CARBONDALE – Southern Illinois has plenty of Mexican restaurants, but what do you do when you just want to grab food to take home? Try La Jarochita Mexican Grill.
Fidele Domingas stands in front of La Jarochita Mexican Grill 2, a food truck located on the northeast corner of Main and Wall streets in Carbondale.
Marilyn Halstead
The grill is two food trucks. La Jarochita 1 is located at 2301 Reed Station Road, on the northwest corner of the intersection of Reed Station Road and Illinois 13 in the parking lot of the Shell gas station.
La Jarochita 2 is located at 600 East Main St., on the northeast corner of the intersection of Main and Wall streets. It’s in the Main Street Liquors and Tobacco parking lot.
The company is run by Fidele Domingas. His partner is Consuelo Aguilar. He said he started the business for his family.
A customer orders Mexican food at La Jarochita Mexican Grill 1 at the corner of Reed Station Road and Illinois 13 in the Shell station parking lot.
Marilyn Halstead
“I needed something better for my kids and their future,” Domingas said.
He has four children, a 10-year-old boy, 8-year-old twins and a one-year-old boy. He laughed, asking if four children was too much.
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In 2020, he started cooking and delivering Mexican food from his home, using the family van for deliveries. He saved some money and has now opened two food trucks. Eventually, he would like to have a full restaurant.
La Jarochita Mexican Grill’s trio of tacos come with rice and beans.
Marilyn Halstead
Domingas loves working in the food truck because he meets people and serves them delicious food.
The food trucks are open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
La Jarochita Mexican Grill’s tacos can be made with a variety of toppings. This is just one of many dishes on their menu.
Marilyn Halstead
They have a variety of Mexican dishes, which include tacos, taco trio (a meal of tacos with rice and salad), quesadillas, taco salads, sopes, chimichanga, tostadas, huaraches and diablo shrimp. You can get rice, beans, fries, and guacamole on the side.
Domingas said his business has been a bit slower than last year, especially in Carbondale. They do a really good job with food and service.
Domingas will be part of the National Hispanic Month seminar “Unidos: Inclusiveness for a Stronger Nation” from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at the John A. Logan College Conference Center. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Jose Najar, Assistant Professor of History and Coordinator of the Minor Latina/o/x and Latin American Studies Faculty at SIUC. The topic will be Latina/o/x in the courts: fighting for inclusivity.
From 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a varied presentation by students and supporters will include dance, poetry, and arts and crafts. The title is Hispanic Progress is American Progress.
To order at La Jarochita 1, call 618-305-3611. To order at La Jarochita 2, call 618-519-0271. You can also mount and order. Both locations have picnic tables for waiting or eating.
