Meet Victoria Olivos | Founder , Dog Mom, Food Lover

We had the good fortune of connecting with Victoria Olivos and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Victoria, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It was actually my mother who began the business back in 2010. She quit her job and invested her life savings into purchasing a food cart. With the help of my stepfather they operated this food cart and began selling what she knew best, Mexican food, in particular tortas and atoles. Soon the food cart became a must stop before work for breakfast tortas in the area. In 2016, I was finishing up my senior year in college and during one of my final assignments of creating a business concept, I began picking on my mothers brain. I became inspired to turn her food cart business around, as at the time it was nameless and a plain stainless steel food cart. This is when Torta Truck came to life. We chose a Catrina as our logo, representing the image of a woman to honor my mom. I became involved in the business and in 2018, we purchased what we now call our big truck.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I own and currently operate what we call, “the big truck” in our Torta Truck family. I am excited to have been able to expand our food truck concept into now a brick and mortar opening up this week! Friday, July 29,22. The road was definitely not easy. There are not many female owned food truck owners out there, especially in our area( mostly male dominated). Other food truck owners were not the friendliest or most welcoming in the beginning, especially when they see a woman behind the wheel, you tend to not be taken as serious. Opening up a build out restaurant during a pandemic was definitely not easy either. Delays from permit processing, and an outdated building made this process extremely difficulty – 2 years! It felt impossible at times. “Failures” are lessons, embrace the storm and all its chaos because you will appreciate the rainbow 10x times more! I want the world to know that immigrants like my parents came to this country for a better life, and not to steal somebody’s job. My mother now created jobs and it’s time to start celebrating immigrants like her.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Definitely taking them to Torta Truck, haha! From the age of 18, up until now (28) I’ve worked in NYC. I love NYC! I was born in Jersey City, raised in West New York and Union City – Hudson County gal here, so I have always been a quick 15-20 minute bus ride into NYC. Most of my must visit, eat, drink spots are in NYC.
Dan & John Wings – BEST WINGS EVER
Chelsea Market – Los Tacos No.1! and all the artsy vendors
Smorgasburg in either NYC / BK / OR JERSEY CITY
Martha or Lucali’s for pizza
Sugar Fish for sushi
Bang! cookies in Jersey City
Boulevard East skyline view of NYC from the Weehawken, West New York area
El Sombrero – Guttenberg NJ for all peruvian and ceviche eats
there are so many more great spots , but these are just a few I could name at the top of my head. I would pretty much coordinate the itinerary to revolve around food.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Definitely my immigrant parents. Huge shout out to them and their continuous support for every dream and idea I’ve had. For being the founding investors and bringing Torta Truck to life. And idols like big restaurateur, Danny Meyer. From being a big fan of his book Setting the Table, to his great line of restaurants throughout the city, and admiring his leadership style in the hospitality industry.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tortatruck/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tortatruck

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tortatruck/

Image Credits
the al pastor torta image (sandwich) was taken by @foodsbeforedudes (instagram food blogger acct)