Juan Carlos Flores with Taqueria Saltillo in Arlington Texas

Juan Flores with Taqueria Saltillo in Arlington Texas recommended that I visit his son Juan Carlos Flores at the family's original taqueria.

Juan Carlos Flores is twenty four years old and is originally from Saltillo, Coahuila. His parents moved to Arlington when Juan Carlos was seven years old. While attending high school, Juan Carlos worked in the fast food restaurant industry and discovered that he wanted to open a restaurant of his own. At the time of our interview Taqueria Saltillo was about to turn four years old. 

He's very enthusiastic about promoting his taqueria through radio and television spots. But that's not all, the family has big plans. He mentioned that they're looking to sign an agreement with the Texas Rangers to sell tacos at their stadium. “Mexican food has crossed many borders” he mentioned “I believe that Mexican food is part of the culture of the United States.”

I asked him if Taqueria Saltillo represents the American dream to him. “Yes” he said “Logically, if you come to this country is because you have a dream, it does not necessarily have to be a business, it can be something else. In our case it happened to be a restaurant.”

Juan Carlos told me that people have asked him about how much money his family used to start the business. He says that money hasn't been an obstacle for them. “El poder es el querer” “Willing to do something is power, but first you need to find out what it is that you want to do and then put that money to work.”    

Juan Carlos Flores with Taqueria Saltillo in Arlington, Texas. November 19, 2014

Juan Flores with Taqueria Saltillo in Arlington Texas

Juan Flores who is originally from Saltillo Coahuila is the owner of Taqueria Saltillo in Arlington, Texas. The restaurant has two locations in Arlington and was about to mark its fourth anniversary the day I visited.

When I entered the business for the first time, I was impressed by a huge poster of the Virgin of Guadalupe and its accompanying altar located near the main entrance. I asked him about it. “Es la mera mera de Mexico, la madre de nosotros y pues es la que nos cuida siempre” he replied. “She's main one in Mexico, she's our mother and watches after us.” “We make sure we celebrate her special day [December twelve] here every year”

I asked him if Taqueria Saltillo represents the American dream to him. “Yes” he said “we have the opportunity here and we have to work hard for it” The business was started in Arlington. Mr. Flores' sons worked in a taqueria as a teenager and discovered that he wanted to open one. So the family got involved and opened the their first location inside a convenient store. Eventually this second location was opened as a full restaurant.

Juan Flores with Taqueria Saltillo in Arlington, Texas. November 8, 2014

Yolanda Guerrero with Tacos Guerrero in East Austin Texas

Yolanda Guerrero owns a taco stand called Tacos Guerrero near a busy intersection in East Austin, Texas. The stand attracts a diverse audience not just people of Mexican descent. The day I visited, I recall Mexican Americans and anglos buying lunch.

Yolanda is originally from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. She says that owning a taco stand and serving people makes her feel confident and happy. “I cook every day, it's important to do that, I don't freeze the meat” she says “I make the tortillas too.”

When she envisioned coming to the United States, she thought of doing something productive. “Si tienes que venir a trabajar, tienes que hecharle ganas (if you're coming to work you have to be persistent” Tacos Guerrero represents the American dream for Yolanda.

“If God helps me, I plan to open another business” she said.

Yolanda Guerrero with Tacos Guerrero in East Austin, Texas. November 6, 2014

David and Felicitas with El Super Taco in East Austin Texas

David and Felicitas are originally from Mexico City and run El Super Taco in East Austin. David worked at a restaurant before starting El Super Taco. “The difference between having your own business and working for some one is that, no one tells you what to do” he said “you put more effort it to it”

David and Felicitas with El Super Taco in East Austin. November 6, 2014

Taqueria Restaurant Chapala Jalisco Style in Austin Texas

I met a group of charismatic waitresses at Taqueria Restaurant Chapala Estilo Jalisco in Austin, Texas. Most of them have been working together for roughly thirteen years. Most of them agree that the American dream means the opportunity to work and therefore do better in life. “In Mexico, money would be scarce” said Antonia Gutierrez, who is originally from Mexico City.

The owner of the restaurant is Manuel Lopez who is originally from Jesús María in the state of Jalisco. Taqueria Chapala has three locations in Austin, Texas. I photographed location number one on Cesar Chavez Blvd in East Austin.

Manuel Lopez originally from Jesús María in the state of Jalisco. He's the owner of Taqueria Restaurant Chapala in Austin, Texas. November 6, 2014

From left to right: Zoila Adame, Lylia Jimenez, Antonia Gutierrez, and Edelia Aguirre. Taqueria Restaurant Chalapa in Austin, Texas. November 6, 2014