He’s known around Wichita as the singer in a popular band. Now, he has a restaurant.
He’s best known as the lead singer of Banda Lamento Show De Durango, a well-known Duranguense band that performs regularly across the region.
Now, he wants to be known as a restaurateur, too.
Alberto Gonzalez is the owner of a new restaurant at 31st Street and South Seneca called Gorditos, which sits just behind the Italian restaurant Marchello’s. Gorditos’ address is 3105 S. Seneca.
The restaurant, which opened last week in a spot previously occupied by Asia One, offers a unique menu of gourmet burritos, tacos, fat burgers, Chicago-style pizza puffs, boneless wings, loaded fries and protein bowls. The restaurant also sells gorditas, which are stuffed corn cakes, and gorditos, which are giant gorditas.
Gonzalez said he had to improvise a bit to get his restaurant open. The person who was supposed to install his hood took his money but did not do the job, he said. So for now, his food truck, which is parked beside the restaurant, is his kitchen. He makes the food in the truck and then serves it to the people inside the restaurant. Eventually, he said, he’ll get his kitchen moved inside.
The restaurant’s hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays through Sundays.
Why does the restaurant close early on the weekends? Gonzalez sends his Gorditos food truck every weekend to a club at 2118 N. Broadway called El Basurero SportsBar, where his band often performs. He sets the truck up outside and serves his food there from 8 p.m. until 3 a.m.
Gonzalez said that he was involved in a car accident with his band two years ago and ended up with some settlement money. He decided to use it to open a restaurant.
“I always had a dream of catering to the world,” he said. “People know me, so I want people to go and eat what my favorite foods are. Why not do it for my fans here in town?”
Gorditos is set up to deliver through DoorDash, he said, but people also can call the restaurant directly at 316-559-0674 to order delivery. Gonzalez said he’ll deliver anywhere in Wichita for a $3 charge.
He’s also committed to keeping prices low. His fat burger and fries cost $12.
“My food is cheaper than everybody else’s food, and if it’s not cheaper, it’s going to be better,” he said.
For more information about Gorditos, visit its Facebook page. Also, Gonzalez’s band is on Spotify: Search for Banda Lamento Show.
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