Anahuac rises on Solano

"She has her own house now, the whole American Dream, and it's just crazy from where she came from. Cooking has always been her passion, and it's just super nice to see where she's at now. When her parents went to work, she would always cook for everybody at home in Mexico."

"At the end of January, Pedroza and Rodriguez opened Anahuac, their second restaurant on Solano. Rodriguez and his sister, Esmeralda, manage the front of house together while their mom oversees both kitchens. Anahuac is located in Fonda's old address, a restaurant that was once part of the Krikorians' restaurant group."

"At Talavera, Rodriguez noticed that on special occasions such as Mother's Day, the taqueria didn't get a lot of traffic. But I understand people want to take their loved ones to a more upscale place. The more formal dining room was the main idea behind Anahuac, with dishes made to be eaten in-house."

Maricela Pedroza immigrated to the Bay Area in the late 2000s to pursue a career as a chef, beginning at La Mission before becoming general manager at Talavera Cocina Mexicana. Through dedication and hard work as a single mother, she purchased Talavera outright after a decade, achieving homeownership and financial independence. In January, Pedroza and her son Jose Rodriguez opened Anahuac, their second restaurant on Solano Avenue, located in the former Fonda space. Rodriguez and his sister Esmeralda manage front-of-house operations while their mother oversees both kitchens. Anahuac features a more formal dining atmosphere designed for special occasions, addressing a gap Rodriguez identified at Talavera where customers sought upscale venues for celebrations.

Read at East Bay Express | Oakland, Berkeley & Alameda