Born in the small village of Villa Jimenez, Michoacan, Mexico, founder Manuel Orozco quickly grew a passion for the native food of his country. In the late 1950's, Manuel settled with his wife, Socorro, in California with hopes of achieving the American dream of owning his own restaurant using his village's native recipes. In 1974, their dream came true as Manuel and Socorro opened the first Super Mex Restaurant in downtown Long Beach, Calif. Even today, Super Mex is still one of the premier authentic Mexican eateries in the area.
Inspired by their love of traditional Mexican cuisine, Manuel and Socorro created a menu that represents the simplicity and quality of their village's native cuisine. Super Mex's signature "Super Mex Burrito" is the perfect example of classic Mexican comfort food prepared with distinctive homemade authenticity. Extra-grande tortilla chips and their legendary salsa are among the staples at Super Mex in addition to their famed tender pork carnitas.
Manuel and Socorro founded Super Mex based on two principles:
To offer great-tasting Mexican food that is traditional and prepared to taste homemade.
To create a dining environment where customers feel comfortable and welcomed.
Inspired by his memories of long workdays with little sleep, the Super Mex logo represents the one thing Manuel Orozco longed for each day of work - SIESTA!
Carrying on Manuel's legacy, the 35-year-old logo has become a well-recognized symbol of Super Mex restaurants and Southern California culture.
The pair worked 14-plus hour days at the restaurant during its first years, while both maintained outside full-time jobs to earn additional revenue to support the business. Before long, the concept gained popularity, particularly with students from nearby universities who flooded to Super Mex for the restaurant's home-style flavors, generous portions and reasonable prices. Through today, the initial success of Super Mex can be contributed to the dedicated following of local college students, who comprised a large portion of the customer following.
While they continue to play a role in the business, Manuel and Socorro have retired from the day-to-day management of the Super Mex. Continuing the family tradition that began more than 37 years ago, Super Mex Restaurants, Inc. is still family owned and operated.