DUNDEE – When many restaurants were forced to close their doors due to COVID-19, Miguel Angel of Monroe opened a food truck and introduced authentic Mexican food to Monroe County.

“In June 2019, I had the opportunity to buy a food truck and we did a lot of traveling around the Monroe County area. We also traveled to Washtenaw County and Pontiac where we could do events,” Miguel Angel said. “At the time, many of the restaurants were closed and we were doing a lot of subdivisions. Bringing the food to the people.”

Angel grew up working in his father’s business.

“My father owned a well-known restaurant in Detroit for about 25 years, so I was born and raised in the restaurant industry,” he said. “I started working when I was 8 helping my father with catering.”

In 2005, Angel left the food business and attended Wayne State University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in management. He worked for Verizon Wireless before returning to the food industry four years ago.

After a year of traveling with his food truck, in June 2020 he opened Cilantro, 388 E. Monroe St. in Dundee. The location was a restaurant that closed due to the pandemic, and Angel hired some of the former employees.

The name of the restaurant pays homage to Angel’s grandfather.

“When I was 16 years old, I moved to Mexico and that’s where I learned Spanish. I got a job as a taco boy making tacos. One day, this guy walks in and he says, “’Are you Cilantro?’ and I told him, ‘No,’ because I didn’t know what that meant,” he said. “I went home and asked my grandmother, and she told me my grandfather’s nickname was ‘Cilantro.’”

Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Angel and his staff prepare and serve Mexican food using the same recipes his father used. All meals are served with rice and beans.

“The food we serve is pretty much identical to the food he served at his restaurant. We use all of his recipes,” he said. “Our Mexican sandwich is a favorite with our customers. It’s a layer of beans, a layer of rice, a layer of meat, cheese and salsa sandwiched between tortillas. We also sell a lot of our Trio Fajitas, beef, chicken and shrimp grilled with onions and peppers. And, for breakfast, our huevos (eggs) and chorizo served with rice, beans and tortillas,” he said. “We continue to offer and serve breakfast items that were offered by the previous owners.”

Menu items include both Mexican and American dishes.

Angel suggests first-time diners try the queso, a white cheese, while enjoying the complimentary basket of chips and homemade salsa.

“I would also recommend trying the Trio Fajitas. It’s an amazing plate and, to finish it off, a strawberry margarita on the rocks,” he said.

In addition to serving food, Cilantro features a full-service bar.

The eatery offers desserts like churros, cheesecake chimichangas and Mexican deep fried ice cream.

“Our busiest time of day is lunchtime, but we’re looking to offer more in the evening like adding live music and possibly mariachis on Sundays,” Angel said.

“Our staff is amazing. There’s a great energy and that’s huge in the service industry,” he said. “The energy is upbeat and our staff is friendly. From the line cook in the back to the waitress, customer service is important. I’m really hands on with my business. I believe in old-school customer service. I work in the kitchen two times a week and I also work the bar two times a week. It keeps me in the loop with my employees.”

Angel continues to offer food truck catering and recently opened a banquet hall next to the restaurant. The additional space can be used for private parties and events and will seat up to 70 people.

Future goals for the 38-year-old businessman include continuing to work on the Dundee barn he purchased in 2017. He plans to turn it into a venue for weddings and private events.

“The pride I take in what I do is an advantage to owning my own business,” he said. “It allows me to be creative and it allows me to give back directly to my employees and the community. This has been a dream since I was 8 years old. I’ve put the time and work into creating that American dream.”

Cilantro

Owner: Miguel Angel of Monroe

Address: 388 E. Monroe St. in Dundee

Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday

Services: Authentic Mexican and American food and full-service bar. Banquet room available for private parties and events.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cilantrodundee

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Cilantro in Dundee dishes up authentic Mexican cuisine