101 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com For two decades, friends and soccer mates Erik Hernendez and Jose Cruz dreamed, planned and saved for the day when they would be able to combine their individual talents for business and cooking. While methodically plotting their next moves, Cruz kept cooking in various restaurants around Charleston and Hernendez honed his public relations skills. As Hernendez said, when he and Cruz had extra money, they would use it to purchase cups, dishes, cutlery, napkins, pots, pans and other kitchen necessities, building up their collection for when the time came for the entrepreneurialspirited partners to launch. In April 2020, they opened Cachita’s, the Mexican food truck and catering company, christened after Cruz’s nickname from his soccer days. “The idea was to use the truck to spread our name throughout the Lowcountry and share our authentic made-to-order Mexican food and our brand with as many customers as we could,” Hernendez said. Fast forward four years later and the demand for another truck is high. However, as the friends have started thinking bigger, they have decided to save their energy towards opening up a brick-and-mortar restaurant next year, where you’ll find Cruz preparing the fresh dishes with a twist that he has become renowned for. Such as his best-selling playful take on a classic: the Mexican Cuban sandwich with mustard, pepper jack cheese, ham, avocado, hot sauce, pickles and pork. Other crowd favorites include signature wings with buffalo sauce and ranch; staples like the grab-and-go tacos and burritos and the sushi burrito with crab and shrimp or tuna and salmon, masago, cilantro, asparagus, mango and jalapeno. In the meantime, when asked what the friends are most excited about in their business right now, Hernendez said that he loves reading the reviews and comments on their social media about how good their food is. “Keeping our customers happy is important,” Hernendez said, “because that means we’re doing something right.” And having won the 2024 Best Food Truck of Mount Pleasant award, clearly, Cachita’s is on the right path. Hernendez credits the team who work behind the scenes, because as he said, “Behind every delicious dish and satisfied customer is a team that’s cooking up greatness and spreading joy, one bite at a time.” These days, the Cachita’s food truck can be found traveling through different neighborhoods, as well as popping up at all of Boone Hall’s events from the Strawberry Festival to the Pumpkin Patch, weddings, private and corporate events, holiday and birthday parties and naturally, Charleston Battery games all season long. Additionally, Cachita’s makes the rounds, stopping at businesses such as Papi’s Taqueria on Isle of Palms, Locals and Signarama Sign Shop in Mount Pleasant. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook at @cachitaskitchen. Flavor on Wheels Cachita’s Kitchen Cachita’s Kitchen Owner Jose Cruz (right) poses in front of his food truck at a Charleston Battery game with former player and friend Fidel Barajas. To fuel up and place an order to-go, call 843-806-9862. To book the truck for a special event, call 843-214-6299. BY SARAH ROSE food
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1