Taco Punk, Louisville

Each day at Taco Punk, Chef Gabe Sowder makes every component of his tacos anew. He mixes produce sourced from local farmer’s markets into salsas and mole, and smashes masa, corn flour, and wheat flour to make tortillas. But it's his taco fillings that stand out more than his prep methods: sustainable Pacific cod, all-natural Amish chicken, and grass-fed beef braised in Goose Island beer—all accented with hand-smashed guac or fresh salsas such as pineapple-habanero.

Chef Sowder's gourmet approach to finger food is no accident. Years spent working in upscale eateries had given him an idea: "There were people I knew who were musicians and artists who didn't have the money to come in and experience something awesome," he told Food & Dining Magazine in 2012, "So I decided to take the ideals of fine dining and apply them to the quick-service model."

As he shared in his appearance on Secrets of Louisville Chefs Live, Chef Sowder emphasizes healthy food, too: there are no deep fryers or butter-powered ovens at Taco Punk. Instead, meat and vegetable fillings are generally smoked or grilled, and none are injected with chemicals or preservatives. After a hearty and healthy meal, diners are invited to indulge in ice cream and other frozen treats from The Comfy Cow.