Ay Chihuahua founder and owner Alfonso Hernandez knew he wanted to start his own business.
“I wanted to have more than just a job,” he said.
He knew he wanted to prepare fresh food from his native Mexico.
“I found that people were looking for better food offerings,” he said.
And he knew he needed to be a little bit different.
That’s why his signature dish, the California burrito, not only features homemade guacamole, mozzarella cheese, sour cream, the company’s signature chipotle sauce and a choice of protein – but also, French Fries.
“We wanted to stand out,” he said.
Hernandez is doing just that.
Ay Chihuahua, which features sit-down, take-out, catering, delivery and third-party delivery services, now has two locations in Passaic: The original, on 83 Broadway, which opened in 2017, and a location at 213 Main, which opened in 2022.
The restaurants, which Hernandez said is based around recipes first created by his mother, are filling a need morning, noon and night. Its breakfast menu not only features bacon (or sausage), egg and cheese bagels but a few items with flair, including the Quesadilla Sincronizada (salami, ham, mozzarella cheese and chipotle sauce) and what Hernandez calls ‘Perfect Chilaquiles’ (tortilla chips with sour cream and cotija cheese and two eggs).
That flair to be different is found throughout the menu.
Ay Chihuahua has a number of specialty drinks, including one that features cucumber, lime and chia seeds and another built on pineapple, passion fruit and coconut.
“We’re showing that drinks can be good and healthy,” Hernandez said.
Of course, nothing as unique as the California burrito that comes stuffed with French fries.
“People love it,” Hernandez said. “It’s our signature dish.”
Ay Chihuahua features a number of burritos (Baja, Carribbean and Fajita). It also has traditional tacos, tortas, taquitos and much more.
It’s the reason that Hernandez has been able to grow the family-owned business.
Hernandez, who came to the U.S. 34 years ago, admits it has been long hours and some trying times, but he said it has all been worth it.
“I wanted to give my family a greater opportunity,” he said.
Conversation Starter
Reach Ay Chihuahua at: orderaychihuahua.com or call 973-955-4065.
