The backstory
When Michael and Aracelia Nambo opened Los Reyes in 2006, neither of them had experience running a restaurant.
Michael moved to the United States from Mexico when he was 16, and had to put his education on hold so he could support his family. He worked in his uncle’s restaurant, and it was there that he learned how to operate a business from the ground up.
“Growing up in the restaurant industry, I was able to wear different hats from the beginning,” Michael said. “I was never afraid to wash dishes, bus tables, serve, cook. I got pretty good at absorbing information.”
He and Aracelia met in her hometown of Victoria and decided to relocate to Cedar Park to open their business. In that time, they’ve seen a lot of changes and got to know the city.
“Our kids grew up here, they all went to high school here,” Aracelia said. “We’ve grown along with the Cedar Park community.”
The family kept the business running through some challenging times, from the COVID pandemic to the severe ice storms and power outages that struck the Austin area in the early 2020s. Aracelia said they were able to keep going thanks to the community.
“Most of our customers are regulars and they’re very supportive,” Aracelia said. “Even during COVID, we stayed open.”
Michael runs much of the day-to-day operations of the business, and he has a hand in most everything, from cooking and planning the menu to performing repairs. He even does upkeep for some of the neighboring businesses that occupy the same strip mall along Bell Blvd.
Aracelia splits her time between the restaurant and a part-time job as a receptionist at Cedar Park Regional Medical Center. She also stays busy as an ambassador for the Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce.
What they offer
Los Reyes has a wide variety of food and drinks. In addition to Mexican staples like enchiladas, tacos, fajitas, carnitas and chilaquiles, the restaurant has a robust breakfast menu, with classic Tex-Mex flavors like migas, carne guisadas and huevos rancheros. They even offer American classics, everything from cheeseburgers to pancakes.
“I always say, if you don’t find something you like here, you’re just not hungry,” Aracelia said.
The Nambos prepare almost all of their dishes from scratch and try to keep the menu options healthy, with no added preservatives. The restaurant also features a full bar with a selection of margaritas, mimosas, beer and wine.
What else?
Aracaelia says the thing that makes Los Reyes stand out is their connection with their customers.
“A lot of our customers are not just customers, they’re friends,” she said. “We grew up in this community and we genuinely care about the people here.”
251 N Bell Blvd, Ste 111B, Cedar Park
