Amigo Taqueria & Botanas, Sundae, Royal Chopstix, Dominican truck up Erie's food game

Amigo Taqueria & Botanas, 5630 Peach St., has been open for two weeks with steady business, according to cashier Fernanda Mancilla.

"We serve authentic Mexican food that is all made from scratch and made in good-sized portions so that other people can taste what our culture provides," Mancilla said. "We're pretty happy about the support and love everybody has shown us."

She said the owners, including Monsterrat Vazquez and Armando Bravo, also own El Amigo restaurant, 319 State St. Amigo Taqueria is open Mondays through Saturdays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. They offer dine-in and carryout. Find more information at bit.ly/amigotaqueria. Order online at bit.ly/amigoorder.

Sundae

Sundae, 559 W. Eighth St., a vegan sweets pop-up shop owned by Samantha Randall, is celebrating the opening of her new food truck in a big way with Sundae's Summer Street Soiree.

"It's an ice cream food trailer with soft-serve vegan ice cream," Randall said, adding that she'll also sell her signature vegan desserts from the trailer as well.

To get the word out, Randall is throwing a block party July 15 from 5 to 9 p.m. on West Eighth street. She has arranged for the street to be closed from Peach to State streets and is planning food trucks, live music, beer and wine vendors, adoptable dogs and cats and shopping at 13 vendors selling items such as jewelry ,fresh-cut flowers, handmade clothing and more. A roaming photographer will capture the fun.

"It's just basically a big party," Randall said. "I want the community to celebrate this. It took me a lot of hard work" to get a food trailer on the road.

More:Purrista Cat Cafe to open in downtown Erie, offering coffee plus felines available for adoption

She's donating 15 percent of the proceeds from the party sales to animal rescue operations and is featuring Purrista Cat Cafe as one of the vendors. For more information, visit bit.ly/Sundaeparty.

Royal Chopstix Asian Cuisine

Royal Chopstix Asian Cuisine, 3444 West Lake Road, which was damaged by fire in June 2021, is in a soft opening — sushi and takeout only — until they can get enough servers and cooks to serve the dining room. Now, I know it's exciting for you Royal Chopstixers, but don't overwhelm them. Remember, they're still retooling. But, yes, for now, sushi and takeout. Check the Facebook page for hours daily facebook.com/chopstixerie. Order online at royalchopstixerie.com or call 814-833-3339.

More:Royal Chopstix is coming back; Annapurna is open; Federal Hill has a food truck; much more

Spanglish Skillet

New regional food truck, Spanglish Skillet, run by Luis and Amy Fernandez, will split its time between central Florida and Erie.

"I'm originally from Florida," Luis Fernandez said. "That’s where our home is at. But we travel to Erie because my wife is from Erie.'

The two met when they were both in law enforcement in central Florida 30 years ago and they raised three children, now adults. Luis, who is second-generation Dominican, recently retired but "found out I'm not ready to retire," he said. So he and his wife put their knowledge of Dominican food into a flexible business.

They've had the trailer four months, with a menu including empanadas (filling wrapped inside dough and deep-fried into hand-pies) as well as rice and beans, and something called a Fiesta Bowl with corn, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and chives.

"(Amy makes) the special sauces that please the palate," Luis said.

He said while the food is Latin, it is not spicy like Mexican or Tex-mex cuisine is known for.

"The food is more flavorful rather than spicy hot," he said.

They've done several events this spring and summer in Erie, including at Erie Ale Works, the Autism Walk on April 23, Shriners Hospitals for Children and Saint Vincent Health System, and they will be at 8 Great Tuesdays.

"It's more work than I expected, but that’s what I was looking for," Luis said with a laugh.

At the end of September, they'll pick up and head home to serve their food at events there. Luis said his friends are thrilled for him, as they've been enjoying his and Amy's food for years.

"We were booked two years before we had a truck," Amy said with a laugh. "We've been talking about it forever."

In other news

Learn how to mix and taste three cocktails and one mocktail at the Flagship City Food Hall, 22 North Park Row, at a workshop July 11, 6:30 p.m. Registration required, 21 and older. Cost is $17.50 per person. Register by Friday at bit.ly/Flagshipcocktails.

There is no truth to the rumor that Odis 12 Bar & Grille, 3702 W. 12th St.,is closed during its renovations, according to a recent Facebook post. They plan to be open normal hours throughout: Sundays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, follow www.facebook.com/odis12wings/.

More:Erie's Odis 12 to spread its wings with expanded location. Renovation could take 4 months

Doughnut news

The Erie Donut Factory, 5031 Peach St., is hosting its grand opening at 5 a.m. Friday. Owner Ed Lang said they'll have not just donuts, but also other bakery items such as cookies and cakes. The store is in the Summit Plaza next to the Hallmark Store.

"We're very excited," Lang said with a laugh. "We don't know (how much business) to expect to be honest with you."

Erie Donut Factory is not a franchise or chain. Lang is the owner and he lives in Erie. He said he has no intentions of trying to "replace" or even compete with other local shops, saying there's plenty of doughnut business to go around.

"Our capacity is 200 people," he said. "There are 350,000 people in Erie (County). We're not going to put anyone out of business."

More:Glazed, filled or iced: Here are places in the Erie area to find your favorite doughnuts

He said he's touched by the support and encouragement he's received.

"The support from other businesses in town has been phenomenal. You wouldn't get this in a place like Pittsburgh or one of the larger cities. Erie's just a special place," he said.

He said they'll eventually have 40 flavors of large and small doughnuts, but won't be at 100 percent capacity for Friday.

"We just want to get open," he said. "And if we run out, they're made fresh here. There's no freezer full of donuts to warm up. It's not that way."

More:Lawrence Park Dinor sold, new owners to keep its charm; State Street Rita's open

Speaking of doughnuts, you can get a free one every day from Tim Hortons locations through July 5, if you order a drink on the mobile Tim Hortons app. Activation required. It's a way for the company to get you to get the app and also a celebration of U.S. Independence Day as well as Canada Day, which is July 1.

Hungry Howie's

Two of the three Hungry Howie's Erie locations: 128 W 12th St., and 3558 W. 26th St., have closed. The third location, 5068 Station Road, is still open. All three Erie locations were licensed to open in 2010.

If you have regional restaurant news or questions, please send an email to jgeisler@timesnews.com, or call 814-870-1885.