The much-anticipated Mexican restaurant Los Agaves Taqueria opened in Wellsboro at 63 Main Street at the end of July 2023, and since then owners Emmanuel Gutierrez and his wife, Valeria, have been sharing a bit of their home country with everyone.

‘Home’ for the transplanted couple is Jalisco, a city of about 50,000 people, in west-central Mexico. And while they both grew up there, Emmanuel and Valeria didn’t meet until later, at a mutual friend’s wedding. A move to Texas and then a journey north for work brought the couple to Wellsboro in May 2019. “Valeria fell in love with the town and decided it would be a great place to raise a family,” Emmanuel says. (They have two boys.)

Sharing their love of food with others became the motivation for Los Agaves Taqueria, and when a space became available downtown the Gutierrezes jumped at the chance. Valeria, a soft-spoken woman, oversaw the décor. “I didn’t want the bright colors you see in the Mexican chain restaurants, because that isn’t us,” she says. Instead, the walls are the color of the blue agave plant. “Tequila comes from the agave plant, and Jalisco is a big producer of tequila,” Emmanuel continues. “It’s a bit of home for us.”

There’s also a mural on the wall depicting a town square from Jalisco, done in charcoal and pencil, by local artist Tim Crane.

A few bumps along the way delayed the opening. “I ordered the kitchen appliances, and the guy took off with the money. I never heard from him again. So, I had to order more,” explains Emmanuel, with a shrug and a smile. His positive attitude and perseverance paid off. For the last year, they and their friendly staff have spread that positivity through authentic Mexican food.

The many offerings include Agave Tacos (soft corn tortilla), Gringo Tacos (soft flour tortilla), enchiladas with their own enchilada sauce, Agave Burritos (wrapped in a flour tortilla), chimichangas (a fried burrito), and quesadillas. “There are nine different meats to choose from,” he explains. “We have fried ice cream and flan for dessert, as well as bunuelos, which is a fried flour tortilla tossed in cinnamon sugar.” Recently they’ve added mahi mahi tacos, and specials are posted regularly on their Facebook page. Watch for tamale Saturdays so you can pre-order.

For Cinco de Mayo Fiesta last May, customers were greeted by an inflatable rodeo ring with a (not inflatable) kid-friendly mechanical bull. The space is large enough for birthday parties and other events, and you can order ahead in bulk for parties at home. By eating in, folks can enjoy the endless salsa bar and watch people go by on Main Street. And while they do not sell alcohol, Los Agaves Taqueria is a BYOB restaurant.

Ordering at the counter is easy, and staff will then deliver food to the customer’s table. Emmanuel and his crew welcome patrons every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for indoor dining and take-out. Call (570) 404-7061 and also find them on Facebook.