‘Amor a Tu Casa, Amor a La Comida’

By Francesca Abarca •

At least once a week, Ashlie Schasel, junior medical sonography major, and Mychela Jones, junior accounting major, enjoy “quality food” at Taco Love. Schasel, from New York, said that the friendly atmosphere makes her feel closer to home.

Jones agrees.

“Every time we walk in here, I instantly get a smile on my face knowing that the people that work here will also have a smile on their face,” she said and added that a sense of community and convenience is what keeps them coming back.

On June 15, 2022, Taco Love, known for its Latin-Asian fusion dishes,  opened its doors in the University Pointe apartment complex.

Aurora Tablada, an employee at Taco Love, described the restaurant as ”love for your house and love for your food.”

“The best way to describe [Taco Love] would be amor a tu casa, amor a la comida because of the atmosphere that is never short of that familial loving style you receive when you are at home, ” said Tablada, in Spanish.

The owner and his wife, Jesus Santana, from Puerto Rico, and Meiyi Santana, from Cambodia, had always wanted to be in the food business because of the praise they received from friends and family for the dishes Meiyi Santana would make.

“Every time we have family functions, everyone always requests Meiyi’s food because they can’t stop eating it,” Jesus Santana said.

Isabela Cifuentes is a resident of University Pointe.

“I live in this apartment complex, and on those days when I don’t feel like cooking, I like knowing that this is here and I will get great food and do not have to waste gas money going out to eat,” Cifuentes said.

Customers like Cifuentes praise the restaurant for its welcoming ambiance and good and quick customer service.

The restaurant decor establishes positive, cheerful vibes, that resembles typical Mexican culture. Most of the artwork includes signs and murals that are handmade and hand-drawn by South Florida artist Annie Nugget, a 2016 NSU alumna.

“One of [Annie’s] ideas for the restaurant was the swing seats to match the custom tables and benches, which really ties in the atmosphere of the place,” Jesus Santana said.

Tablada, one of the newest employees, has worked at the restaurant for seven months. She moved to the United States a year ago.

“I am from Nicaragua, and I love working here because it gives me a taste of home I never realized was missing,” Tablada said.

The restaurant’s staff prides itself on attention to detail for every customer that walks through the door.

“We are constantly making changes based on customers’ recommendations on what they’d like to see,” Tablada said. “For first-time customers, I start off by asking them what their likes are, something softer or something with a little more flavor to it.”

Taco Love emphasizes Latin culture, which serves as the inspiration for the menu.

Customers often return to the restaurant for the tacos and specialty dishes.

“Our most popular dish besides the tacos would be either the pork belly or the empanadas. Everything is made by hand and made in-house,” Meiyi Santana said.

The menu offers a wide variety of dishes, including some not typically found at other Mexican restaurants, like Korean Fried Chicken or Jackfruit Asada Bowl. The menu offers 16 different types of tacos including birria and mahi mahi. The restaurant also serves burritos, bowls, quesadillas and desserts.

“I love coming back here to consistently see the same flavors, atmosphere and food that I love eating. This place never misses since there is always so much good flavor,” Jones said.