A tribute to Hector

"I'll take one breakfast burrito, a tube of hot sauce and a cup of water please!"

For any of my friends and family who came to visit me when I lived in San Diego or have been to San Diego with me simultaneously, they will all say one thing...I love Hector's!

I was first introduced to Hector's Mexican Food during my first year at Point Loma. My buddies and I would get up every saturday morning for a dawn patrol session (early morning surfing for those who aren't informed) and would ride waves until our stomachs and shoulders could no longer take the aching. We had a very simple but theraputic formula after each surfing session...grab a hector's breakfast burrito and sneak into Humphrey's Half Moon resort to sit in the hot tub! Honestly, We must have done this 30 to 40 times during that first year. Hector's became somewhat of a Phenomena that year. The news of this unbelievably tasty burrito for only $3.65 was spreading like wildfire thoughout the campus of PLNU. Before we knew it, every time we went to Hector's we would see several fellow students enjoying what we call "Hector's sweet Nectar."

When I graduated from PLNU in 2006, I naturally thought that as time went by, I would ever so slowly veer away from the eggs, cheese, bacon and potato all wrapped in a fresh tortilla... I could NOT have been more wrong. What I realized is that it's not only the amazing taste of the burrito I love so much, but it's the story behind Hector himself. For roughly 15 years, Hector has been serving Mexican Food 364 days a year only taking a day off on Christmas day. He comes from a small town in Mexico where many of his relatives still live. I am not sure how many there are, but he supports many of his family members in Mexico thru his restaurant by working seven days a week for 12 hours each day. Hector is not only a great chef, but a hard working, honorable family man!

Although I have moved from San Diego and now live back in the Pacific Northwest, I still visit San Diego frequently to see family and friends. Whenever I am back in San Diego, you can bet on it that I will be at Hector's as many times as possible. Even if a year has gone by, it sounds like this, "Hola Pete...how are you? Let me guess, breakfast burrito?" It never fails; every time I take a bite out of a breakfast burrito I can't help but think of the many good times spent at Hector's! So here's to you Hector-I look forward to many more burritos!

-Pete