After the Occidental Marketplace closes its doors for the day — as early as 2 p.m. on Saturdays — some students look off campus for dining options, including one of the eight taco trucks that lie within a mile of Occidental’s campus. Alex Mincone (first year) said he would choose to eat at a taco truck over the Marketplace and that he always goes to the trucks with his friends.
“It’s easier to be walking with friends and spontaneously get a taco than it would be to sit down somewhere,” Mincone said.
Paloma Benach (junior) said small businesses like the taco trucks are useful for college students in particular.
“It’s a big deal,” Benach said. “It’s simple, easy, accessible and really good quality food.”
Radhika Patel (junior) said she gets more fun out of a visit to a place like Charlie’s Tacos than other dining options.
“You get to walk there and back,” Patel said. “It’s more of an experience than just going to a restaurant and grabbing takeout.”
Ruby Robertson (first year) said that from her perspective, small businesses have a homey feel to them.
“I think food trucks are fun because they’re kind of novel and casual, and it’s also pretty affordable for a college meal that you can go and get with your friends, versus a restaurant,” Robertson said.
Patel said taco trucks expand her access to quality vegetarian food. She said she likes a good potato taco.
“The smaller businesses are able to offer more authentic vegetarian options versus the more simple bean and cheese option that I usually get at big chains,” Patel said.
Mincone said he supports small businesses whenever he can.
“It feels better knowing where what you’re eating and what you’re wearing is coming from,” Mincone said.
Benach said she values supporting the small food businesses in the Highland Park area in her day-to-day life.
“It’s better than going to different corporate organizations just to keep feeding massive millionaires,” Benach said. “You’re helping the people in your neighborhood and the people in your community that want to build up their business.”
LA Tacos & Kabobs co-owner Juan Gonzalez said he is aiming to hire more employees to expand their fully family-owned business.
“My dad’s been bringing in special tacos here and there, we have my mom’s rice and any other little thing we feel like we could add,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said he started his business in Highland Park and has developed it here since.
“I’m very proud of running a business in the same neighborhood that I was brought up in,” Gonzalez said. “The ‘LA’ in our name — that’s really what it means. I feel like I’m representing LA.”
Mincone said he felt well taken care of at Charlie’s Tacos.
“[The man at the counter] was very kind. I remember he paid a lot of personal attention, as well as just normal customer service interaction,” Mincone said. “I give him five stars, he was amazing.”
According to Renee Guzman, a cashier at Charlie’s Tacos, the business does not just give back to students, but also the wider Highland Park community.
“[Charlie’s Tacos has] given [food] to the local elementary school, and then he’s also worked with some other schools in the community as well, and then on holidays, he would tend to give out free tacos as well,” Guzman said.
Benach said that Angel’s Tacos is her favorite of the trucks.
“I get a burrito, usually,” Benach said. “Something about watching them take the pork off the giant rack, I really enjoy that.”
Contact Toby Wepman wepman@oxy.edu
