I Love Tacos Taqueria is building on its successful food trucks and opening a brick-and-mortar location in Springfield, Missouri, in the next few weeks at 2724 E. Chestnut Expressway.
“This is just an addition. We are not closing our food trucks,” says Yeni Vasquez, who owns the business with her husband, Aldo.
Aldo was an over-the-road truck driver, and when he’d go to California, he’d notice that food trucks at truck stops were always slammed because truck drivers get tired of eating fast food. So, he wanted to open a food truck at the Flying J Travel Center in Springfield.
“I said, ‘You don’t know anything about food.’ He said, ‘I’m going to find out,’” Yeni says.
The duo opened I Love Tacos Taqueria in 2016, and she says that they were one of the first trucks to serve Mexican food in the area. The travel center was hugely successful and is still their main location. In addition to a truck that travels to events, breweries and festivals, they added another truck on Kearney Street.
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“That is an industrial area, so it has done really well,” Yeni says.
A brick-and-mortar was never part of the plan, but the business grew so successful that they needed more prep space. When they found the location, the couple decided to open a restaurant with a bar so they could serve up Margaritas.
The tacos and steak burritos are the trucks’ bestsellers, and people rave about their homemade salsa, she says. The new restaurant will feature the same menu to start.
Yeni does not have an exact opening date, as they are working through getting a liquor license and struggling to find employees.
At the end of the day, Yeni also credits Aldo with a lot of their success.
“He’s so passionate about it,” Yeni says. “He really likes what he does.”
I Love Tacos Taqueria, 2724 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield, Missouri, facebook.com/ILoveTacosTaqueriaSpringfield (coming soon)
Juliana Goodwin
Juliana Goodwin lives in Springfield, Mo., but loves to explore the Ozarks and write about it for Feast Magazine.