Early mornings and even late into the night, Araceli and her siblings would follow obediently behind their mother. Steps in unison and hands tightly gripping baskets filled with traditional Mexican food. The smell of tostadas, tacos, and tamales wafting through the streets of Cuautla, Jalisco, a lively town located in the hills of western Mexico.

For as long as Araceli could remember, her mother was seen working hard to support their family of 7. Her memories are filled with long days of selling traditional Mexican food to students, neighbors and anyone enamored by her mother’s cooking. Araceli fondly looks back at these times spent with her family. She remembers being a young girl in elementary school, with a distaste for numbers, yet being entrusted to collect the money made selling their homemade delicacies. “Try your best,” her mom would smile. Words of encouragement even when she came home with missing change and disappointment painted across her face.

Through trial and error, Araceli was able to preserve a fierce determination, once sparked by her mother and now maintained by the community around her. After years of living in the United States, Araceli chose to continue to build what her mother had instilled in her. With drive and a passion for sharing the most sacred parts of her culture, La Popular was created. Based in Beaverton, Oregon, La popular has grown to meet others where they're at. With whole ingredients, picked carefully to suit and accommodate a variety of taste buds and dietary restrictions, our food is ready to be enjoyed by all. 

 At its core, La Popular aims to offer community. We extend a hand and welcome you to experience authentic Mexican cuisine through quality-sustainable-fresh ingredients, from our local farmers. We hope you tag along on our journey, and continue to help us share and partake in our family tradition.