Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 through October 15, serves as an annual tribute to the invaluable contributions made by the Hispanic community. At the Charles County Economic Development Department, we proudly celebrate Hispanic heritage, culture, and entrepreneurial resilience by acknowledging the achievements of Hispanic entrepreneurs and businesses within our community.
We looked to Western Charles County for this year’s Hispanic business feature—a fairly new, but popular, business that serves tacos with a twist.
Vanessa’s Sabor Latino opened in Bryans Road in April 2023 and already attracts a lunch crowd from the naval base in Indian Head and surrounding Western Charles County, as well as those outside the county willing to travel for home-cooked, fresh and flavorful Latino food. Open Tuesday-Saturday, the hefty burritos are a popular evening choice for customers who want to eat half for dinner and take the other half for lunch the next day. The tacos are also a best seller.
Most people think of tacos and burritos as Mexican food, but owner Vanessa Arreaga explains that her food really is not Mexican, but a unique blend of flavors influenced by her Salvadorean background. “I grew up with that Salvadorean taste,” says Vanessa, “and my husband is Mexican. Mexican food has a lot of spices and flavors, and all those flavors were a little too much for me. So, I brought it down to where I could eat it, and it doesn’t upset my stomach.” She also doesn’t use lard or fry anything, keeping it healthier. And, she uses a lot of garlic and onions. Vanessa adds, “It’s my spin on my food. That’s why I call it “My Latin Flavor” (that’s English for Vanessa’s Sabor Latino).
Vanessa moved to Bryans Road in 2019 and says she is happy to have her own business there. “My kids go to school here, and I believe in supporting the community. You invest in it, and it grows. That’s why I didn’t want to go anywhere else,” she says. She supports Lackey High School and the Bryans Road Fire Department. Because the shop is closed on Sunday and Monday, she often takes excess food on Saturday nights to the fire department for their enjoyment.
Looking back, Vanessa says, “I never thought I would ever open a restaurant or anything like that.” Her food was popular at pitch-ins with fellow soccer moms and swim moms, and people told her she needed to share it with the world. She also found herself traveling to Arlington or Alexandria, or even Manassas (where she grew up), to get Hispanic food. “I said, ‘Ok, Bryans Road has to have something.’ And, that’s where it all started,” Vanessa shares.
She loves the reactions of customers when they first taste her birria meats and barbacoa. (Those are both like a Mexican roast. Barbacoa is a shredded beef, and birria is similar with more spices.) These meats, as well as ground beef, make it into tacos or burritos, along with plenty of garlic and onions. Vanessa adds, “Even people who say they don’t like garlic, or they don’t like onions, when they taste the food, they’re like, ‘wow’”.
Good food attracts more customers, and the business has grown a lot by word of mouth. “People love it, and they tell their friends, and they tell their friends,” says Vanessa. “And they want something that’s fresh and home cooked.” Eating healthy is important to her, and she encourages customers to eat their vegetables.
Vanessa says, “The way I cook is the way I would feed my family, and a lot of people see that . They call me ‘Titi’ or ‘Aunty’, because they come here and feel like it’s a home-cooked meal.” Like a good Aunty, she also encourages her customers to try more vegetables. “People are saying that their tastebuds are changing,” she says. “I also have customers who are saying they never tried jalapenos or onions, or that fresh lettuce; they never liked veggies, but the way I fix them, they have changed their palette.”
Whether you’re a taco junkie or a steak and potatoes kind of person, now is the perfect time to wake up your taste buds during National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 to October 15. Visit Vanessa’s Sabor Latino and enjoy the flavor!
Hispanic Business Resources
For local Hispanic business owners, the Charles County Economic Development Department offers a variety of resources for business growth and support. Through initiatives such as the Charles County Small Local Business Enterprise Program (SLBE) and the Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprise Program (MWBE), we provide opportunities to participate in county contracts and other procurement opportunities. Additionally, the Maryland Small Business Development Center, Southern Region, located in La Plata, offers no-cost training and confidential business consultations. The Centro Hispano de Negocios also includes specialized support for business people seeking Spanish-language consultations or assistance, as well as counseling services on technology and commercializing strategies.
For more information on how the Charles County Economic Development Department supports underrepresented communities–including Minority-owned and Hispanic-owned businesses–click here.
