An Ecuador native who owns a preferred native meals truck is planning to open a restaurant that includes empanadas, arepas and extra in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood. 

Pedro Tejada, proprietor of Pedro’s South American Meals truck, is trying to open La Cocina Del Sur Empanada Bar within the former Riverwest Filling Station, 701 E. Keefe Ave. 

The brand new restaurant is aiming to make its debut between mid-December and early January, pending license approvals. 

Tejada is engaged on the menu. It should characteristic favorites from his meals truck, together with empanadas, Colombian-style arepas, tamales and different South American dishes. 

Each Tejada’s empanadas and arepas — made out of scratch — embody both beef, pork, rooster or a vegetarian choice. 

Empanadas provide “infinite alternatives,” Tejada mentioned. His are impressed by each conventional recipes and what locals take pleasure in. 

The restaurant may even provide rotating seasonal empanadas, in addition to gluten-free choices. 

Whereas Tejada described his personal arepa recipe as extra conventional, he mentioned his presentation has a novel twist. His meals truck’s menu describes the arepas as candy corn desserts with cheese that embody slaw, pickled onions, cilantro, aioli and the patron’s alternative of protein. 

Specials may even be supplied. “It is vital to maintain individuals pleased with new issues all the time,” Tejada mentioned. 

The restaurant’s drink menu will characteristic South American-inspired cocktails, wine and beer.

Meals carts to a meals truck to a brick-and-mortar enterprise

Tejada, who’s from Quito, grew up within the meals enterprise. His household owned a French restaurant, the place he began serving to out at as a child. 

After ending college, Tejada spent months touring by South America, in keeping with a earlier Journal Sentinel report. Empanadas have been a staple in every single place he went since they have been budget-friendly and filling, the report mentioned. 

After shifting to Milwaukee 17 years in the past, Tejada mentioned, he continued working in eating places, from being a chef to a kitchen supervisor. 

“I really like meals,” Tejada mentioned. “I feel that it is some of the vital issues for people to be wholesome and joyful.”

In 2015, he determined to start out his personal enterprise: Pedro’s South American Meals, an empanada meals cart that might go on so as to add tamales. 

“I felt like Milwaukee wanted some extra publicity to South American meals,” Tejada mentioned. 

Two years later, Tejada launched a second meals cart; this one featured arepas.

“After I was out on the streets serving empanadas with the meals cart, individuals have been asking for the arepas,” he mentioned. “Or once I was with the arepa cart, individuals have been asking for the empanadas.” 

With a meals truck, he mentioned, he was capable of merge each menus, plus add extra. Pedro’s South American Meals truck made its debut in 2020. 

Tejada has taken the meals truck to occasions throughout the Milwaukee space, such because the Milwaukee Evening Market, the Skyline Music Collection and farmers markets.

“Each time I am out on the road, individuals are all the time asking me if we now have a restaurant, a brick-and-mortar,” he mentioned.

The Riverwest Filling Station closes after almost a decade

In a Tuesday Fb publish, The Riverwest Filling Station introduced it was completely closing after almost a decade.

“I am very happy with the meals, drinks and my area,” proprietor Bryan Atinsky instructed the Journal Sentinel. “And I am very grateful to the shoppers that have been loyal to us.” 

The restaurant’s meals was made out of scratch, with influences spanning the globe, in keeping with a previous Journal Sentinel report. 

And you realize these growlers you get crammed up together with your favourite brews? You will not be doing that immediately had Atinsky not labored with the metropolis to vary some guidelines to make growlers authorized, the report mentioned. 

Atinsky, who owns the constructing, mentioned he is joyful about the brand new restaurant deliberate for it. It is “very fascinating” and the meals is nice, he mentioned. 

Tejada preferred the thought of opening his restaurant in Riverwest as a result of it has been his residence for “a really very long time.” 

The restaurant’s area is “just about able to go,” he mentioned, however he plans to make some adjustments to its décor. 

The hours for La Cocina Del Sur Empanada Bar are nonetheless being decided. 

Tejada has additionally supplied catering companies for so long as his meals carts have been round. He does weddings, events, company lunches and different occasions. 

Tejada plans to proceed working his meals truck, meals carts and catering operation. Sooner or later, he hopes to host catered occasions out of his restaurant. 

Contact Hannah Kirby at hannah.kirby@jrn.com. Comply with her on Twitter at @HannahHopeKirby.