Find authentic tacos, tortas and more at this new Mexican restaurant in Lake Norman
A new location of a Charlotte Mexican restaurant has taken over the former IHOP in Huntersville, offering burritos, tortas and variety of other Latin food favorites — including authentic tacos.
La Victoria Cocina Mexicana & Bar owner Willie Ceballos got his start in a Mexico City taco stand in the 1990s, so he’s been perfecting them for decades. Now, his restaurant offers handmade corn tortillas, and one of the most popular orders is the Tacos Willie, named after him, of course. The dish features nopales and jalapenos, along with a spice blend that accents the heat with a touch of sweetness.
Since its November opening, La Victoria has quickly grown a following. Ceballos said one customer has come in nearly every single day, eating the Tacos Willie each time. (The man missed one Sunday when he ate at church celebration instead — now that’s dedication.)
“About 60-70 percent of customers know me from other location,” said Ceballos, who has lived in the Lake Norman area since 2008 and had a previous restaurant nearby. “They tell me, ‘Welcome back to Huntersville,’ and I feel good in my heart.”
The food: You’ll find La Victoria’s second location has the same menu as the Charlotte spot. You can get seven varieties of tortas, including Milenesa, asada (steak) and pollo (chicken), each with lettuce, tomato, pickled jalapenos, guacamole, mayonnaise and cheese. Along with tortas and tacos, lunchtime diners on a recent weekday were digging into fajitas, taco salad and the chicken soup special, which comes with cheese quesadillas.
The space: Among the changes to the Huntersville space over the past year were switching up the color scheme and ripping up the carpet to install wood flooring. “The carpet smelled like pancakes and coffee,” Ceballos said. Now, the walls are painted bright pink, yellow, orange and red. Walls are accented with artwork of cheerful sunflowers, portraits of Frida Kahlo and other Mexican art.
You’ll also find a restaurant built for watching sports — there are 12 televisions, positioned so you can see a screen from every seat, plus a projector screen behind the bar. A World Cup soccer bracket poster hangs from a window nearby.
The atmosphere: You may come in a stranger, but you’ll leave as a friend. Ceballos has been in the restaurant business for years — and it shows in the way he puts customers above all else. He waves at folks coming in and calls to his wife, Juanita, in between conversations to make sure drinks are filled. Ceballos also stops whatever he’s doing to thank diners and make small talk each time someone gets up to make their way out the door.
“I love Lake Norman,” he said.
La Victoria Cocina Mexicana & Bar
Location: 16801 Caldwell Creek Dr, Huntersville, NC 28078 (now open)
Location: 16139 Lancaster Hwy., Charlotte, NC 28277
Cuisine: Mexican, Latin
Hours: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday; 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday
Instagram: @lavictoriacocina
