Mariachi Restaurants, begun in 1992 in Rockville, Maryland by two partners, Jose Perez and Gabino Benitez. The two partners, both from El Salvador came to this country in 1986 while El Salvador was going through a civil war. They worked in the restaurant industry waiting tables, bussing, washing dishes and cooking in some of Washington D.C.’s finest restaurants.There they honed their skills and learned the biggest lesson they could, that “Customer service is the key to success.”
In 1992 they were able to secure a lease for a small place of their own in Rockville, Maryland. They called the restaurant El Mariachi. They prepared the foods that they knew and loved from their country El Salvador and other Latin American countries.
Their attention to details and their deliciously prepared dishes brought them the love and appreciation of many of the Washington D.C.’s elite. That small restaurant doubled in size after a few years and remains today the flagship of the business.
In 2000, Jose was approached to take over a struggling operation in Frederick, Maryland a city about 40 miles away. Jose enlisted the help of Jose Hernandez with whom Jose had worked with in Washington. Together as partners they bought the restaurant called Mexicali Cantina. They made a few changes to the menu, the décor and through example setting taught the staff the importance of customer service.They were able to turn that restaurant into a highly regarded restaurant on the Frederick Restaurant scene.
In 2004 Perez and Hernandez along with another partner took over a restaurant in the Historic District of Frederick and brought to it their fabulous food and service standards. Cacique has captured the essence of Frederick, spiced with Latin and Spanish cuisine to also be known as a place you can enjoy and feel right at home with great food and people.
Jose Perez’s dream was to continue bring his style of food and service to patrons everywhere under one name. He choose the name “Mariachi Restaurants”. Upon the recommendation of one of his customers from Maryland he opened his first operation under that name in Rehoboth Beach Delaware.
The next year a unit was opened in Leesburg, Virginia, followed by Daytona Beach, Florida and in 2008 Frederick, Maryland.
Mariachi Restaurants continues to grow and bring to customers everywhere it goes, great Spanish and Latin Cuisine and Service that is Number One.
