Owner of Fiesta Mexicana to open new taqueria in Liberty Lake

The owner of Fiesta Mexicana on Spokane’s South Hill is opening a second restaurant with a slightly different concept in Liberty Lake.

For the past four months, Miguel Amador has been renovating a space at 1235 N. Liberty Lake Road to transform it into Mexico Lindo, a taqueria that also will offer some of Fiesta Mexicana’s popular dishes, such as fajitas, arroz con pollo, chile relleno and carne asada.

“We are doing all those dishes over there as well, on top of the different street tacos we are going to offer,” Amador said.

Amador purchased the Liberty Lake space that has been occupied by several restaurants, including Quizno’s, Bellacrosta Bakery and Fine Foods, and Big Island BBQ, which closed in July after a stint of more than four months.

“I always liked Liberty Lake for a restaurant because I know there’s only one Mexican restaurant there similar to mine,” Amador said. “I’ve been looking for a while there, but it’s hard to find a spot, especially where I’m going. It’s really popular, I guess.”

Big Island BBQ owners Cody and Berni Young put the restaurant up for sale in July because of Cody’s health issues. They had multiple offers on the business and ultimately chose Amador based on his restaurant background and experience.

“It was a good opportunity for me to move in. It was something I always wanted,” Amador said, referring to opening a taqueria. “So I decided to do it. I’m very positive that it is going to work out.”

A native of Guadalajara, Mexico, Amador got his start in the restaurant industry as a busboy for a restaurant in Cheney. He subsequently was employed at Azteca, and then, as a waiter and chef at Rancho Chico for more than five years.

“I started to get my own ideas about cooking, too,” he said.

After getting married, Amador took a job in construction because the work hours allowed for more time with his family.

But after a year, he returned to the restaurant industry. He was driving on the South Hill one day and saw a “for rent” sign in front of a building at 1227 S. Grand Blvd. that was owned by The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.

“I called them up right away and asked if it was still for rent,” he said.

Amador opened Fiesta Mexicana in the building with his brother-in-law, Travis Glasser, in 2002.

Amador and Glasser expanded Fiesta Mexicana to Coeur d’Alene in 2006. The restaurant was open for eight years before Amador closed it to focus full time on Fiesta Mexicana .

Amador plans to split his time between Fiesta Mexicana and Mexico Lindo in Liberty Lake. His current chef at Fiesta Mexicana, Ignacio Garcia, will be moving to Mexico Lindo when it opens later this month.

Amador said he’s looking forward to bringing authentic Mexican food to Liberty Lake.

“The main key is having good food and good service,” he said. “If either is no good, then your restaurant won’t be successful.”