Restaurateur Shares Culture, Flavor & Community
Gustavo Reyes has always loved to serve. As the owner and operator of Gustavo’s Mexican Grill, he brings that passion to his customers every day.
“I love to serve,” Reyes says. “I enjoy helping people. I’m passionate about what I do and I love what I do.”
Offering authentic Mexican cuisine that echoes the culinary traditions of his homeland, Reyes is determined to offer great dishes in a fun environment to all his guests. Reyes has upheld a core value through his commitment to using only fresh, high-quality ingredients. These values and his special homemade recipes have made Gustavo’s Mexican Grill a hit.
Gustavo’s offers lunch and dinner entrees along with appetizers and special dishes that anyone in the family can enjoy. Meals can be started with choriqueso, grilled elote and Gustavo’s cheese fries or wings while perusing a variety of different options for the main course. Customers can choose the a la carte option for burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, tacos and homemade tamales or look through many chicken, steak, seafood, salads and torta selections. Twenty-six different set combinations give a taste of different Gustavo’s offerings, while signature dishes offer a one-of-a-kind experience and are popular with guests.
Carne En Su Jugo is a popular dish in Jalisco, Mexico, and consists of hand-cut steak in salsa verde mixed with beans and bacon, and is served with cambray, banana peppers, and garnished with radish, cilantro and onions in a warm tortilla.
Quesa Birria Tacos are a traditional family recipe where Gustavo’s takes certified Angus beef and slowly roasts it with guajillo chiles and herbs until it is tender, before gently pulling it apart by hand and serving it as tacos with red onions, cilantro, broth and a side of charro beans.
Molcajete Carnitas is a traditional molcajete filled with pork carnitas, cactus, tomatoes and onions, and is topped with chile toreado pico de gallo and queso fresco, served with charro beans, warm tortillas and lime. Alohai Fajita is a traditional fajita featuring sizzling grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, chorizo, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and slices of tangy pineapple, served with rice, beans, crisp romaine lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream and three warm tortillas.
San Lucas seafood tacos are Southwest-spiced whitefish on a bed of shredded lettuce, topped with avocado, pico de gallo and creamy chipotle sauce. Shrimp Tacos are succulent grilled shrimp nestled inside flour tortillas with crisp romaine lettuce, pico de gallo, avocado slices, fresh lime and chipotle sauce.
Other house specialties include different burrito options, chimichangas and cazuelons. A wide variety of sides are available along with smaller children’s plates and vegetarian selections. Deals run frequently, including Taco Tuesdays, discounted kids menus and happy hours.
Reyes says it’s important to him that guests get the best meals at an affordable price and takes pride in how the team comes up with many of the selections.
“They’re family recipes,” Reyes says. “We get the best ingredients and use really high-quality meat. We always are working on new recipes at home that are good traditional dishes from Mexico.”
First opening its doors in 2010, Gustavo’s has grown from one restaurant in Crestwood to five unique locations spread out across the Louisville area, now including Hurstbourne, La Grange, Norton Commons and Prospect Village. Coming from a large family himself, Reyes recognizes the warmth that big gatherings bring. His restaurants aim to be more than just eateries but places where families come together, creating memories over delicious food.
The vibrant interiors, adorned with exquisite Mexican art and crafts, reflect the deep-rooted love for his heritage. From the first restaurant to the most recent one, Reyes remains unchanged in his dream to be nurtured by hard work and family.
Reyes says all the locations have proven to fit his mission and feels very lucky to have them be successful.
“They’re great areas,” Reyes says. “They were the best places for my company. That happened over time. I expected to just have one location, but I’ve had the opportunity to do more, and we’ve taken it. We are very blessed and grateful to have the community support we do.”
Reyes, who hails from Guadalajara, Mexico, first arrived in Kentucky in 1999 and worked as a dishwasher, developing a love of serving others. He always had a dream to do more that would bring the vibrant flavors of his hometown to the area he now called home. Reyes embraced every role in the restaurant business over the years, from line cook to server, giving him a unique perspective on all his employees and the jobs they do daily.
“It really helps,” Reyes says. “I understand the process of everything. I started as a dishwasher and I like the environment. I learned how to cook working in the kitchen. Everyone is like a family on my team. It’s good to have the experience all the way.”
Gustavo’s offers a full bar with special cocktails and signature drinks, featuring margaritas, tequilas, bourbons, wine and whiskey. Many draft beers are also available, as are homemade sangrias and mojitos.
One special draft beer was introduced to the menu in 2020. Vida de Reyes is a labor of love inspired by the popularity of Mexican macro lagers in the United States. Crafted to capture the essence of Mexican beer, Vida de Reyes strikes the perfect balance between American tastes and Mexican authenticity. With its clean and refreshing profile, this Mexican lager boasts a slight sweetness and body derived from the addition of flaked maize, a secret ingredient that lends a unique character to Mexican beers. Infused with a hint of jalapeño, Vida de Reyes delivers a touch of spice and complexity, elevating the beer experience to new heights.
The drink is a collaboration with Goodwood Brewing Company and is available in bottles and drafts in all Gustavo’s and Goodwood locations. Cans can also be purchased in local Kroger and Total Wine stores and are popular with all Goodwood and Gustavo’s customers. The idea for the drink came after frequent visits from Goodwood employees into Gustavo’s, and the team went through a number of different tasting options before landing on the current selection.
Vida de Reyes is personal to Reyes, who created the beverage in honor of his father.
“I did the beer when I lost my father and named it after him,” Reyes says. “When he died, I wanted to do something for my father.”
Reyes also believes in giving back to the community that has helped make him successful. He is part of numerous initiatives, including regular donations to churches, schools and nonprofits, ensuring his impact goes beyond the walls of Gustavo’s restaurants. Career development is also important to Reyes, and he takes time to nurture the skill sets of each of his employees while providing them further opportunities for advancement, like he was given early in his career.
“We love to give back to the community because they always support us,” Reyes says. “We are happy to be here. We do a lot of scholarships for schools to support students. I want kids to have the opportunity to advance and have a career.”
Reyes’ entrepreneurial vision has proven to be successful and continues to evolve as the industry and standards change. Alongside his thriving business, Reyes finds joy in the company of his wife and three children, who inspire him every day.
“I enjoy my work and my business every day,” Reyes says. “There’s always something to learn. I’m still happy as I was 26 years ago.”
