Picture this narrative: A U.S.-born child of undocumented immigrants, raised in poverty yet brimming with resilience and determination, manages to rise against all odds and reach the pinnacle of success.
Through perseverance, unwavering determination, and the support of his family, this person triumphs over numerous challenges and obstacles to achieve his dreams and bring pride to his community. It's a story that has been shared time and again in Los Angeles, featuring people from diverse backgrounds and beliefs seeking a better life in this country.
This specific story, though, belongs to Gabriel Barajas, owner and creator of the Tacos Way taquería chain. With four locations throughout Southern California and one in Tokyo, Japan, this entrepreneur began his story by selling tortas at his local high school.
Moving from job to job, he eventually started selling hot dogs outside of the DMV, which gave him the idea to buy a couple of restaurants. Both failed until he ultimately came up with the concept of “Tacos Way,” a clever branding gimmick that he expanded by making music videos based on his …"Tacos Way!"
Typically, this protagonist would be celebrated and championed by his local community, but Barajas has recently found himself under fire from accusations that he is a supporter of President Donald Trump's MAGA movement.
In a TikTok video first posted by @ClipsTik10 that compares him to Tortas Manantial, Phoenix, Arizona's very own malinche, you can see Barajas partying and dancing while wearing a red MAGA hat.