Taqueria La Vecindad will roll back into Taco Fest on Saturday, Sept. 14 at Henry Maier Festival Park. 

Francisco Ortiz owns and operates two Taqueria La Vecindad taco trucks with his family. Their usual spots are on 60th and Oklahoma Street as well as at various festivals, farmers markets and food truck events.

OnMilwaukee: Why did you choose to open your own taco truck?

Francisco Ortiz: I worked for a kitchen for a couple of different companies for a couple of years and I worked hard. Me and my wife worked for different companies; my wife worked in Chinese restaurants and I worked for a couple of good restaurants Downtown. We decided to make our own business because we worked hard and got good pay, but we worked for other people and didn’t have a lot of free time. So, we decided to start our business for our family.

We started with one truck like eight years ago – I was still working but my wife quit her job. It started with my cousin, niece and pretty much the whole family working together. Then we started little by little. After one year, I decided to quit my job and focus on my own business. After seven years, I’ve been working with my whole family here, and we have almost three trucks. The business has done good, and I’m excited! 

Are you excited for Taco Fest?

I think Taco Fest is really good, and I’m excited for it! I learned a lot because I see more people and I love it. 

What are you going to serve during Taco Fest?

We will have barbacoa and birria. My wife makes it and preps everything. The pastor recipe is from a cousin who is a taquero in Mexico City, and he gave me the recipe to make the pastor here. 

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Which menu item is the most popular? 

The steak pastor – people like steak! It’s probably because of the seasoning we put on it – we put on a special seasoning. We make it with love, and when you do that, it’s good.