Taqueria Arandas is a chain of Mexican restaurants in Greater Houston, Texas. The first location opened in Houston's Northside in 1981. The corporate headquarters is located in Houston.[1]
As of March 2014 the Taqueria Arandas chain makes $40 million per year. As of that month the chain has 44 taquerias, three Arandas Bakery, and one Ostionerias Arandas seafood restaurants.[2]
The menus show images of a church from his hometown in Mexico, and every restaurant has a photograph of Jesus Christ. These aspects reflect the religiousness of the founder.[2]
Jose Camarena was born in the outskirts of Jesús María in the Los Altos region of Jalisco, Mexico.[3] Camarena started a taqueria chain shortly after arriving in Houston in 1980. He had lived in Chicago for two prior years, learning about the operations of Mexican restaurants. According to Camarena, he used $5,000 to buy a taco truck and start his own business in Houston.[2] He started a fast food Mexican restaurant because Houston had very few of them at the time.[4] He had pawned most of his belongings so he could start the restaurant.[2]
The first Taqueria Arandas restaurant was on Irvington Boulevard. Judy Camarena, the second daughter of Jose Camarena, stated that the owners did not give much thought or time in making a unified approach to all restaurants because the chain "grew so fast".[5] The first bakery opened on Airline Drive in 1991. The first seafood restaurants followed.[2]
In 2004 Jose gave the management of the restaurants to Judy so he could concentrate in his other interests. In 2006 the chain was worth $42 million and had 36 taquerias, four bakeries, and two seafood restaurants. That year, both father and daughter lived in the same house in Memorial.[5]
Jose Camarena died in March 2014.[2]