By Anna-Claire Terry
Staff Reporter
El Taco Veloz, located on Fitzpatrick Avenue in the former Dairy Barn building opened on April 11, and according to owner Alberto Morales, business has been booming. “We have been busy since the day we opened,” he said.
Since Morales came to the U.S. from Mexico in 1997, it has been his dream to own a Mexican restaurant. He started out with a taco truck, selling lunch items to hungry college students on Auburn University’s campus.
El Taco Veloz is owned and operated by Morales, his wife Agapita and their three children. On any day of the week, the taco stand can be seen with a line wrapped all the way around the picnic tables and brightly colored umbrellas. What sets the restaurant apart from others of its kind is the focus is not just on serving great Mexican food, but emphasis is placed on making the food authentic. “I use my mom’s recipe for the tacos. My whole family always liked her recipe,” Morales said. “It’s a secret.” The menu is not limited to tacos. Morales is also serving up, nachos, tortas, quesadillas and burritos. “In the future, I would like to add even more authentic Mexican food to our menu, like empanadas and gorditas… We also want to serve an authentic Mexican soup on the weekends,” he said. He added that while he is eager to add to the menu, it will be a while because the current menu is a handful for him already. “I prepare everything,” Morales said.
Morales said the customer-favorite menu item is, of course, tacos. “People love tacos and eat a lot of them,” he said. chicken and beef tacos are 99 cents on Tuesdays, a special Morales refers to as “Taco Tuesday.” He said the people of Opelika have been friendly and supportive. “They want us to have a good business,” he said.
Future plans for El Taco Veloz include the possibility of a delivery service. Business hours are 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. seven days a week.