By Morgan Bryce
Associate Editor
An authentic taste of Mexican cuisine and culture will be offered to customers at Opelika’s newest restaurant, El Rodeo.
Owned and operated by Opelika resident Roberto Cordova, the business’s grand opening will be held in late August. The restaurant is located in the former home of Tyler’s and Granny Southern Cooking at 814 Geneva St.
“We’re trying to do something different than (regular) Mexican food … it’ll be homemade, authentic food that you’d find in parts of central Mexico,” Cordova said.
Originally from Mexico, Cordova said his mother Marta ran her own restaurant, experiences that would prove valuable later in life.
In 2003, Cordova emigrated from Mexico to the United States, settling in the Opelika-Auburn area.
Working mostly in chain restaurants across the area, Cordova said his years of restaurant experience and dream of owning his business is being realized through El Rodeo’s opening.
“I came from Mexico with this idea, and after seeing my mother do what she did with a restaurant, I told myself, ‘I want to do something when I get to the U.S.A.’ “I came to pursue my own American dream,” Cordova said.
Besides owning his own restaurant, Cordova said he believes his restaurant’s offerings will tap into a growing community with a desire to branch out its culinary palette.
“Every day, you see more and more traffic pass through. This city’s growing bit by bit each day,” Cordova said. “I want this community to learn more about Hispanic food … how we make our tortillas and other (items) and what it’s all about.”
The business’s hours are 10:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. Monday – Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information or updates, call 334-737-5727.