New Family-Owned Mexican Restaurant Opens in E.C.
from taco truck to shop, the Cardozo family are making their dreams a reality
Sawyer Hoff, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
Tierra Caliente started as a taco truck in the Minneapolis area but has grown into a new family-owned and operated restaurant on Texaco Drive in Eau Claire.
Housed in the old Dos Amigos building, Angel and Guillermina Cardozo opened their new restaurant in January with the help of their daughter Julissa. They serve authentic Mexican cuisine made completely in-house – including their melted queso, which Guillermina makes herself!
Their most popular dishes so far are the classic chimichanga and their very large taco salad. They sell a wide variety of Jarritos Mexican soft drinks, homemade lemonade, and will soon be adding homemade aqua frescos to the menu. On top of all of that, they plan to add a breakfast menu and working on getting a liquor license to open their bar.
Before starting their taco truck in Minneapolis, Angel and Guillermina were working as janitors when Angel decided he wanted to pursue his passion for cooking and open the taco truck. After two years working in the truck, they wanted to expand into a full restaurant and found exactly what they were looking for in the building on Texaco Drive. Though they’re currently commuting every day from Bloomington, Minnesota, the family plans to move to the Eau Claire area in the near future.
“I really like just being with my family and the fact that we spend more time together, especially with my dad, and having this family business has really helped us all get together and become closer,” Julissa Cardozo said. “We all really look out for each other, especially when it comes to the little things. (Our parents) that they can really rely on us.”
To check out their menu, you can check them out on Facebook or you can visit them at 6220 Texaco Drive, Eau Claire.
