Beth McDaniel’s In Search of the Best column explores her adventures in food around Northern Kentucky as she looks for the best … everything! Find Beth’s previous columns plus more NKY dining news here.
Since I began doing this column, one restaurant recommendation has come up more than any other: La Torta Loca.
People who love La Torta Loca really love it!
The minute I sat down and began browsing the menu, I could see why. I felt like a kid in a candy store.
I wanted to try everything, but how much could I really eat?!
La Torta Loca is not your average Mexican fare. The fusion of Mexican, Venezuelan, and even Japanese and Hawaiian flavors—as well as the emphasis on quick, affordable, satisfying dishes often sold as “street food”—makes dining at La Torta Loca a true culinary adventure.
There’s little I relish more than the opportunity to try something I’ve never tried before, and La Torta Loca tantalized me with a wide assortment of novel fare.
At La Torta Loca, you’ll find the familiar—like chips, salsa, guac, tacos, quesadillas, and burritos. Yet even these standards are not necessarily what you might expect. For example, the quesadillas are deep-fried and filled with your choice of meat or veggies, lettuce, and cheese. If you’ve been to Mexico City, this is the kind of quesadilla that might take you back there right here in Northern Kentucky.
Scores of online reviewers insist that if you want to experience authentic Mexican and Venezuelan food, La Torta Loca is the place to do it.
You can also try a host of yummy appetizers that are less commonplace, like plantains, Venezuelan cheese sticks, yuca fries, elotes, and corn pancakes.
Honestly, be prepared to utilize your phone. There is a dizzying array of options, including empanadas (stuffed turnovers), arepas (round, flat corn patties stuffed with fillings), and tortas (sandwiches), as well as some novel ingredients you may be unfamiliar with.
I was intrigued to see pumpkin flowers (which I do not believe I’ve ever eaten) and huitlacoche (which warranted a quick refresher) on the menu.
If you look at the second one up, be careful. While it is a fungus that grows on corn, it really and truly is, basically, a black corn truffle. In my honest opinion, the huitlacoche taco is one of the most delicious things on the menu.
Eating at La Torta Loca is an adventure, but if you’re someone who likes to know what you’re getting into, there are a few things that are good to know before you go.
Expect a very casual atmosphere. Both locations have a fun, low-key vibe. Come as you are, and don’t expect anything fussy or fancy—just good, authentic food.
After eating at La Torta Loca a few times, I’ve come to think of the appetizers more like sides. The dishes on the menu at La Torta Loca are á la carte, so don’t expect rice and refried beans—or, actually, anything at all—to accompany your taco or arepa (except some yummy sauces). Likewise, the appetizers tend to be small.
That means the little basket of yuca fries may be the perfect complement to a taco, but a disappointing appetizer for a hungry table. Or, consider ordering the elote to round out your selection of tacos.
You’ll also probably find that you can’t try everything you’d like to in one trip. I’ve been twice, and there are still lots of things on my La Torta Loca bucket list—including those fried quesadillas, the bump taco, veggie torta and the plantain chilaquiles.
To date, my favorite things are the elote taco, the cheese and pumpkin flower empanada and that huitlacoche taco. And here’s where I’ll offer a little disclaimer.
While I don’t partake of carnivorous fare, La Torta Loca is known for its sausage and meats marinated in a special homemade recipe. My daughter confirmed that the chicken was excellent, and our good friend wanted to give a shout-out to the Tropicana Torta, which is his longtime fave.
My husband was delighted that there were so many gluten-free options for him to enjoy and that the menu was clearly labeled.
I’ll also note that I saw some ladies drinking margaritas out of a vessel that looked an awful lot like the blender—and they seemed to really be enjoying those.
For me, novelty may be king, but at La Torta Loca, there’s definitely something for everyone.
La Torta Loca has two locations: 564 Buttermilk Pike in Crescent Springs and 8645 Haines Drive in Florence. The Florence location just started offering brunch on Saturdays and Sundays only, from 7 to 11 a.m. Be sure to check out weekly specials and discounts for military and first responders.