Popular New Orleans taco stand expanding to Mississippi Coast. ‘It just felt natural’

The rumors are true: Barracuda is expanding again and will open its first taco stand on the Mississippi Coast.

The new restaurant will open in downtown Bay St. Louis in the former cottage that was once Buttercup on Second Street, owner Brett Jones confirmed Monday. It’ll be less than a block from Main Street and other popular boutiques, art galleries and restaurants. The beach is also steps away.

This will be the fourth Barracuda location and the first outside of Louisiana. Jones opened the original spot on Tchoupitoulas Street in New Orleans in 2019, and has since expanded to Algiers Point and Baton Rouge.

Jones said he and his family have long visited Bay St. Louis, whether it was celebrating the Fourth of July or visiting friends who had second homes there. He said the decision to open a Barracuda there was a given.

“It felt natural,” he said. “It was already home.”

The Barracuda in Bay St. Louis will have the same menu as the other locations that feature tacos, quesadillas, queso, guacamole and fresh tortillas and margaritas.

The concept on the Coast will also stay the same — there will be no indoor seating. A massive outdoor margarita patio with plants, fans and heaters is currently under construction.

Jones hopes the restaurant will open in the next four weeks.

This will be the first taco stand in downtown Bay St. Louis, an area that has seen tremendous growth since Hurricane Katrina. New restaurants are currently being built, and Toro Sushi & Sake just opened a few blocks away.

“We wanted to fill a niche that isn’t here, and offer something that isn’t available otherwise,” Jones said.

Jones said he’s also experimenting with a breakfast taco menu that could become available in the near future at all Barracuda locations.