Tres Fuegos Cocina has gained popularity over the past year as part of San Diego County’s Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations permitting program. Known as MEHKOs for short, the program allows for a retail food facility to be operated in a private residence.
A year into offering curbside pickup and delivery services, Tres Fuegos Cocina is making preparations to introduce space on their residential property for on-site dining by reservation and private catering services.
Owner Diana Tapiz tells What Now San Diego that the MEHKOs program has allowed her and her family to get their feet wet over the past year and scale the business carefully to prepare for growth in the direction of a standalone restaurant.
“This is a great program for me and other businesses. We’re taking small steps toward building a restaurant eventually,” Tapiz shares. While the business operates 3 days a week, the program caps service at 90 meals a week, which has allowed Tapiz and her family to gain the necessary experience for operating a food business while still allowing them to travel and set their own hours. “For me, this is my best option at the moment, and when the brick-and-mortar opportunity arrives I’ll be better prepared.”
Fresh from the kitchen, Tres Fuegos Cocina serves traditional Mexican cuisine with a Birria twist. The menu features home-cooked, restaurant-quality food like enchiladas, Chile Relleno de Birria, Menudo, and their most popular offering is the Birria Ramen.
Tres Fuegos Cocina will soon introduce a reservation system to allow guests to order food to be enjoyed in their outdoor space overlooking a golf course in Chula Vista. Guests can choose from an all-you-can-eat menu or a la carte, with gourmet options like the Birria Ramen which made a name for their business. A website is in the works for catering requests for private parties, corporate lunches, and special events.
“I represented the MEHKOs movement gladly and loudly, and now through a year of working with the program, it has given me the confidence to keep scaling the business and offer catering services,” explains Tapiz.
Get to know Tres Fuegos Cocina and order directly from their Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation by following on Facebook and Instagram.
