Anahuac Opens Second Mexican Restaurant on Solano Avenue

Jose Rodriguez and Maricela Pedroza expand their family-owned business with a new upscale dining concept in Berkeley.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 10:34pm

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Jose Rodriguez and his mother Maricela Pedroza have opened their second Mexican restaurant, Anahuac, on Solano Avenue in Berkeley. Pedroza, who previously managed the popular Talavera Cocina Mexicana, has realized her American Dream by purchasing that restaurant and now expanding with Anahuac, which features an elevated dining experience compared to the more casual Talavera taqueria. The new restaurant showcases Pedroza's culinary skills and family recipes, with Rodriguez and his sister Esmeralda managing the front-of-house operations.

Why it matters

Anahuac's opening represents the realization of the American Dream for Pedroza, who immigrated to the Bay Area and worked her way up to become a restaurant owner. It also highlights the resilience of independent, family-owned restaurants in the face of increasing corporate consolidation in the industry. Anahuac's focus on upscale Mexican cuisine and community-oriented values provides an alternative to the proliferation of chain restaurants.

The details

Anahuac is located in the former Fonda space on Solano Avenue, taking over a long-term lease. The new restaurant features a more formal dining room compared to the casual taqueria setting of Talavera, Pedroza and Rodriguez's first restaurant. Anahuac offers an entirely new menu, with the exception of the popular mole poblano dish from Talavera. They've also hired chef Jorge Reyes from Guerrero, Mexico to create specials like octopus tacos on handmade tortillas. The restaurant's decor includes vibrant murals by Oakland artist San Enrique.

  • Pedroza moved to the Bay Area in the late 2000s to start a new life as a chef.
  • Pedroza became the general manager at Talavera Cocina Mexicana and later bought the restaurant outright, just before the pandemic.
  • Anahuac opened at the end of January 2026 in the former Fonda space on Solano Avenue.
  • After initial renovations, the restaurant was delayed in opening due to structural issues that required bringing the space up to code.

The players

Maricela Pedroza

Pedroza is the owner of Anahuac and Talavera Cocina Mexicana. She moved to the Bay Area in the late 2000s to start a new life as a chef, eventually becoming the general manager at Talavera before buying the restaurant outright.

Jose Rodriguez

Rodriguez is Pedroza's son and the co-owner of Anahuac. He manages the front-of-house operations at both Anahuac and Talavera, along with his sister Esmeralda.

Jorge Reyes

Reyes is the chef at Anahuac, hailing from Guerrero, Mexico. He regularly creates specials for the restaurant, including unique dishes like octopus tacos on handmade tortillas.

San Enrique

Enrique is the Oakland-based artist who created the vibrant murals and signage for Anahuac.

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What they’re saying

“She has her own house now, the whole American Dream, and it's just crazy from where she came from.”

— Jose Rodriguez, Co-owner, Anahuac

“Cooking has always been her passion, and it's just super nice to see where she's at now.”

— Jose Rodriguez, Co-owner, Anahuac

What’s next

Anahuac plans to offer the option of two small bowls of pozole per order in the future, allowing customers to try both the red and green versions.

The takeaway

Anahuac's opening represents the realization of the American Dream for its owners, Maricela Pedroza and Jose Rodriguez, who have built a successful family-owned restaurant business rooted in community and authentic Mexican cuisine. Their story stands in contrast to the increasing corporatization of the restaurant industry, offering an inspiring example of how passion, hard work, and a commitment to quality can lead to entrepreneurial success.