Azteca Mexican Cuisine & Bar is the Salvadoran dream of two sons of migrant compatriots that has become a reality. The restaurant offers authentic Mexican food in a luxurious and comfortable environment.
Born in Los Angeles, California, United States, but to Salvadoran parents, José and Kevin Martínez, aged 23 and 20 respectively, decided to establish their residence in El Salvador four years ago, where they are growing as entrepreneurs.
The young men arrived in the country in 2020 and fell in love with its landscapes, traditions, and conditions for investment. According to José, the older of the brothers, El Salvador’s transformation under President Nayib Bukele’s leadership motivated them to embark on their first entrepreneurial experience: the Martínez Hotel in San Miguel; and now their new venture, Azteca Restaurant and Bar, located in the La Mascota neighborhood, in San Salvador.
The restaurant stems from the brothers’ vision to fill a market niche: 100% authentic Mexican food with luxury service, an alternative that, according to them, did not exist before the opening of Azteca Mexican Cuisine & Bar in the country’s gastronomic scene.
The establishment of the place required an investment of $200,000 and was inaugurated last November with a menu featuring about 20 dishes, including iconic ones such as chiles en nogada and beef ribs, along with a wide variety of beverages and the service of an internationally recognized bar.
For Kevin Martínez, the expectations for the restaurant are clear: “to be the best Mexican food restaurant in San Salvador and to conquer the Salvadoran palate with its flavors.” The brothers plan to explore future endeavors in the country’s gastronomic offerings with other specialties.
Azteca Restaurant and Bar is the second investment venture of the Martínez brothers in El Salvador, as the Martínez Hotel, located on Las Flores beach in San Miguel, opened in 2021 with an investment of $500,000.
The young entrepreneurs affirm that their investment ventures stem from the belief that hard and honest work can lead to the pinnacle of success, but also from the certainty that investing in El Salvador under the current government’s leadership is one of the best decisions due to the security and economic stability conditions the country is experiencing.
“The message of President Nayib Bukele has served as a spiritual script, as a focal point, as a vision focus for us as a family to achieve, on a small scale, what the country is achieving. He has shown the world that if El Salvador could do it, it is possible in any way and under any circumstance,” stated José Martínez.