south gate – Feeding the masses with fresh, tasty food is a job that Erik Galindo takes seriously.
“For me, feeding people is a big responsibility. Doctors, they can heal people. Teachers, they teach people. Being a cook or being a chef is like feeding people, and that’s a big responsibility,” says Galindo.
So when he opened Galindo’s in Southgate in 2015, he wanted to serve dishes from his hometown of Mexico City.
I remember I was a little kid growing up in the city and my favorite thing was eating tortas,” says Galindo. “That’s why I wanted to do it here in Detroit; I want to be different.”
Tortas are giant Mexican sandwiches. You could easily share one with someone if you wanted. They are made with soft torta bread and almost always have a base of mayo, refried beans, avocados, tomatoes, jalapenos, and Oaxaca cheese. From there, you can pile on a variety of different meats and toppings. They have around 25 different tortas on their menu, one of the most popular being the El Chapo which has breaded chicken, al pastor (seasoned pork and pineapple) and American cheese. Another favorite is the El Chupacabra which has breaded chicken, breaded beef, pork, salchicha (turkey sausage) and eggs.
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His tacos are also made Mexican style with two corn shells, meat, onions, cilantro and fries.
“That’s how we eat them in Mexico City,” says Galindo.
You can also find all the basics here, including enchiladas, flautas, burritos and more. Plus, they offer a variety of Mexican drinks, including horchata, a spiced rice milk with vanilla and cinnamon, and agua de Jamaica, or a spiced hibiscus tea.
People seem to like his new approach as he has been able to grow tremendously in the 6 years he has been in business. Galindo now has two food trucks, one location at the DTE Music Theater, another at Little Caesar’s Arena, and he’s looking for another location.
“People feel welcome here,” says Galindo. “They come to the kitchen to thank my cooks. You know, you feel happy about it.
If you want to try Galindo’s, it’s located at 13754 Fort Street in Southgate. Watch the video above for more information.
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