THE SECRET INGREDIENTS

Authentic Recipes and Trusted Partners Fuel El Mariachi’s Success

In a city where independent restaurants often struggle to stand out, El Mariachi Tacos & Churros has managed to build not one but two thriving destinations in Mississauga, Ontario. From its lively Streetsville flagship, known for its festive dining, seasonal igloo dining experience, and menu stacked with tacos, fajitas, and house-made churros, to its Port Credit location featuring a glass-enclosed four-season patio, the restaurant group has become synonymous with authentic Mexican food.

The commitment to authenticity shows in every detail. All of El Mariachi’s cooks are Mexican, a decision that has shaped the flavour and integrity of the menu. “It was difficult to train local cooks on the authentic Mexican recipes because they didn’t have the palate,” says owner Michael Aitken. “We make everything fresh, and it’s a lot of work. Through the Temporary Foreign Worker program, we were able to bring in Mexican cooks, and that’s when everything came together for us. Recipes started changing under their influence and we’ve evolved into a destination spot with people coming from all over.”

That authentic approach has earned El Mariachi six consecutive Best Mexican food wins in the Best of Mississauga Readers’ Choice Awards. It’s also created a following that stretches well beyond the city.

Behind the scenes, El Mariachi runs on a network of close supplier relationships. Aitken relies on Gordon Food Service (GFS) for grocery products and proteins, alongside specialty produce and Mexican suppliers to source essentials that keep the menu fresh and true to its roots. Even with precision planning and schedules, managing costs is an ongoing challenge. “Prices have gone through the roof, and our suppliers have done everything they can to keep costs down,” he acknowledges. “In the past five years, I’ve had to raise menu prices five or six times, but you can only charge so much for tacos. With Groupex, I know I benefit from pricing not all restaurants have. And I’ve tried several distributors in the past, but I always come back to GFS.”

Through Groupex, Canada’s foodservice buying group, Aitken has found leverage and support that go far beyond food costs. “Groupex has helped us in many ways and with many different things, including technologies like our POS and restaurant management system,” he says. “If I need something addressed quickly, I’m able to phone my Groupex Rep, Ryan McKinnon, and he’ll contact our vendor and get the ball rolling. He also helped me switch over our wines to stay local with Peller Estates wines. Groupex has played a huge role in helping shorten the path to get results, particularly with large companies. They’re amazing.”

El Mariachi also participates in Groupex’s popular rebate program, which negotiates preferred partnerships with top-tier suppliers, allowing participating Groupex members to automatically earn back a percentage of what they are already spending on essential restaurant products and services. For El Mariachi, that means thousands of dollars in rebates each year—funds that can be reinvested into staff benefits, new equipment, or guest experiences—without adding any administrative burden beyond buying what the restaurant already needs. “The Groupex rebate is huge. Last year, I received about $20,000 back,” says Aitken. “I don’t understand how any operator wouldn’t sit down and listen to what they have to say and give them a try. I get my rebate once a month in the mail, right on schedule. I don’t have to do anything other than buy the products I need.”

El Mariachi offers extended health and dental coverage to its full-time employees—benefits introduced in part to support the restaurant’s Mexican cooks. “They don’t have that in Mexico,” Aitken explains. “They’re here, in another country, making my business successful, so this is something extra I can do for them.” When rising costs forced him to reconsider his provider, Groupex became part of the solution, connecting El Mariachi with Western Financial Group to secure fair rates and added confidence. For Aitken, it reinforced the sense that he isn’t navigating these decisions alone: “If there are problems, I have people who will fight for me.”

El Mariachi’s story is one of persistence, partnership, and pride in doing things right. By pairing authentic food with operational discipline and Groupex support, both locations have built a reputation that outpaces their size. “My rep is in contact with me at least once a month,” says Aitken. “The support is just spectacular.”

For Mississauga diners, it means they don’t need to leave town for true Mexican flavours. For other independents, El Mariachi offers a lesson: the right partnerships can make the difference between surviving and thriving.

Groupex Canada is a Canadian foodservice buying group that helps operators maximize savings with exclusive volume pricing and rebates from 300+ supplier partners. Visit Groupex and learn more at: groupex.com