Dos Potrillos food truck brings authentic taste of Mexico to Aiken

Mar. 27—As the fresh aroma of Mexican food wafts through the air, a long line of customers wait at Dos Potrillos Mexican Food Truck.

Aiken couple Mike and Michelle Cook have already eaten their lunch.

The Cooks and their 11-year-old son typically get chicken tacos and pineapple water with their 11-year old son.

The family are regulars.

"We were here yesterday, so three times a week is not out of the ordinary," Mike Cook said.

The Cooks aren't the only ones craving the authentic Mexican food sold at Dos Potrillos.

Located in the parking lot across from the Chick-fil-A on Whiskey Road, Dos Potrillos , has spent the last year catering to the taste buds of Aiken residents. After being closed for a few months due to family issues, the family-run food truck reopened March 13.

"We are really glad to come back," Dos Potrillos co-owner Silvia Garibay aid. "It was crazy last week."

The food truck offers grab-and-go options, but also has tables available under a tent for customers not in a rush.

Mexican favorites like tacos, burritos and quesadillas, with vegetarian and vegan options, are all made fresh daily. Toppings are also made fresh and include salsa, jalapeños, cilantro, hot sauce and guacamole.

The family-owned business was founded by Garibay, her husband and her two sons. The name Dos Potrillos means two young colts horses.

The food truck is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday.

"I couldn't handle not having them being open," Michelle Cook said.

Originally from the San Francisco Bay area, the Garibay family moved to Aiken in 2007 for of its slower pace and reputation for being family oriented.

Garibay said the idea of owning a food truck started when they lived in California, but they couldn't get one until they moved to South Carolina.

"It was something like a dream we always wanted to do," Garibay's son, Salvador Guerra said.

Guerra said one thing he and his family miss about California are food and food trucks.

"When we come over here we don't really see anything that is authentic 100% Mexican food," Garibay said. "It's like homemade food and some people call it grandma food."

Tacos, burritos and more

"We do everything and it is fresh," she said

Garibay said a typical day starts with the family preparing and cooking food, and getting set up for a busy lunch period.

As Guerra takes the orders, his mother and father usually take about 2 minutes to make each order.

Garibay said if there is delay, it's worth it.

One loyal customer Maria Bush drives from New Ellenton to have her lunch at the truck. She gets the steak quesadilla each time.

"I've been missing them because they haven't been around for a little bit," Bush said. "I miss them, I love them and I always get the steak quesadilla."

Getting her food in under 10 minutes, Bush was please with her meal.

"The food is fresh, tasty and very consistent," Bush said. "Every time it tastes the same, I recommended it."'

The Cooks said in addition to the affordability and food quality, they are getting what they are paying for.

"The tacos are so stuffed with so much chicken, so much cheese, that after you are done with the tacos, you literally still have a plate full of meat and cheese after you eat the taco," Mike Cook said.

Hannah Cartin brought her friend Madison Wooten; it was Wooten's first time eating at Dos Potrillos. Wooten got tacos, while Cartin had a quesadilla.

"I told her it is like real Mexican food, and it's better than Taco Bell," Cartin said. "We wanted tacos, but I was like no this is better."

After lunch, Garibay goes home to prepare food for the next day, while the family handles orders.

At the end of the day, there is some family time before they are back to the same routine, she said.

Garibay and Guerra said they have met people from Mexico who said their food tastes like home.

"This taste just like home," Guerra said. "It is something that reminds me of my childhood and brings me right back to where I can from."

The family said customers from Columbia, North Augusta and Augusta come to experience the food they serve.

Garibay said her favorite dish is the burrito because it has everything.

"It's really loaded and it has a lot of flavor on top of that," she said.

Her son also likes burritos.

"I am a burrito type of guy," Guerra said. "It's a big bundle of joy."

Many customers ask the family if they going to open another truck in Augusta or North Augusta, but that isn't the plan right now.

In the long-term, the family wants to open a restaurant while operating the food truck.

Garibay and Guerra said the success of the food truck wouldn't have been made possible without the community's support.

"For now this is what we have and we will enjoy it," she said.

For more information, call 803-770-9043 or visit orderdospotrillosmexicanfoodtruck.com to place an online order.