Beloved East LA Mexican restaurant Moles La Tia back open after 6 years

EAST LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A beloved Mexican restaurant in East Los Angeles is reopening after being closed for more than six years - and the community couldn't be happier.

Moles La Tia, located on Cesar Chavez Avenue near the 710 Freeway, quietly reopened in August. Owner Alejandra Reyna said the closure was much longer than they expected.

"First, we were remodeling, and then the pandemic came, and then it was really hard to open," she said.

Obtaining city permits also held them back, and when they were finally ready to open earlier this year, immigration raids began happening across Southern California. However, Reyna was determined to serve her community again.

"All those five years, the people were texting us, 'When are you going to open?'" she said.

Now, customers are eager to indulge in some of the restaurant's most loved dishes, including their famous mole, a slow-cooked Mexican sauce made with various ground chili peppers, nuts, seeds and other spices that's typically served with meats like chicken and turkey.

Some customers got emotional when they returned to the restaurant.

"They were really happy," said Reyna.

Moles La Tia first opened in 2006 with delicious meals from recipes passed down from Reyna's mother. The restaurant expanded its menu, evolved some of those recipes, and customers kept coming back for the food and cozy atmosphere.

"The people that come here, it's because of the experience, because they feel like they're in their home," said Reyna.

Moles La Tia is open Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the restaurant closed on Tuesdays. This community staple is ready to welcome your family with open arms.

"They say it tastes the same so that makes me more happy...I'm really happy to serve my people and make them feel like home," Reyna said.