Birmingham Welcomes New Taco Spot: Trampled by Tacos
Birmingham’s culinary landscape has freshened up this week with the opening of Trampled by Tacos, a vibrant new restaurant located at 5363 U.S. Highway 280 in Hoover. The eatery opened its doors on Monday, taking over the space previously occupied by Little Donkey, which plans to move to the new Valley Post development.
A Fresh Casual Concept
Trampled by Tacos occupies approximately 3,000 square feet and is the brainchild of local entrepreneurs Joel Armstrong and Alvaro Rivera. Rivera brings experience from a similar restaurant he operated in Florida, while Armstrong is a Birmingham native with a diverse background, including managing a mechanic shop for 25 years. After the shop closed, he transitioned into the restaurant business with management experience at Taziki’s.
Extensive Renovations and Outdoor Vibes
The partners signed a five-year lease following their collaboration with Fresh Hospitality and embarked on extensive renovations to revamp the space. One exciting feature is the new outdoor bar, which is framed by garage doors that can be opened to create a delightful, breezy atmosphere. “I love the atmosphere,” Armstrong expressed. “I think having this outdoor bar is going to bring a lot of interest. People say it reminds them of being at the beach with the wind blowing and sitting outside at the bar.”
An Inviting Menu
The restaurant has already garnered attention for its colorful and appetizing menu, featuring several popular items, including:
- The John The Baptist taco—al pastor pork
- The Low and Slow taco—barbacoa
- The Tan Lines taco—made with mahi
In addition to delicious tacos, Trampled by Tacos boasts fresh-squeezed lime margaritas and a signature tortilla soup. The fast-casual concept allows guests to place their orders upfront at a designated station and then take a seat of their choice. Indoor seating accommodates roughly 90 patrons, while the outdoor bar can host at least 30 more.
Quick Service and Daily Operations
Armstrong noted their service model focuses on efficiency with a goal of quick turnaround times. “You order first, get your number, and we try to get the food out really fast,” he explained. “We’d like to do a good lunch crowd, because we believe we can turn people over pretty quick. Our food out to customers has been two minutes from order. For most people, we have their food at their table before they get their drink.”
Trampled by Tacos operates daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and aims to bring a lively dining experience to the area. “It’s a new business and new venture, but we’re all very hopeful,” said Armstrong. “We’re very excited.”
Growth Along U.S. 280 Corridor
The opening of Trampled by Tacos is part of a larger trend of new retail and dining options emerging along the U.S. 280 corridor. Recently, a Marshalls department store opened its doors in a 24,000-square-foot space, and Academy Sports + Outdoors is set to return to the area in the former Best Buy location come November.
As Birmingham continues to expand its offerings, residents can look forward to enjoying the delicious tacos, refreshing drinks, and inviting atmosphere at Trampled by Tacos.
