Lexington’s getting a new Mexican restaurant near Lake Murray. What we know
There’s a new restaurant on the way not far from Lake Murray.
La Fogata, which has several Mexican eateries in the Midlands, is planning a new location at 1605 N. Lake Drive. There is a banner at the site announcing the restaurant is “coming soon” and La Fogata has filed paperwork with the state Department of Revenue to serve beer, wine and liquor at the address.
An opening date for the restaurant has not been publicly announced. It will be located in a building that was formerly home to Tee’d Up indoor driving range. It’s located less than a mile east of Lake Murray’s Dreher Shoals Dam and less than a mile west of the popular Wingard’s Market.
La Fogata already has a handful of restaurants in the Midlands, including on Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia, on Broad River Road in Irmo and on Amicks Ferry Road in Chapin. Its menu includes a host of Mexican favorites, including tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, burritos, tamales and more.
The coming arrival of La Fogata continues a seeming mini-trend of Mexican restaurants opening at or very near Lake Murray in recent years. For example, Na’Cho Margarita opened at 745 Marina Way at Martin’s Landing in August 2023, and regional Mexican chain San Jose opened a Lake Murray spot at 3340 U.S. 378 in Leesville in December 2023.
The N. Lake Drive area where La Fogata is planning a spot is a bustling thoroughfare connecting Lexington and the lake. More than 30,000 cars per day travel down that stretch near the lake, per state Department of Transportation data.
This story was originally published June 16, 2025 at 11:10 AM.
