Pacos Tacos: The New Kids on the Block

Pacos Tacos: The New Kids on the Block

By Cristy Cali     Instagram @drcristycali

Click aqui para español- >Pacos Tacos: Los nuevos chicos de la cuadra

Just a few weeks before the pandemic reached the United States, Pacos Tacos opened its doors on Veterans Boulevard near Clearview. Their adorable K9 chef logo with the traditional trompo was a clever branding strategy to include the owner’s beloved Mini Schnauzer into the family business.

Despite having opened in the middle of what is arguably one of the worst economic-impacting disasters in US history, Pacos Tacos is thriving. As of writing this article, they have 77 reviews on Yelp with a 4.5-star rating and 63 reviews on Google with a 4.7-star rating.

So, what is their secret? How is this little taco restaurant killing it during chaos? I interviewed the owners to learn more about the engine that’s driving this Mexican machine. Carlos and Daysi Valencia are the married duo that brings the love & passion behind this enterprise. But Carlos is the eldest son of the founders of Carreta’s, so he brings a lot of knowledge, personal experience, and emotional investment to the table.

“In Latin cultures, the eldest usually takes over the family business. I have been in charge of Carretas for the last 10 years. We started Pacos Tacos because we wanted to bring something new and traditional to the New Orleans area; something from the streets of Mexico,” says Carlos.

His father had left his own family’s trade of diamond setting to invest in their first restaurant in Los Angeles - also a brave thing to do in Latin culture.

I asked Carlos about the challenges he has experienced as a restaurateur and how they may have stimulated his personal & professional growth.

“I am deeply and truly thankful for the opportunity that the local community has given us. We have been through some tough situations Katrina and now COVID and we have always been able to count on the overwhelming support by our guests. It truly is amazing to witness the love that they have shown us.

Through these and countless other struggles, I have learned the importance of always keeping our guests at the forefront of our priorities. I have been humbled by watching guests who were babies now all grown up and bringing in a new generation of Carretas lovers.”