar Mediterranean favorites. The restaurant is simple, more thought is put into the food than the décor itself.
The owners are extremely friendly and welcoming. You order at the counter from the menu on the wall. Choices include vegetarian plates, gyros, suqaar plates (saute cube of different meat options and with vegetables), chapati (unleavened flat bread or roti), breakfast items, salads and a few African dishes. Most items are under $10.
 |
| Gyro plate |
Time 4 Thai | Thai
2206 Frankfort Ave
Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 996-7899
What I love about this place is that the food is good (fresh, lots of flavors and spices), the portions are big, the prices are reasonable, the menu has a huge variety of curries, salads, entrees, and special dishes. The owners are friendly.
 |
| Chicken wings |
Victoria Mexican Restaurant | Mexican
2918 Hikes Ln
Louisville, KY 40218
(502) 709-5178
With so many Mexican restaurants in town, it's hard to keep track of all the new ones that opened up. I'm happy to stumble on this one in particular. The shrimp tostadas is my go to appetizer at any Mexican restaurant and Victoria did not disappoint. The shrimp is succulent and further enhanced by the tangy freshness of the lime, onion, tomatoes, cilantro, and avocado.
 |
| Shrimp tostadas |
 |
| Taco Carne Asada |
For fish fans, order the Mojarra, a large fresh fried fish with all the toppings to make your own wrap or taco. You’ll need to add the house hot sauce to give it more flavor. For a slightly healthier option, try the chicken azado, the skin was gold crisp and the meat tender.
 |
| Mojarra |
 |
| Polloazado |
If you are looking for more ethnic places to try, check out an earlier post on 10 meals around the world for under $10.
