Burrito King co-owners Angelina and Max Cruz are making a fresh start with their nearby Ninth Street location, reopening it as a sit-down taco restaurant.
The space was previously home to 9th Street Cafe, and, prior to that, Mama’s Tamale Shop. The couple looks forward to what opportunities await the new business, 9th Street Mexican Tacos.
“We wanted to do what we do, and do what we know,” Angelina said. “We want to make the best tacos in Lawrence for our community and give them something fresh.”
Angelina has owned multiple businesses at 602 W. Ninth St. which, at Ninth and Louisiana, is just blocks from longtime Lawrence staple Burrito King at Ninth and Illinois streets.
9th Street Cafe opened in August but closed in February, about eight months after the tamale shop had closed in the same location.
The cafe wasn’t doing well, and though they kept trying new things, nothing really stuck. But over the past two months, Angelina and Max have curated a fresh menu that includes some favorites from the tamale shop, such as aguas frescas. The beverage is made of water with flavor from fresh produce such as pineapple, cucumber, Jamaica flower, watermelon and more.
“The fresh waters was one of our main sales, and that is why we brought them back,” Max said. “If you’ve never been to Mexico, this is your chance.”
9th Street Mexican Tacos is now open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.
The menu includes a variety of taco meats, from al pastor to barbacoa, carnitas, carne asada, grilled veggies and more. Each protein is curated from a combination of recipes that Angelina has created, and from Max’s home town of Alvarado, Veracruz. The al pastor is cooked on a rotisserie with marinated seasonings and pineapple.
“We’re using fresh, homemade, straight ingredients, with no artificials. That’s how we want to do it,” Angelina said. “And the flavor comes from the heart of everyone working here.”
The tacos are made with hand-pressed corn tortillas, and a salsa bar offers customization options such as salsas, guacamole, mango and pineapple pico de gallo, radishes, cilantro, limes and more.
“Everyone has their own flavor profile and wants different things,” Angelina said. “Having that availability to customize each individual taco you get isn’t available anywhere else in town.”
In addition to tacos, the business is serving tamales and quesadillas, along with a variety of hotdogs and sides.
“We wanted to try it out, see how they take off and keep playing with them as we go,” Angelina said. “Folks have recommended a Chicago dog and steak fries. I’m willing to try anything that the community wants to throw at me.”
Since opening 9th Street Mexican Tacos, Angelina said she has seen an outpouring of support. She said she looks forward to giving back to the people of Lawrence through food, service and a space to create community.
“That’s the whole reason why we do what we do. We love our community, and we love Lawrence,” Angelina said. “We want you to enjoy what you want, and get delicious food, too.”
9th Street Mexican Tacos’ menu is available on their Instagram and Facebook page.
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Lane Rozin (he/they) was a contributor for The Lawrence Times from January 2024 through May 2025. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas Schools of Journalism and Film. He is an alum of Pittsburg High School, where he was the multimedia editor for Pitt Media in 2019-21. He served as the managing editor at the University Daily Kansan and development director at KJHK for 2024-25. See more of his work for the Times here.
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