Teresa Moreno with Teresita's Mexican Restaurant in San Antonio Texas

Teresa Moreno is originally from Leoncito Villa Hidalgo located in the state of San Luis Potosí. She is the owner of Teresita's Mexican Restaurant located in Northeast San Antonio. The restaurant has been open for thirteen years.

She's very proud and happy of owning her own business. “It took a lot of sacrifice to start it” she said “and to this date it's sometimes difficult, but thank God, it's going.”

Teresa Moreno with Teresita's Mexican Restaurant in Northeast San Antonio, Texas. November 6, 2014

From left to right: Mirna Rivas, Teresa Moreno, Cristina Amaya with Teresita's Mexican Restaurant in Northeast San Antonio, Texas. November 5, 2014 

Fructuoso Reyna with Tortilleria los Reyna in San Antonio Texas

Fructuoso is from Guadalcázar, San Luis Potosí. He's the owner of Tortilleria los Reyna in South San Antonio. After ten years of working for someone else, he and his family made the decision to open a business of their own. “All your effort would stay at your previous job” he said. “If you put a lot of effort in working for someone else's company, you might as well put the same effort on something of your own”

I asked him if he sees Tortilleria Los Reyna as the manifestation of the American dream. “I think it's part of it” he replied “but I also believe that you should study a lot, prepare yourself for a career.” He believes in the importance of stressing hard work, education and family proximity to his kids as part of the American dream.

Besides selling torillas, the business offers barbacoa, tamales, chicharrón (pork rinds) and Mexican household ornaments like piggy banks.

Fructuoso Reyna with Tortilleria los Reyna in San Antonio, Texas. November 5, 2014

Fructuoso Reyna with Tortilleria los Reyna in San Antonio, Texas. November 5, 2014

Tortilleria los Reyna in San Antonio, Texas. November 5, 2014

Fructuoso Reyna making tamales at Tortilleria los Reyna in San Antonio, Texas. November 5, 2014

Blasa Reyna and Misael Sierra with Herradero Mexican Restaurant in San Antonio Texas

Blasa and her husband Misael were born in San Luis Potosi. Blasa moved to the United States when she was nine years old and graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a bachelors in business administration. Blasa's mom had a restaurant in San Luis Potosi so she grew up in the tradition of the family restaurant.

For Blasa the American dream means the ability to work, do something with your life and provide employment for other people. “The American dream still exists nowadays but plenty of hard work is necessary” she says. “I am living the American dream, we came from Mexico and for our parents it was very important to have access to education, they brought us here in search of that.” She also mentions that the American dream has to do with leaving a better life to your kids than what your parents were able to provide you.

She is proud of offering jobs to younger generations in South San Antonio, the neighborhood where she grew up.

Blasa Reyna with her husband Misael Sierra at Herradero Mexican Restaurant in South San Antonio, Texas. November 4, 2014

Blasa Reyna with her husband Misael Sierra at Herradero Mexican Restaurant in South San Antonio, Texas. November 4, 2014

Evelia Martinez and Marcos Loyola with Jomaremi Mexican Restaurant in San Antonio Texas

"United States is the country of opportunities" Evelia Martinez, owner of Jomaremi Mexican Restaurant told me. But it is up to each Mexican immigrant to find opportunities she advised. In the eyes of Evelia, most hardworking Mexicans come to the United States with the idea of finding work as opposed to starting a business. She believes that being creative in the United States is the way to a better life and not hard work alone.

Jomaremi Mexican Restaurant is named after Evelia's daughters and one son. Jocelyn, Mario and Emily. As a parent, the American dream for her means offering her kids a better future. She wants her kids to go to school and find successful careers. Evelia is from Fosas de Santa Ana, San Luis Potosi and her husband, Marcos Loyola is from Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato. 

From left to right: Marcos Loyola and Evelia Martinez owners of Jomaremi Mexican Restaurant in San Antonio, Texas. November 4, 2014

Evelia Martinez with her daughter Jocelyn Martinez (right) outside of Jomaremi Mexican Restaurant in San Antonio, Texas. Evelia named the restaurant after the initial syllables of her three kids. November 5, 2014.  

Evelia Martinez (left) with her husband Marcos Loyola, founders of Jomaremi Mexican Restaurant in Southside San Antonio, Texas. November 5, 2014.