For the last three years, entrepreneur Thannia Pasten Garcia, has been dedicated to making authentic Mexican food at her mobile eatery, Antojitos Mexicanos.
Moving to Brantford in 2020, Garcia already had a history of entrepreneurship back home in Mexico, and wanted to continue that in Canada, at first in making custom cakes and desserts.
“The business I had before was focused on making custom cakes and desserts. And then when I arrived at the Brantford Farmers Market…I originally wanted to make custom cakes, but the manager there told me that there were several others who were offering desserts at the market and advised me that I should look into doing something else. And that’s when he gave me the idea to consider offering Mexican food. There was no one there selling food like tacos, so that’s what we decided to do,” she noted. “My husband, Juan José, came up with the name ‘Antojitos Mexicanos’ as it was something that people could remember. And it’s a great name for our business because it translates to Mexican Cravings! While he helped me organize and prepare, Juan José had to continue with his full-time job so luckily my nieces Juliet, and Camila [as well as] my daughter Zhoe were on summer vacation and they agreed to help me when we first opened. They helped me a lot, with operations and serving the customers.”
However, Garcia would find herself at a crossroads at the end of the summer season.
“After my nieces and daughter went back to school, I wondered who would help me, but I was lucky. I had kind and patient customers who understood what I was going through. At that time, I also noticed that sales had dropped. If it wasn’t for my husband offering encouraging words and saying that it was just part of business as it was a low season, I would have made the decision to close,” she explained. “I stuck with it and after two months the high season began, and everything improved and more and more customers found us at the market. Many of them came back because they loved our food and service. I am thankful for them, the management at the market and the other businesses there too for supporting us.”
In March 2025, Garcia decided to mark the next step in her journey, by opening up a food trailer.
“After being at the Brantford Farmers Market, we opened a store in 2024 that sold Mexican products. Due to lack of experience on our part…and there was a lot of competition especially from supermarkets. It wasn’t [viable] to raise our prices, so we had to close. Although that was a very tough period, it served us with an important learning experience and helped us be better prepared when we decided to open our food trailer. We analyzed every step that we took and managed each obstacle carefully, while putting our faith in God that we would be successful,” explained Garcia.
However, Garcia has made it a priority to continue to offer authentic Mexican food, which has resonated with customers in the city.
“People have enjoyed our dishes and always try to create a great experience for our customers. We use fresh ingredients and many of our recipes have come from my family. And one of our most popular menu choices has been the Quesabirria, which is shredded beef with cheese and dip sauce on the side. Everyone has enjoyed it, and many of our customers keep on coming back for that one. We also have our popular family combo, which includes 24 small tacos, and for drinks, customers love the Mangonada, which is a Mexican smoothie,” she said.
Nevertheless, there have been many opportunities to learn by owning and operating a small business.
“Running my own business has taught me how to be resourceful, manage finances, and adapt quickly to challenges. It has also strengthened my resilience [as] I’ve learned that setbacks are inevitable, but with an entrepreneurial mindset, you can always find solutions and new opportunities. And as an entrepreneur, I like that I have the freedom to create, while growing my business and putting my own style in everything I do. It’s also very rewarding to see customers enjoy the food I have made,” Garcia said.
Now being settled in Brantford for over five years, Garcia has enjoyed becoming part of the community.
“What makes this city special is its people and support for local businesses, and it’s a city that gives [entrepreneurs like me] the opportunity to grow and build new relationships within the community. Many people have been very friendly and open to trying our food, and that support has motivated us to continue giving our best every day, while improving in everything we do,” she noted.
However, the entrepreneur has been able to achieve a goal while aiming to achieve others going forward.
“One of my greatest achievements has been being able to share my food and culture with the community, while people have kept on returning because they have enjoyed our food. I have also managed to grow my business little by little by understanding what customers want…and by improving in quality and service every day,” she reflected. “My long-term goal is to keep moving forward by being innovative and always offering the best to my client’s [while] continuing to learn, grow as an entrepreneur, and strengthen my business to always provide a better experience for my customers. I would also like to expand the business and reach more people in the community [and] to be able to have a warm place to better serve the customer and offer them a menu with a bigger selection.”
