While Namo have been flying the flag for some time now as Kilkenny’s only dedicated burrito bar, it looks like there’s set to be some competition in the city centre if a new planning application gets approved this spring.
As flagged in the Kilkenny People this week, plans have been lodged with Kilkenny County Council to change the use of 76 Kieran Street to a new eatery, specifically a burrito bar.
The building, fronting onto Kieran Street at the end of Market Slip as you come down from High Street, was once home to the sister operation of Irishtown’s Cakeface – Face2 – before most recently being occupied by Higgs Field. The vegetarian and vegan restaurant operated by Conor Higgins and Andrew Byrner opened and closed in a whirlwind last year, launching in April following the closure of Face2 and shutting up shop at the end of August. It’s been vacant since.
According to Kilkenny County Council by way of the site notice posted on Thursday this week, the planning application seeks “a Change of Use of an existing ground floor commercial unit (formerly Face 2) to Burrito Bar, new external signage and all associated site works at 76 St. Kieran’s Street, Kilkenny R95 YD82.” The application also notes that the proposed opening hours for the new eatery would be 8am to 10pm daily.
A Saburrito outlet is being tipped, with Namo – currently the only burrito bar locally – originally opening under the name in 2020. The James’ Street outlet has gone from strength to strength, showing demand for burritos is high locally, as they collected the Emerging New Business of the Year award at last year’s Kilkenny Business Awards, along with opening new stories in Clonmel and Carlow in recent months.
The decision on planning is due by 10 April. You can see the full application here.
