Vals, the New Orleans taqueria known for its bright walls and margaritas, is rolling into Baton Rouge this summer with a second location on Perkins Road. The new spot is taking over a pink building along the busy corridor and plans to kick into full service next Tuesday. The Freret Street original built a loyal following with tacos, ceviche and agave-forward cocktails, and Baton Rouge is next in line.
When It Opens And Where
According to The Advocate, the owners announced on Instagram that the Perkins Road location will reopen next Tuesday for both lunch and dinner. The same post noted that this week the shop eased in with limited hours, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and that it will stay dark over the July 4 weekend. Those short shifts are essentially a soft opening while the team finishes dialing in the space.
The Building And The Deal
Per local reporting, WBRZ reports that the Vals team filed paperwork to purchase the property at 7242 Perkins Road, with plans to convert the former Rock Paper Taco site into its new home. The address has seen a revolving door of concepts in recent years and, according to the station, had been sitting vacant since 2024. Local food coverage has also listed Rock Paper Taco's Perkins address at that same spot, as noted by 225 Baton Rouge.
Vals' New Orleans Roots
Vals first opened on Freret Street in New Orleans in 2020, where it earned attention for tacos, tostadas and a mezcal-focused cocktail program, according to Eater New Orleans. The Baton Rouge spin-off is expected to serve a similar lineup, with tacos, ceviche, salads, chips and dips and plenty of margaritas on the menu, per The Advocate.
What It Means For Perkins Road
Perkins Road has quietly turned into one of Baton Rouge's most active food stretches, adding new restaurants and concepts that pull diners from across the city. Vals' arrival drops a New Orleans-style taqueria into that mix, giving the corridor another option for late afternoon margaritas and quick taco runs, a shift local outlets such as 225 Baton Rouge and others have been tracking as the strip continues to evolve.
