The Original Tico's Tacos was opened back in 1957 in San Jose, Ca by Luis H an Air Force Veteran. Years later he and his wife Claudia decided to move to Gilroy, Ca where they opened their first restaurant together, Vallarta's. They had that restaurant for a few years but knew in their hearts Gilroy wasn't home. They drove down the 101 in search of a home sweet home and found Salinas. They found the perfect location and opened Tico's Tacos Salinas in July 1980 and has been standing strong since. Luis passed away in 1998 from cancer, but his legacy was kept alive through his wife Claudia for many many years until she passed in 2025. Their daughter Danielle who had also worked there many years and did all clerical work has since taken the reins and promises to continue her parents' legacy.
All the recipes were created by Luis and Claudia. They believed in bold flavors that bring comfort to the soul with every bite. We're a small, family owned business that want to feed our community with fresh food starting with quality-- locally sourced ingredients and our food being made fresh DAILY.
"A butterfly appears near us and shines like a sunbeam for a split second, bringing grandeur. Then takes off once more. Even if we would have liked it to stay. Lucky for us. We got to see it."