El Corazón (“The Heart”), located on South Main Street in St. Martinville’s historic district, has quickly become a favorite for authentic Mexican cuisine. While the town’s roots run deep, El Corazón is a recent addition, opening in December 2024. The building, originally constructed in 1933 for Charles and Rose Foti of Calabria, Italy, was purchased by Jose Rodriguez in 2024.
Inside, two murals by Zac Maras add character: one in the main dining room shows two birds in flight with the Spanish phrase La Ultimo Y Nos Vamos (“Just One More”), and another, larger mural on the back patio portrays St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church, sugarcane fields, a pelican, the Evangeline Oak and Cross, butterflies, an alligator, a shrimp, and a red heart.
For the holidays, El Corazón’s windows sparkle with blue, silver, and white decorations, including a six-foot iridescent Nutcracker, an aqua-and-white Christmas tree, and glowing bells along the window tops.
