EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — One of the many things that makes El Paso special is the diversity of its culture, and of course, delicious food.
Although we have plenty of Tex-Mex options to choose from, sometimes what we really need and crave is authentic Mexican food. A particular small business offers just that, and so much more.
Tatemado Mexican Kitchen, located at 311 W Paisano Dr. in Downtown El Paso, is owned by Mariana Medécigo and Omar Castañeda, two friends with a strong passion for Mexican food.
Castañeda and Medécigo told KTSM that although their business is now stable and constantly growing, they also faced some challenges back in the day.
“Everything started because I had a food truck that was doing well, and then all of a sudden, I had to close it down. Back then, Mariana told me not to close it, but it was too late. One day, we started talking about opening a business together, and we started looking at locations. We found this one, we liked it, and we stayed,” Castañeda said.
The food truck reopened four years ago with the same breakfast concept and operates mainly in the mornings.
Tatemado then opened up a small restaurant last July in Downtown El Paso.
Castañeda says they wanted to do a breakfast-style Mexican kitchen where they could offer chilaquiles, burritos, tortas, quesadillas, and more.
The business also offers an evening menu where they have loaded fries, tacos, and more. They also offer catering and special events, which include the evening menu.
“We both used to work at restaurants, and we were always seeking that specific food quality within our meals. But then, we also wanted to have that ownership to have our own business, and provide delicious Mexican food to our customers,” Medécigo said.
Medécigo says the “authentic Mexican flavors” are what make their business so special.
“We wanted something authentic from Mexico, from Juárez. For example, the classic ‘chile relleno’ burrito you find here in El Paso has sour cream and ‘pico de gallo.’ We wanted to do it Juárez style with beans and avocado, more traditional,” Castañeda added.
Castañeda also says that another special menu item is the torta with chilaquiles, which is not common in most Mexican restaurants.
When asked about their journey, Medécigo stated that patience is everything when it comes to opening a business.
“I would say that the key is to have patience and provide the service you would want to receive when you are having a meal at a restaurant. Treat people like family, and that encourages people to come back for more,” Medécigo said.
Now, what’s next for Tatemado?
Castañeda says a new taco food truck is on its way and ready to stay. You can learn all about it and follow their journey here.
Tatemado is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Saturday, they are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays are closed.
To learn more about their menu and place an order, visit here.
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