In 2000, my parents started Tacos La Monarca in Walla Walla, Washington. The name La Monarca, meaning monarch butterfly, emblazoned on all three of our food trucks, embodies a wealth of cultural and personal associations. 

The state of Michoacán where we come from in Mexico is known for the monarch butterfly. Our families live about 45 minutes from where they migrate every year. When people from the Hispanic culture see La Monarca they associate it with the state of Michoacán. So that’s how we chose the name La Monarca, because it represent our roots and where we come from.

Our menu includes savory flavors from our native state of Michoacán, such as mole rojo con conejo (braised rabbit in red mole sauce). Multiple taco choices including carnitas (braised pork, cactus salad and pickled vegetables), al pastor (marinated pork shoulder, pineapple tortilla, cilantro, pickled red onion and salsa verde), camaron (deep-fried shrimp, jicama tortilla, pico de gallo and tamarind salsa), and, vegetarian rajas (roasted poblano peppers, sautéed onions, crema and corn). 

Our family’s recipes depend on regular deliveries of fresh ingredients with a preference for locally sourced products.

Locally owned and operated, Wheatland Bakery delivers fresh bread for our tortas, a local business down the street from our Rose St. location provides freshly made tortillas multiple times a week. The different meats, including specialty items like cabeza (in this case, ox lips, an available choice for tacos and burritos), conejo and pork belly, all come from a Hispanic-owned meat provider in Yakima. 

After successfully completing the Culinary Arts Program offered here locally, I stepped in alongside my mom to help run the business and our fleet of taco trucks. Our goal is to carry on Tacos La Monarca’s legacy and continue to serve authentic Mexican dishes throughout the greater Walla Walla Valley while honoring our roots and where we’ve come from.

- Efrain Reyes