Chunky’s Taqueria is a Mexican restaurant that was made with the community in mind and the location carefully selected by the owners. The owners of this restaurant are Ruben and Alex. Alex was previously a restaurant owner who had met Ruben in San Francisco, and they agreed to co-found a restaurant to serve food. The two men became friends and co-founders because they had a common goal and interest in running a restaurant. They chose Petaluma as their location because of the great opportunity for raising their families in this strong community.
Ruben shared how the locally-loved restaurant began. Chunky’s was established in 2001, in Petaluma at the plaza of Leghorn Marketplace, on the East Side of Petaluma. When he was asked why he left San Francisco, he stated, “I wanted somewhere where I could raise a family with a good community and for a good place to open a restaurant.” He wanted to have a restaurant that focused on the community — a place for people to enjoy fresh and quick food at a low price. “I wanted to open the restaurant because I have a love for cooking.” Locals enjoy the food and, more often than not, a lot of middle school kids and high school students enjoy eating food from there.
Casa junior E.J. Breyfogle shared his experiences eating at Chunky’s: “Every time I order I know what to expect from the restaurant. The wait time is usually the same by yourself, large groups, or online, besides delivery.” The restaurant has fast paced workers who make sure food stays hot and fresh for the customers. In addition, Breyfogle said that overall, “[He’s] never had a bad experience like having a hair in [his] food, or the food being bad. Everything is fresh, and I’ve never had a complaint about the food being bad.” The restaurant works to keep clean and orderly when it comes to customer orders. Most people would say they had a positive experience at Chunky’s, and it seems no one ever has a complaint about the food or service. In discussing the menu and his go to order, Breyfogle “usually just [has] the bean and cheese burrito, and it’s [his] go to order. But [he] tried the super, and [he] really enjoyed it and might order it the next time [he] go[es]. Additionally, [he] really enjoy[s] the fact that they have a wide variety to choose from but not enough to overwhelm yourself when choosing what to eat.”
The location of Chunky’s is convenient for everyone and is a close drive or it is in walking distance for most Petalumans. It’s not far from the central area of Petaluma, and it’s very close to East Side neighborhoods.
Most customers agree that they really enjoy the food and the service there. The employees always come by to make sure there aren’t any problems with the food and to make sure patrons have everything they need to enjoy their meals. The interior of the restaurant is colorful, and the walls have paintings in the aesthetic of Hispanic heritage, with little cut outs of “papel picado,” colorful papers strung on the ceiling. The interior is warm and welcoming with the smell of food always wafting in the air. The environment is very welcoming for everyone of any ethnicity, and people from all walks of life can enjoy the food.
Overall, the dish I’d most recommend is the Chicken Tortilla Soup. Though it’s seasonally on the menu, it is one of my favorites. During the cold seasons, the soup really just hits the spot, and it’s a smooth and delicious meal. The base of the soup is a yellowish orange because of the arrangement of seasonings. The soup is offered with an optional addition of chip strips and cheese or just having a serving of fresh tortillas. It’s very filling and just a great overall meal to have on a cold or chilly day.
For the locals, having a meal from Chunky’s is a daily occurrence and even a celebration meal that families can enjoy. The range of meals on the menu can fit everyone ranging from the most open- minded people to the pickiest eaters. Anyone and everyone can enjoy a freshly cooked meal at an affordable price even for high school students. Locals of Petaluma enjoy Chunky’s for its prices, food, the variety of menu, the location, and the service from the staff.
