Coming to Kansas City: Mexican restaurant ‘never seen before’ in the area
.png "Mexican restaurant Urbana Sur will open in 2026.")
Readers may know Jose Luis Valdez for his wildly popular Mexican ice cream popsicle brand Palacana.
But in early 2026, Valdez and his wife Lucia Fonseca hope to expand their reputation by bringing an authentic Mexican cantina to the area.
The couple aims to make the upscale Urbana Sur feel like it’s plucked straight from the streets of Mexico City, where Valdez is from.
He plans to welcome live musicians into the space to serenade diners.
“You’ll have a good time with friends, family, cocktails … music,” he said. “People will have a good, good time with good tequila and good tacos.”
Serving tacos, tequila and mezcal drinks, Urbana Sur will open in the Pennway Point district by West 25th and Pennway streets, next to the KC Wheel.
While there are plenty of Mexican restaurants in the area, Valdez said there isn’t anything comparable to an authentic cantina. He hopes his Urbana Sur will be unmatched in both atmosphere and flavor.
“This concept is gonna be an explosion here in Kansas City,” he said. “Like you never have seen it before in KC. You can see it in Mexico.”
Valdez’s menu will include chilaquiles, carne asada tacos, birria and fish tacos made from high-quality ingredients. Customers can also sip on Palomas, margaritas and other mixed drinks.
“We cook from scratch,” he said. “All the fruits and vegetables. Very fresh … everything’s homemade.”
Sam Collins and Roger Webb, principals with architecture firm Collins Webb, helped convert the former storage building into a high-end cocktail bar perfect for date nights and intimate evenings with friends.
“It’s got a bold color palette, a very interesting interior bar and display for the tequila bar,” Collins said, describing the future space. “It’ll be a fun, cozy little space to go do some sampling of tequila with some Mexican food flavors.”
Renderings from the firm depict a long bar with turquoise and gold accents. Floral murals run across its brick walls.
Valdez hopes that the restaurant will become a destination for Kansas Citians and tourists alike.
“It’s gonna be an attraction,” he said. “A No. 1 place in KC.”
A walk-up Palacana ice cream stand will be attached to the back of Urbana Sur. The outdoor area will be filled with tables and umbrellas, where they can enjoy their dessert.
Valdez started his ice cream company 21 years ago. While it wholesales to some restaurants, it has five standalone locations in the metro, including one at 830 Southwest Blvd. Mexican ice cream bar (paletas) flavors include kiwi, pineapple chile, piña colada, strawberry with cream, and dulce de leche.
Before starting his ice cream business, Valdez earned his culinary stripes in Chicago, where he worked in Mexican, Italian and French restaurants.
Plans for the Pennway Point entertainment district include several other restaurants, including a food hall and Chef J BBQ. The area is meant to also have volleyball courts and a neon sign museum.
Issues with underground infrastructure have pushed the district’s completion date back, 3D Development said in September, when they first mentioned plans to open a Palacana stand and cantina.
Details were scarce about Urbana Sur at the time it was first announced.