SAN DIEGO — CBS 8 is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
In this Zevely Zone, I met the proud owner of City Tacos, a taco-eating experience unlike any other. We visited City Tacos in Ocean Beach where customers enjoyed tacos while their dogs played in the restaurant's dog park.
Gerry Torres, the owner of City Tacos, built the dog park because he felt customers needed to be hands-free for all his food.
"We believe we have a taco for everyone," said Gerry.
Gerry adds a new taco to the menu every month. He said the Crunch Time Shrimp taco is probably his favorite on the menu.
"Every taco is different, every taco is delicious," said Gerry. Sometimes people love them so much they won't allow us to take them off the menu."
If you go online and search "Mexican food near me" or "tacos near me," City Tacos has you covered.
Customers can enjoy the flavors of Mexico at eight San Diego locations – OB Playground, Downtown East Village (adjacent to Petco Park), Encinitas (along the famous Hwy 101), La Mesa, North Park (the original), Ocean Beach (at the brand-new OB Playground), Pacific Beach (just steps from Crystal Pier), Sorrento Valley. City Tacos also has a Los Angeles location at the Village USC.
Gerry opened the first City Tacos in 2014 on a shoestring budget.
"My credit score was 300, it was laughable, it was horrendous," said Gerry.
But he was willing to work 16-hour days to make his Mexican-American dream come true.
As a child, he lived in Tijuana and crossed the border daily to go to high school.
"Yes. Every day," said Gerry.
Born in Mexico City, Jerry always knew he had the talent to make tacos so tasty customers would become giddy.
"Pescado taco, ha, ha, ha," laughed one customer after enjoying a bite.
Gerry now sells two million tacos a year.
"That's very excellent, muy excellente," said customer Tom Morgan. "These are the best tacos in the city, that's why they are named City Tacos."
As for the guy who once had the embarrassing credit score?
"City Tacos as a company does not owe anyone, not a single bank or anything like that," said Gerry.
City Tacos is now debt-free.
"Completely, the whole company is debt free," said Gerry. He pours the profits back into his employees.
Israel Montano was born in Mexico and started working at City Tacos as a cashier nine years ago. Gerry offered him part ownership in the company.
After starting as a cashier nine years ago, Gerry offered him part ownership in the company.
"It's been a blessing if you can say that, a father figure, also a friend who is always there for you," said Israel.
Speaking of fatherhood, Gerry's daughter Maria now works for City Tacos. When his son Hector recently graduated from college, he told his father the following.
"He's like, 'Dad I want to come work for you.' I was so thrilled, so humbled," said Gerry with tears rolling down his face. "Means the world, it means the world to me."
Gerry invites you to enjoy the ultimate destination for taco enthusiasts seeking an unforgettable dining experience.
He believes great tacos shouldn't break the bank. That's why he invites you to join him every Tuesday for their Taco Tuesday promotion: City Tacos offers 10% off all food, and to complement your taco feast, they offer ice-cold Mexican beers for just $2.50. For more information, click here.