A new Mexican restaurant — La Mixteca — opened Friday at the former location of Tortugas on Main Street.

Owner Mauricio Feria, 22, of Olean, N.Y., saidon Sunday that he is excited to bring authentic Mexican fare to Bradford and serve the community.

Feria said he opened the restaurant in Bradford because many customers from the area eat at his family’s restaurant, El Mariachi in Olean, and said they should open a location in Bradford.

El Mariachi has been open for more than a year in Olean and La Mixteca will “work the same menu,” according to Feria.

This will be at least the third Mexican restaurant to occupy the space, but Feria said the food at La Mixteca will set it apart from the others and make it successful. He also said they have made a lot of changes to the interior, which is “very bright and open.”

“What makes us special is we have a variety of items on our menu and we cook from the heart of Mexico,” he said, noting he was born in Mexico. “We have experience of more than 15 years with cooking.”

La Mixteca is named after the region of Western Oaxaca in southcentral Mexico which refers to the home of the Mixtec people where the Neo-Volcanic Belt and Sierra Madre del Sur converge.

Some of the more popular items on the menu include chimichangas, fajitas and more than 14 burritos, according to Feria. 

“People especially love our cheese sauce and chips and salsa which always come to the table fresh,” he said, noting some dishes are family recipes that have been passed down over the generations.

“I grew up with this food and have been in the restaurant business for most of my life,” Feria added. “We’re very happy to be able to bring this food to Bradford.”

He said the restaurant received many customers over the weekend, having officially opened on Friday. 

“We’re getting good feedback, people tell us they really like the food and are glad we decided to open the restaurant in Bradford,” Feria said.

Feria said he contacted Debbie Huston with the Bradford Office of Economic and Community Development the week prior to Sept. 26 and filled out an application to open the restaurant here in town.

Feria mentioned the city has been very helpful in the process of starting the business and spreading the word about the restaurant.

“I want to thank the City of Bradford for allowing us to open a restaurant here,” he stated. “We’re glad for the opportunity to serve everyone in the community.”