Story By: Juliana Bomark, Food and Drink editor
Photos By: Breana Sinclair
The tantalizing craving for some Authentic Hispanic cuisines can run around in the mind for days. The thought of steamy fresh tacos filled with fresh slow-cooked birria and folded neatly into a perfectly cheesy and crisped taco shell can suit any of these off-the-wall cravings.
While entering through the doors of this quaint little frozen yogurt shop, guests are welcomed to a warm and comforting atmosphere brightened with colorful paintings scattered across the walls and the lingering smell of sweet frozen yogurt passing through the store. This local Grand Junction business works to not only build strong relationships with their customers but also provide them with comfort food that will have the customers running back for more.
U Top It is a family-owned business passed down from multiple family members until ultimately landing on current business owners Isaac and Kenia Ruiz. These young business owners have shifted their store menu to include a mix of everything that their customers can enjoy.
Every Saturday the owners work past the raging crowds to serve their audience fresh and quality-filled quesabirra tacos.
Quesabirria tacos are “cheesy crunchy tacos,” said Isaac, “ with a nice layer of mozzarella cheese, onions, cilantro, and loads of birria meat stuffed into the tortilla shells and cooked to perfection, they are just like mini meat quesadillas.” served with a warm side of consomme, a delicious broth perfect for dipping the tacos.
These tacos are made with locally sourced corn tortillas from Tortilleria Salazar, which is a local business that sells bulk tortillas freshly made in the warehouse and sold and distributed to anyone looking to indulge in some delicious and authentic tortillas.
The birria tacos are strategically made with a special recipe that has been years in the making by Issac. With just about 40 different spices Isaac wanted to make sure his tacos stood out from the rest of the competition. The time and care put into these tacos can be very time-consuming, which is why the birria tacos are only a Saturday special.
Issac and Kenia work all weekend to slowly prepare the tacos for the Saturday crowd. After purchasing about 150 pounds of birria taco meat, the cook prepares and serves it to the public. Working night and day to prepare the birria slowly and to the standards that leave the customers with the best taste. “it’s a whole day of marinating and a whole night of cooking and then serving it fresh on Saturday,” Said Issac.
These tacos are no secret though, on a typical Saturday hungry customers just can’t wait to get their hands on these special birria tacos. When asked when the best time to arrive at the location to secure a taco the owners said “As soon as we open I would even try to be here just a little earlier before that just in case, we have times when there is a line outside or it is a steady day. We usually run out fairly quickly between like 4:30 and 5:00 PM,” said Kenia.
Not only does this local business provide Birria tacos, but they also host different specials each day of the weekdays. Tuesdays are the Five Dollar Pink Cup special, Wednesdays are the torta special which comes with a free agua fresca or any drink located in the refrigerator, Thursdays are the Panannii special where you can grab a baggie of chips and a canned drink, and Fridays are buy one get one, one dollar off antojitos which are Mexican street snacks.
The business owners also believe in community and treating everyone how they deserve to be treated. While speaking to the owners they mentioned a College Student Discount: All college students from any surrounding college like Colorado Mesa University are open to a 10% discount on their entire order.
Owner Kenia said “ I guess it kind of goes without saying but we always try to give as much lenience to the college kids..” then goes on to say “You’re in this brand new place and probably don’t know a lot of people so we try to make, especially the college kids as comfortable and as welcome as possible here specifically. Because it’s a struggle there’s just so much going on in a college student’s life.”
The business owners hope to reach the local Grand Junction community, inviting anyone and everyone out to discover why their business is so set apart from the rest. Serving up local Authentic Haspinac food U Top It is a Frozen Yogurt Shop to remember.
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