In an industry that has intense competition and numerous risks, Omar Alvarez has created a vibrant and growing restaurant chain.  Tortas Paquime and Paquime Street Food of Mexico-top-quality casual dining restaurants – bring the authentic flavors of Mexico to communities across the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Omar’s desire coupled with his love of a particular torta shop in his family’s homeland-Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico – inspired him to go into the restaurant business.  In 2002, Omar opened Tortas Paquime #1 where he and a few employees worked tirelessly to bring a taste of Mexico to an emerging market.  Today, the restaurant operates 5 locations including commissary, has over 90 employees and serves thousands of patrons each year.

Omar built Tortas Paquime on three important principles:  Hard work, collaboration, and exceptional quality.  The restaurant’s authentic Mexican cuisine – including its signature torta – is made fresh every day using only the finest ingredients.  Like the most successful national chains, Tortas Paquime offers customers a professional staff, outstanding customer service, spotless dining areas, and consistency in food preparation.  Yet it provides the warm environment of a “mom and pop” establishment.

This simple – yet powerful – concept has led to significant growth over the past decade.  For Omar, however, entrepreneurship is about more than profit margins and business expansion.  It is also about creating innovative food product and providing opportunities that meet the needs of the community.  Hosting Christmas parties that provide food and gifts to children and families, sponsoring local school events, and giving scholarships to talented students are a few of the ways Omar and his employees give back to the patrons who have made Tortas Paquime such a success.