Today we’d like to introduce you to Iris Rosado.
Hi Iris, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
El Tripletanga started in 2022 with a dream, a passion for Puerto Rican food, and a small kitchen at home. As partners in life and business, we wanted to share the authentic flavors we grew up with and create something that represented our culture. We began by selling homemade Puerto Rican dishes to family, friends, and our local community, one order at a time.
The name “El Tripletanga” was born by combining two things that started it all for us: tripletas and fritanga. It represents our roots and our love for Puerto Rican street food and traditional cuisine.
Every step forward came from hard work, faith, and the support of our customers. What started as a home-based business has grown into our own restaurant in Houston, where we continue serving authentic Puerto Rican food made fresh with the same recipes, passion, and love that built our reputation from day one.
We’re still growing, still learning, and still chasing the same dream—to make El Tripletanga a place where every customer feels at home and experiences the warmth, hospitality, and flavors of Puerto Rico.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not. Like many small businesses, we’ve faced financial challenges, long hours, and countless sacrifices. We left the security of traditional jobs to pursue our dream, often working seven days a week and wearing every hat imaginable—from cooking and cleaning to marketing and customer service.
There have been moments when things didn’t go as planned, but every challenge taught us something valuable. Instead of giving up, we adapted, listened to our customers, improved our processes, and kept moving forward.
One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is that success isn’t built overnight. It’s built through consistency, resilience, and a genuine love for what you do. Looking back, every obstacle has made us stronger and has helped shape El Tripletanga into the business it is today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about El Tripletanga ?
El Tripletanga is more than a Puerto Rican restaurant it’s a celebration of our culture. We specialize in authentic Puerto Rican cuisine, including homemade lunch specials, tripletas, mofongo, frituras, chuleta kankan, and traditional dishes that remind people of home. Everything is made fresh and with the same care we would put into a meal for our own family.
Beyond the food, we’re passionate about building community. We regularly host events, support local small businesses by inviting vendors to our restaurant, and create a welcoming space where everyone whether Puerto Rican or not can experience our culture through food.
What sets us apart is our authenticity and personal connection with our customers. We’re a family-owned business, and we’re involved in every part of the operation. Our customers know us by name, and we know many of them by theirs. That personal relationship, combined with consistent quality and genuine hospitality, is something we never want to lose as we grow.
Brand-wise, we’re most proud that El Tripletanga has become a name people associate with authenticity, family, and Puerto Rican pride. We want readers to know that when they visit us, they’re not just coming for a meal they’re experiencing a little piece of Puerto Rico right here in Houston.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to us is staying true to who we are. That means never compromising the quality of our food, treating every customer like family, and honoring the traditions and culture that inspired us to start El Tripletanga.
Success isn’t measured only by sales or growth. It’s measured by the memories we help create, the customers who return with their families, and the pride we feel every time someone tells us our food reminds them of home. If we can continue making that kind of impact while representing Puerto Rico with authenticity and heart, then we’re accomplishing exactly what we set out to do.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/el_tripletanga_de_lee
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eltripletanga
