Today we’d like to introduce you to Orlando Hernandez of TACORLANDO.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was working in HVAC and thinking of starting my own business before the pandemic hit hard. When restaurants shut down, and more people were working from home, Houston’s bike scene was growing rapidly. Most bike crews will find a place to stop during the ride so they can socialize and grab a bite to eat. So, through some friends, I started serving tacos to groups of bike riders in my East End neighborhood. Before I knew it, there was a ride almost every week bringing 50+ riders to the front of my house to buy my tacos. That’s when I knew I should start TACORLANDO [with my partner, Renee Crago] to serve more of the Houston community. Fast forward two years later and TACORLANDO has a full menu including quesadillas, nachos, and a bolillo as well as the tacos, all of which have their own unique taste. We are booked at markets/events/bars around east end, downtown, midtown, Montrose, the heights, and more surrounding neighborhoods 5 days out of the week. TACORLANDO is also available for private catering in and all around Houston. And as we continue to grow, so does our menu and loyal customer base.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting any small business contains its struggles, and it’s never smooth until you’ve worked out all the kinks. We’ve struggled with obtaining new venues and gaining new customers. We’ve grown mostly by word of mouth to this point, but especially during a pandemic, it was tough. There will probably always be some bumps in the road, but I think the key is to keep constantly improving.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Houston is a saturated taco market, so I had to separate myself from other taco vendors by creating something different. We make a taco that’s unlike anything else, using original recipes, only the freshest ingredients and handmade crema, salsas, pico de gallo, etc… The meats we serve are all slowly roasted to be perfectly juicy and full of our signature flavors. Our customers tell us we make the best quesadillas, best tacos, and best nachos that they’ve ever had. Without this, we would not be where we are. Our flavors are what sets us apart.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Consistency. We put out the same delicious taco week after week. We provide the kind of food people crave, and they’re so satisfied when they get it because it hits the same spot it hit the first time, and every time. That’s why we are able to attract regular customers even though we are constantly popping up at different locations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/tacorlando
- Instagram: @TACORLANDO
- Facebook: facebook.com/tacorlando
Image Credits
Renee
Miguel
