March 18, 2024

El Loco’s Tacos opens food truck eatery

Locals driving on First Avenue may have noticed a new food truck the past couple weeks in the parking lot of the Pit Stop Liquors store.

El Loco’s Tacos, owned and operated by Alex “Loco” Lopez, serves authentic Mexican dishes from his mobile restaurant.

“We used to make tacos in Mexico so it’s like a family tradition, my brothers and my uncles, they own restaurant chains in San Antonio,” Lopez said. “We like to make the real authentic Mexican tacos.”

Born and raised in California with family still in Mexico, Lopez now calls Newton home with his family. He originally started his truck in Ottumwa with a lot of success. After getting the opportunity to open his truck in Newton, Lopez no longer has to make the drive to Ottumwa and can work closer to home.

“Since we opened the first day, it was so busy ... I can stay here, people are friendly here, they are nice. Sometimes they don’t know what they are eating, but I hope they come here and try,” Lopez said.

Lopez started cooking at an early age, learning from family and creating his own dishes.
"We had been following my grandma and aunts, seeing what they are making. I have been cooking since I was a kid, I was curious smelling the food and mixing ingredients," Lopez said. "I try to have different meals that a lot of people haven't tried. Right now, I started selling tacos ... with like pineapple, pork and seasonings." He said his food is on the spicier side but that "the good Mexican food is spicy."

Lopez makes all of his own tortillas and everything is prepared from scratch with no pre-made ingredients.

“Everything is a family tradition, family recipes. I have been following the recipes for years,” Lopez said.

“If the customers, they have something that they really want, I am able to hear them whatever they want. To me every customer has the right to get what they want.” Lopez said.

Looking toward the future, if the truck continues to be successful they hope to open a Taqueria, which is a specialty Mexican eatery.

Contact Staff Writer Jamee A. Pierson at (641) 792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com