Acadiana is known for many things, but authentic Mexican food isn’t one of them.

But there is hope.

The growing Hispanic population in the area has resulted in the opening of more authentic restaurants and meat markets.

Lafayette’s newest option for Mexican cuisine is El Asador, which opened about two months ago in the former Acme Taco building on University near Interstate 10.

The restaurant’s interior looks almost identical to the former Acme Taco (which moved to the Oil Center), but instead of modern Mexican, you find traditional Mexican on the menu.

It’s all being served up by Raoul Trejo, and his wife, Karina.

“Here in Lafayette, you don’t see anything really close to the food we have in Mexico,” Trejo says. ” We wanted to bring more of that traditional, real flavor here.”

Trejo has lived in Lafayette for about 10 years now, but he is originally from Matamoros, a Mexican city in the Rio Grande Valley along the Mexico-U.S. border.

Now 32, Trejo has been cooking since his teenage years.

“I learned how to cook because I love food,” he says. “I would go into restaurants, and I would love the food that they had, and I would say, well, they’re missing this or that to make it perfect.”

Trejo didn’t learn to cook from his mom, who died when he was a young boy, or from any other family member. He instead learned by watching others and by volunteering to work in restaurants in his hometown.

“They would want to pay me, and I would say, ‘No, I come because I love to cook,'” Trejo says. “I had my own job, but I would go help them cook for fun. It’s a hobby. I just enjoy it.”

And Trejo’s love for cooking shows in his menu.

There are the expected Mexican offerings, such as burritos, nachos, enchiladas, fajitas and tacos.

But there are other options that aren’t as popular at Acadiana Mexican restaurants.

There’s the torta, which is homemade Mexican bread that is topped with grilled onions, cilantro, queso fresco and either chicken, steak or pastor (pork that is marinated in dried chiles, spices and pineapple before being cooked on a vertical rotisserie).

There’s the chicken milaneza, a panko-breaded chicken breast that is fried and topped with salsa verde and diced tomatoes.

There’s the jalapeno slices that are fried up fresh instead of pickled for a simple but spicy side.

Trejo’s favorite menu item is the Mexican tacos, a plate of five small, flat corn tortillas that are topped with Oaxacan cheese, grilled onions, cilantro and choice of chicken, beef, pastor, shrimp or steak. Trejo prefers the steak option.

Even the burger — something so many restaurants hide in a freezer just to give picky diners a safe menu option — isn’t overlooked.

The Mexican hamburger begins with fresh, seasoned ground beef that is cooked on a flat top and is topped with ham, grilled onions, cheddar, salsa aguacate (avocado) and lettuce. The accompanying fries are cut in house from whole potatoes.

Mason Romain, the restaurant’s general manager, speaks highly of Trejo’s cooking and menu.

“My favorite menu item is either the mole enchiladas or the Mexican tacos,” Romain says. “Our tacos are very, very good and are unlike anybody else’s in town.”

In addition to the fresh food Trejo cooks in the kitchen, there are the fresh margaritas Romain prepares at the bar.

“I squeeze my own lime juice,” Romain says.

The enthusiasm behind the restaurant’s team is contagious.

“If you want to do something, do it,” Trejo says. “It’s never too early. It’s never too late. You have the ability. Just do it. The years go by, and before you know it, you didn’t do anything.

“You don’t try, you don’t risk, you don’t win.”

El Asador is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The restaurant is closed Monday.

El Asador is one of the many locally owned restaurants participating in the summer dining campaign Eat Lafayette. Mention the campaign when you visit El Asador, and you’ll receive a free order of queso blanco. Limit one per table.

The restaurant is located at 1605 N. University Ave. Learn more by visiting the “El Asador” Facebook page or by calling 337-806-9555.