The Taco Wagon: delicious Mexican dishes and a dream come true for Mario Loza
For as far back as he can remember, Mario Loza has dreamed of owning his own restaurant. Originally from Jalisco, Mexico, Mario began helping to make and serve street tacos at his father’s taco cart at just seven years old. His love for savory foods and his excellent customer service skills began then and there, serving tacos from the cart.
At 25 years old, Mario was invited to move to the United States to work and live with his cousin in Lynchburg. Though all of Mario’s immediate family members were in Mexico, he decided to take a leap of faith and move to the US, hoping to make enough money to support himself and help his family back home with his father’s medical bills.
Once here in the US, Mario worked his way through the restaurant business, eventually becoming a restaurant manager at a well-known Mexican restaurant in Lynchburg, which is where he met Mallory, who at that time worked with students at Appomattox County High School doing behavioral health counseling. (Today, Mallory teaches Spanish classes at the school.)
Mallory was out to dinner when they met in the restaurant. The two instantly liked each other. They began dating, and eventually Mallory would join Mario’s team at the same restaurant, waiting tables in the evenings as a side job.
Fast forward to today, the Lozas are married with two beautiful children! Together, they own The Taco Wagon, located at the end of the Triangle Plaza shopping center in Appomattox.
Their success is a true American Dream story.
The Original Wagon
Mario enjoyed working at the restaurant, but he continued dreaming of becoming his own boss and serving delicious foods (some, from family recipes, and others he’s come up with along the way) to anyone wanting a taste of Mexico.
That’s when he and Mallory decided to buy a food truck and serve Mario’s recipes. They purchased a truck, secured all the necessary licenses and documents, and searched for the perfect location.
One day, through her connections at the school (Shawn Page), Mallory met Freddy Lawson, the owner of T-Shirtz Now on Confederate Boulevard. Freddy had a generous sized parking lot on the well-traveled road which would accommodate a food truck and its customers. “We are extremely grateful for Freddy giving us a chance,” said Mallory and Mario.
In July 2016, The Taco Wagon food truck opened for business. As with any brand new venture, there were many tough times when business was slow and they thought they would need to close down, but they made a decision to search for events and festivals. As the pair began to travel to events on the weekends, and as word of mouth began to spread through Appomattox, The Taco Wagon food truck soon became a popular place for locals to grab lunch or dinner!
The Lozas are so grateful for the Appomattox Community and those who have supported their food truck over the years.
“If it wasn’t for our customers, we wouldn’t be where we are right now,” Mallory said.
“Yeah, it is everything,” Mario added. He explained that he sees his customers as friends.
“Every day, we are thankful for them,” Mallory continued.
Check out The Taco Wagon menu at the end of this article!
The Taco Wagon, Today
After much success with the food truck, The Lozas took another leap of faith, believing that if they opened a restaurant, their supporters would gather there to enjoy delicious foods. In December 2021, The Taco Wagon restaurant doors were opened to the public, and the rest is history!
The 120 seat restaurant is filled with vibrant artwork - some from Mexico, and other decoration items repurposed by Mallory. The booths are something Mallory is especially fond of, because they were repurposed and placed in The Taco Wagon. The restaurant’s laser engraved logo on the back of each booth seat was created by Appomattox County High School students in the CTE Agriculture program.
Mariachi music plays in the background while diners enjoy a large variety of different dishes. Mario says his favorites include “Mi Mexico”, Mexican style tacos (specifically the carnitas (pork) or al pastor (pork with pineapple)), and the "Wagon Fajitas”, while Mallory’s favorite dish is the "Chimi del Mar” which is a chimichanga with crab, shrimp, and grilled vegetables.
Inside The Taco Wagon, there is also a party room that can seat up to forty people. To reserve a spot in the party room, be sure to call in advance. The restaurant also offers catering dishes for large groups which can be ordered in advance and picked up at the restaurant. Mario recommends ordering at least one week in advance for catering.
At The Taco Wagon, rest assured you’re eating fresh foods. Mario has always made sure that the meats, cheeses, and vegetables you’re enjoying at The Taco Wagon are always fresh, not frozen, and you can taste the freshness!
The Taco wagon is located at 177 Old Courthouse Road in Appomattox. To reserve the party room, order catering, or simply order takeout, call them at 434-664-2005. You can also find and follow them on Facebook and Instagram. They are open seven days a week: Sunday - Wednesday 11am to 9pm, and Thursday - Saturday 11am to 10pm. Stop by soon and enjoy your favorite dish or maybe even try a new one! There are so many delicious foods to choose from!
Check out this cool new AppoHappo.com feature, below!
Click the middle of the menu below to see a full-size (and zoomable) menu for The Taco Wagon! That's right. Their full menu right here at your fingertips!
The Taco Wagon Menu
Some photos provided by The taco Wagon. This article was written by Teresa Davis and is a paid advertisement. If you are interested in promoting your business on the Appomattox Happenings website, email, and social media, contact Teresa Davis through the contact form below or email appomattoxhappenings@gmail.com
