Today we’d like to introduce you to Jose Bañuelos.
Hi Jose, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As a naturalized citizen originally from Mexico, I always dreamed about opening my own restaurant. I was raised in a family that loved cooking and eating traditional Zacatecas-style Mexican food. My passion for cooking came from helping, watching, and learning from my mother and grandmother. When I first started in the restaurant industry, I worked as a prep cook for Marie Calendars. I eventually became a cook, then an assistant manager, and later a general manager. I took a short break from the restaurant industry and then came back as an assistant manager for Mimi’s Cafe. There I became a general manager and then a managing partner. After 30 years of working for corporations, I decided to open my own restaurant, Urbano Mexican Kitchen. Urbano is located in Pasadena, California and we are known for our traditional homemade Mexican dishes created with high-quality ingredients. I strive to create fresh Mexican food and to provide an unforgettable dining experience.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Opening my own restaurant has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my entire life. I like to make people happy and create a community through Urbano where people can gather and have a good time. I feel very lucky to be located in Pasadena and despite the challenges of the pandemic, I’m hopeful about the future. My passion is to make fresh Mexican food and provide my guests with a great selection of wine and beer for everyone to enjoy.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Urbano Mexican Kitchen?
Urbano Mexican Kitchen in Pasadena is a family-owned and operated restaurant that fuses traditional and contemporary Mexican cuisine.
Our flavors have evolved from the ranches of Zacatecas, Mexico, to the beaches of Baja and now to the streets of Pasadena.
We focus on making each guest feel like family. With our open-concept kitchen, we invite each guest to see our team at work. We use only the freshest and highest quality ingredients in our recipes. Our corn tortillas are made fresh daily and all our sauces and salsas are made in-house.
We are passionate about providing our guests with fresh food, great craft beer and an incredible selection of wine. We are extremely grateful to continue to serve the Pasadena community.
Any big plans?
At Urbano Mexican Kitchen, we look forward to always providing an outstanding dining experience with the highest quality ingredients and freshest Mexican food. We take pride in our food and drinks and are excited to debut new wines from two local central coast wineries: Hearst Ranch Winery and Sculpterra Winery.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://urbanomexicankitchen.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urbanomexicankitchen/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urbanomexicankitchen
