The Original La Taqueria

For years, transplanted Angelenos and San Franciscans arriving at JFK Airport have sought out 'real Mexican food' reminiscent of what they left behind.

Martin Medina, born and raised in California's San Joaquin Valley, found himself in a similar situation after moving to New York City in 1986. He craved the authentic dishes he grew up eating at his parents' restaurant, such as Adobada Marinated Pork, Carne Asada, Carnitas Michoacán, and Marinated Pollo, all wrapped in handmade corn and flour tortillas.

Unable to find those flavors Martin Medina at the age of 30 transformed a hot dog pushcart into an authentic California Mexican street-style stand, serving his childhood favorites—tacos and burritos. This marked the birth of The Original California La Taqueria, introducing authentic Mexican street food to the East Coast.