An inside peek at Jimmie Johnson’s new taco shop, Southbound. I looked up, and Jimmie Johnson was walking straight at me.

Some context: Johnson, who has won NASCAR’s Cup Series championship a record- tying seven times, is one of a handful of partners at Charlotte’s newest restaurant, Southbound. The taco shop is next to Mac’s Speed Shop on South Boulevard, and it opens to the general public on Tuesday. But Johnson and his team were kind enough to let me visit the night before the grand opening – to take the menu for a test drive, you could say.“I’ve been preaching that the Mexican food out there (in Southern California) is so much better,” Johnson said Monday. When this opportunity came along, I’m like, ‘I can’t help with a lot of stuff, but I think I can help here.’”I arrived not sure how Johnson, a native of El Cajon, Calif., got into the restaurant business. It turns out one of his workout buddies, Wynn Davis, had a stake in Mac’s and the space next to it. The two got to talking, tossed around the idea of opening a Southern California- inspired taco joint, and a year later here we are.

That Southern California element is key. It’s designed to be an East Coast version of some of the “down and dirty” taco shops back in Johnson’s hometown. But since the area around Southbound is oversaturated with Mexican restaurants (Bakersfield, Hot Taco and Ru Ru’s Tacos & Tequila to name a few), so what makes this place different?“We’re nowhere near Tex- Mex,” chef Kevin Kuruc said. There’s cheddar cheese on one item, and that’s only because it’s on the California burrito. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have any in house.”The inside of Southbound is wide open, with hanging lights stretching from booths on one side to the bar on the other.

Brendan Marks bmarks@charlotteobserver. Creating the menu largely fell to Kuruc, but Johnson and the rest of the team pitched in, too. Kuruc and others flew from Charlotte to Johnson’s hometown to taste the authentic Mexican flavors they wanted to try to replicate. They took back inspiration and even some whole family recipes. The ingredients are mostly all locally sourced or imported from Mexico, such as the fish used for the ceviche and fish tacos.

Johnson even had some dishes shipped in dry ice from the West Coast to Charlotte so the kitchen could taste them. That Southern California vibe is obvious outside of the kitchen, too.

String lights criss- cross the open ceiling, and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” was playing on the speakers when I walked in. That there’s a huge mural of a beach van and two palm trees in the middle of the tables helps, too.

The fish for the ceviche is imported from off the coast of Mexico, and the chips are handmade in the store. Brendan Marks bmarks@charlotteobserver. I sat in a booth in the back corner and figured I’d try a few different options, to accurately assess the place. I settled on ceviche as an appetizer, with a generous helping of homemade chips and a few visits to the unlimited salsa bar (I recommend the salsa verde). It’s fresh, and my waitress explains how the fish is imported and caught off the coast of Mexico. That’s when Johnson walks in in a navy button- down shirt and jeans.

He comes up to my booth, slides in and starts peeking over the final menu with me. The carne asada taco, Jimmie Johnson’s favorite, is one of the main dishes Johnson insisted should be on the Southbound menu.

Watch movies online free no registering no downloading, required just click and watch. · The Asahi Shimbun is widely regarded for its journalism as the most respected daily newspaper in Japan. The English version offers selected articles from. XX movie reviews & Metacritic score: XX is a new horror anthology with a gender twist - all segments will be helmed by female directors and will star female.

Brendan Marks bmarks@charlotteobserver. I ask what his favorites are, and he easily points one out.“The carne asada I’ve been very particular about,” Johnson said. Something really popular. I get it most places.”And for drinks? I mention I’m surprised to see Pacifico on draft, since the light beer is usually only found on the West Coast and New York areas. Watch Girl Most Likely Full Movie there.

• Critics Consensus: Southbound doesn't entirely avoid the jarring shifts common to anthology films, but thanks to some thrilling twists and turns, this horror road.
• Five interlocking tales of terror follow the fates of a group of weary travellers who confront their worst nightmares - and darkest secrets - over one long night on a.
• NAPLES, Fla. - Traffic is closed in southbound lanes on I-75. A crash near mile marker 111 in Naples is causing the backup. All southbound lanes are closed.
• More News Headlines. VIDEO: Officer dragged during traffic stop Rollover crash on I-45 North Freeway slows southbound traffic before.
• Watch Tom And Jerry Classic Collection (1940 - 1967) full episodes. Summary: Tom and Jerry is an American animated series of short films created in 1940, b.
• Let’s take a look at the biggest and best horror movies of 2016. The scary list features the usual mix of sequels (‘The Conjuring 2’), semi-reboots (‘Blair.

Johnson smirks.“Pacifico is my favorite, and I insisted on it being on the list,” Johnson said. It’s amazing.”The fish taco is made from the same imported fish as the ceviche, which explains the freshness. Brendan Marks bmarks@charlotteobserver. We chat for a few minutes and he leaves to go speak to his wife. I take him up on his recommendation, ordering the carne asada taco and a fish taco ($3. Pacifico, but he also says the house margaritas comes with homemade salt. Sold. The margarita hits the spot, and both tacos are delicious.

The fish is just as fresh as the ceviche, but with some salsa verde on it, it’s perfect. The carne asada doesn’t disappoint either. It’s almost too big to bite, but packed with flavor and savory meat. The house margarita comes with homemade salt on the outer lip of the glass.

Brendan Marks bmarks@charlotteobserver. I get a traditional grapefruit soda and some churros for dessert, and while I’m waiting I notice the rest of the atmosphere. There are no TV’s, meaning this isn’t just another bar that also serves tacos. Next to the salsa bar is a takeout window, where diners can walk up and grab tacos to go. Around back, there’s another outside space in the works with a stage, something the restaurant says will eventually be used for live music.

The churros (only $2. The soda is light and refreshing, and the churros are warm, dunked in chocolate sauce and slathered in cinnamon sugar. The churros come dunked in a warm chocolate sauce, and the cinnamon sugar coating makes them even better than they would be. Brendan Marks bmarks@charlotteobserver. As I’m walking out, I see Johnson walk over to his wife and take a sip of her margarita, the same house one I had. He sees me leaving and waves goodbye.“Hope you’ll come back!” he says. I will – and the next time, I’ll have to get a Pacifico.