By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer 

PELHAM— There is a small town inside the city of Guadalajara, Mexico called Garibaldi. This colorful place is filled with Mariachi bands, high-spirited dancing and good food. From that little town, Bertha and Moises Heredia picked the name for their new restaurant in Pelham.

Taqueria Garibaldi opened in May at 3550 Pelham Parkway and has been serving up authentic Mexican food ever since. While they still offer options such as chimichangas, taco salads and fajitas, the menu includes dishes such as Mexican tacos with cow tongue or tripe, tamales and Mojarra (whole fish).

“The restaurant is going very well. God is good,” Bertha Heredia said. “The people love it. They leave with a smile and I like it because that means they love it. They say it’s the best Mexican they’ve tried.”

Business picked up even more since Taqueria Garibaldi received its liquor license at the July 20 Pelham City Council meeting. The restaurant mixes Texas and flavored margaritas such as mango, sangria lime and strawberry, along with serving wine and beer.

Heredia used to work with her sister, Rosie, at Cozumel Grill in Pelham. She was there for 13 years when she decided to branch out and open her own place.

It started as an idea for a taco truck when the Heredias saw their current space was available. Wing King formerly occupied the location and was only gone for about a week before the Heredias seized the opportunity.

“I was working in another place for so long and we decided to do something for me, my kids and my husband,” Heredia said. “We saw this little place and I said, ‘Wow, let’s try.’”

It was never really a dream of Heredia’s to own her own restaurant, she said, but now that she has one, she couldn’t be happier. She said she loves what she does and interacting with customers.

“Working with the customers (is my favorite part) because they are always smiling at me and saying, ‘Miss Bertha, Miss Bertha,’” Heredia said. “That’s great. I love what I do, coming in and saying hello to my friends and my custumers. I know about 90 percent of the people who come through.”

That’s because four months ago, Heredia was working the restaurant by herself. She was cleaning tables, serving chips and salsa and waiting on customers on her own, but the influx of customers allowed her to hire two additional waitresses and three more cooks.

Her kids also help out while they aren’t in school. Heredia and her husband have two children, a 21-year-old daughter and a 16-year-old son.

She isn’t sure what the future holds for Taqueria Garibaldi, but she would like to expand or open another restaurant in the future. For now, she said she’s happy to continue working and living in Pelham.

“We’ve been working so hard believe me,” Heredia said. “Four months ago, this place was empty and I was so sad, but now I am very happy.”