Three Taquerias: A Celebration of Flavor and Community
Few things connect a community more than a shared love of good food—and we’re shining a spotlight on three clients across our footprint who bring authentic flavor and a family vibe to the table: Yaya’s Taco Shop, Tacos El Rey and Muchas Gracias Mexican Food.
Starting off the tasty trio, Yaya’s Taco Shop, a Corning, Calif., favorite opened in 2020 by Rosie Flores and her daughter, Mariah. At Yaya’s, all of the menu items are made from scratch. From traditional specialties like Quesabirria, a spicy marinated beef stew, to modern offerings with a pop cultural twist, like their XXTRA Flamin’ Hot Cheetos® Burrito, the offerings are always inspired.
Rosie and Mariah find menu ideas wherever they go, particularly on trips to Southern and Northern California, where the search for the perfect taqueria is a popular pastime—with strong opinions on who does it best.
“We brought some of our own recipes, like for the Quesabirria, but other dishes are inspired by our travels,” she said. “If we find something we like, we tweak it to make it our own.” This spirit of infusing the menu with flavors that are a little unexpected has helped business boom.
While their most popular menu item is $1 tacos every Tuesday, customers also appreciate options like the Keto Taco, which replaces a corn tortilla shell with a lower-carb cheese or lettuce version.
Community giving is also part of Yaya’s recipe for success—they frequently host fundraisers at local schools to support student programs.
Where to find them:
615 4th St Corning, Calif.
Along with Yaya’s, our team members shared two other taquerias loved by locals in Washington, Oregon and Idaho:
Tacos El Rey
Founded in Yakima, Wash., Tacos El Rey is a family-owned business started in 1988 by the late Mario Lopez, who initially brought his dream of offering authentic Mexican food to Yakima as a taco truck. Over the years, the business grew, and today his brothers and family carry Mario’s entrepreneurial vision forward with 10 locations throughout Washington and Idaho.
Their menu spans popular items like tacos with homemade tortillas to a traditional Mexican torta prepared with choice of protein, from carne asada to carnitas and camarones. This local favorite is known for letting their delicious main dishes take center stage.
Where to find them:
Locations across Washington and Idaho
Muchas Gracias Mexican Food
In 1996, Rodolfo Sanchez De La Torre opened Muchas Gracias Mexican Food in Grants Pass, Ore., to bring Mexican food made with fresh, local ingredients to his customers. Today, the popular restaurant has grown to more than 30 locations throughout Oregon, Washington and California, and remains committed to hands-on quality, with homemade tortillas and salsas crafted from local produce. From breakfast burritos to posole, Muchas Gracias keeps its communities well-fed.
