Couple brings taste of Guadalajara to Cary eatery

A husband and wife team originally from Texas recently opened an authentic Mexican restaurant in Cary.

Alicia and Cerjio Tinajero launched Tapatio at 374 Northwest Highway. The couple is serving family recipes from Cerjio's family in Guadalajara. Tapatio means a person who lives in the Mexican town.

"Everything is made fresh here," Alicia said.

The guacamole and salsa have become a hit, and one of the most popular meals at the eatery is the burrito, mainly because of its large size, Alicia said.

The business features weekly specials, priced at $6.50, including taco dinners and fajitas.

The Tinajeros renovated the restaurant that used to be called Tortilla Hot. "We updated, painted and put new lamps in the dining area," Alicia said. The eatery features 12 tables and is popular for take out.

One of the most difficult aspects in opening the restaurant is letting customers know that the owners have changed, she says. "It's tough getting the word out," she said. A food stand at the recent Cary Days festival helped with that effort, she said.

The couple is raising two sons, Cerjio, 5, and Devon, 6, in Cary.

While operating the new restaurant, Cerjio continues to operate his own construction company. "Things were slowing down in the construction business and we wanted to do something different," Alicia said.

While it's tough to launch a business in the current economy, the couple believes their food will drive business. The eatery is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. For more, call (847) 462-0932.

• Kim Mikus covers small business and retail. She welcomes comments at kmikus@dailyherald.com or (847) 427-4567.