The aroma of sizzling meat and warm tortillas wafts through the air outside a colorful taco stand, Spanish music blasting from the speakers.
Located near Trader Joe’s in Larkspur, Tacos la Lupita is a popular food destination for many students. What customers may not realize, however, is that this family-run business has roots tracing back to Richmond.
Carlos Figueroa has worked at the stand for about four years, since they opened at the Larkspur location.
“This started as a dream of my brother-in-law,” Figueroa said. “[He] started the restaurant in Richmond, and both here and there, we work as a family.”
He pointed out that the other employee who he works with is his nephew, and that his sister and other brothers-in-law work at the Richmond location.
Elder Hernandez is one of Figueroa’s brothers-in-law and the founder of Tacos la Lupita and La Lupita Mexican Eatery in Richmond. Hernandez moved to the United States when he was younger, and said that his motivation to create these businesses was his family.
“This is for my family. I really like the business because it’s a family business. It means a lot to me,” Hernandez said.
Junior Maya Winiarski recently visited Tacos la Lupita for the first time and plans to return. Winiarski noted the kindness of the employees and that she overall enjoyed her experience.
“It had a nice ambiance,” Winiarski said. “They had music playing, with plants surrounding a nice seating area. It felt very welcoming, and they had good, authentic food.”
Winiarski described how she enjoyed the food at the restaurant, and recommended others give it a try. She had the steak tacos and said that the sauce in particular was flavorful.
As the day progresses, the stand gradually becomes busier. Figueroa and his family are very grateful for the business that the students bring.
“[Students] always come in groups of five or six, and we’ve had some as big as 10,” Figueroa said.
To keep up with the fast-paced demand for food, the menu offers a few options, with two popular selections standing out: the quesadillas and the cheesy tacos. Figueroa said that these items sell out fast, but that they are also quick to make so the stand can keep up with gradually rising demand throughout the day.
Looking ahead, Hernandez said he is considering expanding his restaurants into other locations.
“I’m thinking about that right now. I might open a location in Fairfax or Inverness, or somewhere else in Marin County,” Hernandez said.
In the meantime, Figueroa looks forward to continuing to serve authentic, flavorful food to his local community.
