Speaking Enterprise: New genuine Mexican restaurant launches in … – The Day by day Information

Los Jalapeños Taqueria is the most recent Mexican restaurant in Longview after opening in early December.

The restaurant is co-owned by Ulises Ledesma Cruz and Ignacio ‘Jose’ Mendoza Reyes, two younger males from Mexico opening their first enterprise after residing in Cowlitz County for years.

Reyes labored within the kitchen at Playa Azul in Kalama for greater than 10 years. He began cooking as one among a collection of native jobs, together with planting Christmas timber, however Reyes received invested within the flavors and look of the meals.

“I wished to do higher for myself, generate some more cash,” Reyes mentioned.

Reyes labored for a number of years at Plaza Azul with Sara Ledesma Cruz, Ulises’ sister. When Reyes determined to exit on his personal to open a restaurant earlier this yr, he satisfied the 24-year-old Ulises to drop his work as a mechanic and take part.

“My mom labored in a restaurant again in Mexico. So when Jose and my sister made this supply, she inspired me to offer it a strive,” Ledesma Cruz mentioned.

The constructing within the 900 block of 14th Avenue, close to Heritage Financial institution, has cycled by a number of eating places during the last 30 years. A duck window within the entrance foyer stays from its days as an italian restaurant called The Rusty Duck. Extra lately the area has held a teriyaki restaurant and a sushi restaurant.

Los Jalapeños opened as quickly because the kitchen and eating space had been prepared, although some particulars are nonetheless being sorted out. The brief menu is posted on a paper signal behind the counter, whereas they anticipate the show screens to reach. Two small work by Ledesma Cruz enliven the cubicles in the primary room.

“As soon as we moved in, increase,” Ledesma Cruz mentioned. “We didn’t assume we’d be promoting this a lot meals instantly, which is an effective downside.”

Reyes focuses on the meals on the back-end of the restaurant and Ledesma Cruz has targeted on the rework and coping with prospects. Sara helps to advertise the restaurant on-line and manage its Facebook page, which has helped them get consideration within the brief time period.

The taqueria has a comparatively small menu however a concentrate on recent components. The restaurant makes use of corn tortillas made by hand from the Longview space. Reyes and different cooks are available in early each day to make recent beans and put together the varied meats that get delivered.

“If you happen to depart rice within the fridge for per week, it begins to style humorous and other people discover the distinction. Jose is actually on high of retaining issues recent,” Ledesma Cruz mentioned.

The menu has breakfast burritos and bigger seafood plates for dinner, however up to now the lunch rush has been the busiest time of the day. The most well-liked dishes have been the tacos and the quesabirria, a taco-like dish loaded with beef and cheese and a dipping broth on the facet.

The homeowners hope to develop the menu and the restaurant’s inside in the event that they proceed to remain busy. Ledesma Cruz hopes to finally convert the facet eating space right into a 21-and-over part with a bar.