Free tacos: A Mexican restaurant celebrating 30 years has a unique reason to say thank you

They are two of the sweetest words in Fresno: Free tacos.

Guadalajara Restaurant is celebrating its 30th anniversary and wants to thank its customers. The restaurant’s original location at 3020 N. Weber Ave., near Shields Avenue is giving away two free tacos – no purchase required – from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30.

“It’s just a thank you to all our customers. We’re in business because of them so we want to say, ‘Thanks,’” said Richard Garcia.

He’s one of seven kids of Rosalinda and Cecilo Garcia, who started the restaurant in the same spot 30 years ago.

But there’s a backstory that makes that thank you even more meaningful.

The same year his parents opened the restaurant, the family’s house burned down. Garcia said an interviewer asked about what they needed.

“We just want them to come to our restaurant to eat,” Garcia recalled his mom saying. “Since then, people just started coming. My mom and dad always remembered that and they’d like to give back.”

There have been other Guadalajara Restaurants over the years, including one on Van Ness in downtown Fresno, one at First Street and Bullard Avenue, a take-out spot on Fig Garden Loop, one at Friant and Fort Washington roads and another in Clovis where Rocket Dog is now.

Now, it’s back to just the original (though there is a stand inside the Save Mart Center).

One thing that hasn’t changed is the tacos.

“No, it’s pretty much the same recipe my mom had,” Garcia said.