Kahlovera Mexican Bar & Grill, the food-truck-turned taco joint that climbed from late-night lines to Triangle favorite status, is set to open its third brick-and-mortar this week in Chapel Hill. The new spot is slated to debut Monday on West Franklin Street, adding another walkable taco option right in the middle of downtown and keeping the summer shake-up on Franklin humming along.
According to the NC Restaurant & Lodging Association's Restaurant Activity Report, plans filed show Kahlovera taking over the former Pay-Por Dios! space at 431 W Franklin St, with an early-July estimated opening. The Restaurant Activity Report lists owner Edy Barahona as the operator and notes that permits were in progress as of late May.
The business started as a food truck in 2020 before moving into a larger Chapel Hill storefront, then added a second Triangle location at 2812 Erwin Road in Durham earlier this year, as reported in January by The News & Observer. That Durham outpost sits within walking distance of Duke University and Duke University Hospital and brought more seating than the original pickup-focused spot.
“It’s an opportunity to serve more of the Chapel Hill community while continuing to share authentic Mexican food and hospitality,” a member of Kahlovera’s team told The News & Observer. The paper also notes that the menu sticks with truck-era staples like street tacos, burritos, huaraches and weekend quesabirria dinners, with tortillas and salsas made from scratch, and that the restaurant placed in the N&O’s early-2025 best-tacos poll.
Franklin Street context
West Franklin has turned into one of the liveliest stretches in town this year, with new concepts sliding in as others close or change hands, local outlets report. Chapelboro has tracked a run of recent openings along with the June closure of one Franklin concept, underscoring how the corridor keeps churning.
What to expect
Regulars can look for the same made-from-scratch tortillas and birria-forward favorites that built Kahlovera’s following at its first two locations, plus vegetarian options and bar service. For now, the company has not published extended hours; reporting points to a soft opening this week, with a fuller public rollout to follow.
