LULU'S TACO SHOP

Lulu's Taco Shop, founded by Lulu and Israel Aviles in 1989, has been serving up authentic Mexican cuisine to generations of customers. LuLu Aviles describes their restaurant as a true American dream.

 

As an immigrant, she came to the U.S. at 17 with just $1 in her pocket. She then met her husband, Israel, in Phoenix, where they were married, had three children, and saved for 13 years to start their own business.

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"My only talent was to cook and my husband only knew about dairy," Aviles says. "We knew it would cost too much to open a dairy, so we opened a restaurant. It took two years to find the spot we're in now...We make all types of Mexican food and, very carefully, we've added more dishes little by little." Lulu and Israel are both active parts of the family business. Lulu says that she does a lot of cooking, which she loves, and is always looking to improve their menu.

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"My husband likes cooking a lot-he's the big rock we stand on," she says. "The kids help out a lot too; it's a family-run business."

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So, what's the secret to their success after more than 30 years? It comes down to doing everything with love, fresh ingredients, hard work, faith, and being thankful for their customers.

"The reason [for our success] is passion," Lulu