This profile is in active compilation — some details are awaiting a cited source.

Independent, owner-operated urban taquería and cantina in the River Market, serving made-from-scratch, globally-inspired tacos and a full bar of margaritas and specialty cocktails. Founder Arthur Leduc has grown the business across several adjacent Walnut Street storefronts since opening in the late 2010s.

Description

Kansas City Taco Company (commonly “KC Taco Company” or “KCTC”) is a non-traditional urban taquería and cantina in Kansas City’s River Market, on Walnut Street. The concept uses the tortilla as a vehicle for a range of regional and global flavors rather than a single traditional Mexican canon — the menu spans items such as Baja Cod, Thai Shrimp, Korean Pork, and Mojo Chicken tacos, drawing on owner Arthur Leduc’s travels and background in New England, California, Hawaii, and beyond.

Alongside the made-from-scratch tacos, the business operates a full bar with specialty cocktails, draft beer, seasonal sangria, and its signature KCTC margaritas (offered in 16 oz and 24 oz pours). A frequently-cited signature is the KC Birria taco — USDA Angus brisket birria with in-house consommé. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor (parklet/sidewalk) seating, happy hour, catering, and private events, and has positioned itself as a River Market game-day destination ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Kansas City.

Ownership and history

Kansas City Taco Company was founded and is owned by Arthur Leduc. Leduc is originally from Newport, Rhode Island, and worked as a short-order cook from a young age; he lived in Hawaii, California, Florida, Colorado, and Seattle before relocating to Kansas City around 2012–2013 after marrying a Kansas City native. He has credited KC’s culture of supporting local business as part of why he built the concept here: “I’ve never lived anywhere like this where the locals will rally around a local business.” His wife Lauren, who is vegan, is cited as an influence on the menu’s vegetarian/vegan options.

The founding year is not cleanly resolved across sources. The business’s own website describes it as “established 2017,” while a 2021 Flatland feature and a 2019 dining profile date the original 520 Walnut opening to 2019; the restaurant was featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2019.

The operation grew through a sequence of River Market expansions rather than by opening separate locations. Per Flatland’s 2021 reporting: the original ~1,300 sq ft space at 520 Walnut (2019); a ~1,500 sq ft parklet/sidewalk addition (April 2020); an adjacent ~1,300 sq ft space at 522 Walnut (January 2021); and a planned ground-floor expansion in the Cromwell Building at 524 Walnut for a wood-fired small-plates/tapas concept. The official site now lists the address as 528 Walnut St, consistent with a footprint that has shifted/expanded along the same Walnut Street block.

See also

Sources

  1. Kansas City Taco Company — official website (concept, menu, KC Birria, margaritas, address 528 Walnut, “established 2017,” happy hour, FIFA 2026 marketing) — https://kctacocompany.com/ — accessed 2026-05-30
  2. Flatland KC — “KC Taco Expanding for Third Time in River Market” (2021) — owner Arthur Leduc background/KC ties, 2019 opening, expansion sequence across 520/522/524 Walnut, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (2019) — https://flatlandkc.org/eats-drinks/kc-taco-expanding-for-third-time-in-river-market/ — accessed 2026-05-30
  3. IN Kansas City Magazine — Kansas City Taco Company dining profile (owner background, concept, signature items, Taco Tuesday) — https://www.inkansascity.com/eat-drink/dining-guide/kansas-city-taco-company/ — accessed 2026-05-30 (summary via search; page returned 403 on direct fetch)
  4. Listings/reviews used for current operating status and address corroboration — Yelp (https://www.yelp.com/biz/kansas-city-taco-company-kansas-city-2), OpenTable (https://www.opentable.com/r/kansas-city-taco-company-kc-taco-company-kansas-city), Visit KC (https://www.visitkc.com/listings/kc-taco-company/) — accessed 2026-05-30

See also

Categories
  • Locally owned
  • Mexican
  • River Market