A lack of authentic Mexican food in Miami led a brother and sister duo to open a restaurant offering recipes from their mother’s home kitchen.
Isabel Flores, 23, and her brother Rudy, 30, opened Taco Time and More in Sweetwater after they saw how well they did selling their mother’s Mexican food around Miami neighborhoods.
“We just started selling out of the house and started doing deliveries,” said Rudy, who calls himself a full-time entrepreneur.
Taco Time and More brings authentic cuisine straight from home. Recipes passed down through generations now are the core of their business.
“We’ve changed the menu a little bit, but we’ve kept all the same recipes,” said Isabel, a pre-vet student at Florida International University. “They are the same main items that were always important and close to our heart.”
What started in 2020 as their mom selling Mexican pastry in their neighborhood led to Rudy urging his mom to quit her job to cook full-time.
A storefront property turned into a restaurant after a month of renovations with their families’ help.
“My mom knows how to set up a kitchen; she got the fridges, and all of the stuff to put it all together,” said Rudy.
The journey to their restaurant wasn’t without setbacks. Because the location was not chosen by them but by their mother, they ran into problems of not being able to get enough attention. Now they couldn’t think of a better location.
Located at 10314 West Flagler St., this restaurant attracts not only FIU students but Miami residents as well.
“Our food is not too expensive, and for a college student, it is a great option,” said Isabel.
Rudy takes pride in the fact that the ingredients are local, and it is something this restaurant hopes to continue.
“No way we can change because of the quality of ingredients, some of them are from Homestead,” said Rudy.
The restaurant not only brings authentic recipes, but it brings the rich culture of Mexico.
“I want to bring Mexico to Miami,” said Rudy.
From vibrant colors to the music, to the paintings on the wall, to even playing well-known Mexican shows, this duo not only wants to bring the authentic food to the city but also wants locals to feel the Mexican culture in every bite.
“We have El Chavo del 8 always or El Chapulin Colorado playing,” said Isabel.
Beyond the food, the siblings also hope to support local artists to perform inside the restaurant,
“Now we have a show here every month,” said Isabel. “Local Sweetwater or local Miami people come to enjoy a good show and some food with margaritas.”
