When Gustavo Erostegui opened Los Amigos in 1980, there was only one other restaurant in the Del Ray area. Erostegui said that there wasn’t much in the area — he recalls a funeral home down the street and a church on the corner. The laundromat is one of the few businesses that remain from that time.
Twenty-five years later, the area is bustling with both eating and retail establishments. Yet Los Amigos remains a mainstay on the Avenue, easily recognizable with its colorful storefront.
“It’s unbelievable — time flies,” Erostegui said. “We’ve had the chance to see a lot of changes in the area. Now you see plenty of restaurants; plenty of businesses.”
Los Amigos has been there so long that Erostegui said that customers who used to come to eat as little children are grown; they are now parents themselves and come in with their own little children — three generations of customers.
Shannon Mitchell enjoys bringing her three children to Los Amigos.
“They love it — we live nearby and love to walk and come to eat here,” Mitchell said. “They’re very kid-friendly.”
Erostegui attributes his success to the fact that he has kept things the same. “Mainly, it’s the consistency of the food. After 25 years, 60 percent of the menu has stayed the same — people like that.”
Customers like the familiar items so much that if Erostegui changes too much, they complain. He does like to experiment with new dishes, and is using more vegetables in his spring menu. He especially likes the new asparagus enchilada.
AFTER WORKING 20 YEARS for Erostegui as a waitress, Anda Alipio Also has tried just about every dish, and has waited on just about every customer.
“I really like to work here. My boss is nice to me, and I never work anywhere else,” said Alipio, whose daughter is now working there as well. She also thinks the chimichanga is quite good.
Alipio has been with Erostegui the longest of all his employees and he knows that if he and his wife, Isabel, want to take vacation time that the restaurant is in good hands. The original chef, Berta Ortiz, died awhile ago. Erostegui is at the restaurant seven days a week, and while he doesn’t do the cooking, but supervises the process, he says that he is always trying to improve.
His wife helps out preparing menus and other printed items on the computer at home. Their children, Juan Carlos and Gypsy Anna, have other careers, but help out with public relations and might take over the business when Erostegui is ready.
Erostegui said that one of the favorite dishes is the fajitas; Chile releno is popular as well.
Erostegui had opened another branch on King Street several years ago, but while it did well in the summer, it did not sustain the business during the winter months.
He doesn’t have that problem at his Del Ray location; he said that 80 percent of his customers are from the neighborhood. Like the Mitchells, they come in week after week.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary, Erostegui is offering the original lunch menu during the month of May; the most expensive item, “El Villa” — soft beef taco, chalupa and Tamal is $3.15. They are also doing daily giveaways — sombreros Mexicanos, commemorative t-shirts, gift certificates, and Silvio Solis’ CDs. On Sundays, children can enjoy piñata games from noon to 2 p.m. There is live music on weekends and margarita specials.
All diners are entered into a raffle for a round-trip for two to Mexico City; raffle winner will be selected on Monday, May 30.