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    A painted puzzle piece artwork is displayed as Ballet Folclórico of Wayne State University dancers perform at Roosevelt Park during the ‘Pieces of Detroit’ event in Detroit, Michigan, on April 27, 2025. The installation and performances celebrated the cultural and historical ties across Southwest Detroit.

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    Bagley-West Vernor Historic District Receives Unanimous Approval, Next Up for State Vote

    Bagley-West Vernor Historic District Receives Unanimous Approval, Next Up for State Vote

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    Detroit City FC Stadium Financing Unveiled to Neighborhood Advisory Council

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    Film Detroit Brings Industry Resources Directly to Detroiters

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    Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

    Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

    Family Ties Build Foundation for Detroit Cristo Rey Boys Soccer

    Family Ties Build Foundation for Detroit Cristo Rey Boys Soccer

    City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board to nominate Bagley-West Vernor Historic District

    City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board to nominate Bagley-West Vernor Historic District

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    Javier González Weaves Freedom and Family Legacy Into Sculptural Tapestries

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    A painted puzzle piece artwork is displayed as Ballet Folclórico of Wayne State University dancers perform at Roosevelt Park during the ‘Pieces of Detroit’ event in Detroit, Michigan, on April 27, 2025. The installation and performances celebrated the cultural and historical ties across Southwest Detroit.

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    ¡¡Mi Grito, Tu Grito. Our Collective Voice Matters!!

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EL CENTRAL Hispanic News
  • Home
  • About
    • Introducing the partnership with the Race and Justice reporting Initiative
    • Resources
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    Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

    Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

    Hank Aguiree’s Mexican Industries

    Hank Aguiree’s Mexican Industries

    Bagley-West Vernor Historic District Receives Unanimous Approval, Next Up for State Vote

    Bagley-West Vernor Historic District Receives Unanimous Approval, Next Up for State Vote

    Film Detroit Brings Industry Resources Directly to Detroiters

    Film Detroit Brings Industry Resources Directly to Detroiters

    Independencia de México

    Independencia de México

    Family Ties Build Foundation for Detroit Cristo Rey Boys Soccer

    Family Ties Build Foundation for Detroit Cristo Rey Boys Soccer

    Can you be arrested for looking Hispanic?

    Can you be arrested for looking Hispanic?

    Hispanic Heritage Month

    Hispanic Heritage Month

    City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board to nominate Bagley-West Vernor Historic District

    City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board to nominate Bagley-West Vernor Historic District

  • Community

    Detroit’s Latino Community Helps Shape Smithsonian’s National Museum Project

    Introducing the Southwest Detroit Auto Heritage Guide

    Introducing the Southwest Detroit Auto Heritage Guide

    Hank Aguiree’s Mexican Industries

    Hank Aguiree’s Mexican Industries

    Lions and Tigers Hispanic Heritage Month Observances

    Lions and Tigers Hispanic Heritage Month Observances

    A painted puzzle piece artwork is displayed as Ballet Folclórico of Wayne State University dancers perform at Roosevelt Park during the ‘Pieces of Detroit’ event in Detroit, Michigan, on April 27, 2025. The installation and performances celebrated the cultural and historical ties across Southwest Detroit.

    Cultura y Comunidad / Culture and Community

    Bagley-West Vernor Historic District Receives Unanimous Approval, Next Up for State Vote

    Bagley-West Vernor Historic District Receives Unanimous Approval, Next Up for State Vote

    Detroit City FC Stadium Financing Unveiled to Neighborhood Advisory Council

    Detroit City FC Stadium Financing Unveiled to Neighborhood Advisory Council

    Film Detroit Brings Industry Resources Directly to Detroiters

    Film Detroit Brings Industry Resources Directly to Detroiters

    ¡¡Mi Grito, Tu Grito. Our Collective Voice Matters!!

    ¡¡Mi Grito, Tu Grito. Our Collective Voice Matters!!

  • Featured
    Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

    Mexican Consulate Sponsors El Grito Event in Southwest Detroit

    Family Ties Build Foundation for Detroit Cristo Rey Boys Soccer

    Family Ties Build Foundation for Detroit Cristo Rey Boys Soccer

    City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board to nominate Bagley-West Vernor Historic District

    City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board to nominate Bagley-West Vernor Historic District

    DCFC Community Benefits Process Kicks Off in Mexicantown

    DCFC Community Benefits Process Kicks Off in Mexicantown

    “SWFest” to Showcase Local Sound for Fifth Year at Senate Theater

    “SWFest” to Showcase Local Sound for Fifth Year at Senate Theater

    Senator Slotkin Delivers Federal Honor to CHASS as Funding Fights Loom

    Senator Slotkin Delivers Federal Honor to CHASS as Funding Fights Loom

    A Forever Home for Detroit City FC

    A Forever Home for Detroit City FC

    CHASS Center Honored with Spirit of Detroit Award in Honor of 55 Years of Community Health, Dignity, and Hope

    CHASS Center Honored with Spirit of Detroit Award in Honor of 55 Years of Community Health, Dignity, and Hope

    Gutierrez and cousin Jacob Lozano

    Donut Villa Expands to Second Location Near Ford Rouge Plant

  • Opinion
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    Javier González Weaves Freedom and Family Legacy Into Sculptural Tapestries

    Javier González Weaves Freedom and Family Legacy Into Sculptural Tapestries

    A painted puzzle piece artwork is displayed as Ballet Folclórico of Wayne State University dancers perform at Roosevelt Park during the ‘Pieces of Detroit’ event in Detroit, Michigan, on April 27, 2025. The installation and performances celebrated the cultural and historical ties across Southwest Detroit.

    Cultura y Comunidad / Culture and Community

    Independencia de México

    Independencia de México

    ¡Vamonos! Transforms Into an Immersive All Latina Artists Gallery

    ¡Vamonos! Transforms Into an Immersive All Latina Artists Gallery

    ¡¡Mi Grito, Tu Grito. Our Collective Voice Matters!!

    ¡¡Mi Grito, Tu Grito. Our Collective Voice Matters!!

    Hispanic Heritage Month

    Hispanic Heritage Month

    Ayapaneco Numte oote – Zoque de Tabasco

    Ayapaneco Numte oote – Zoque de Tabasco

    Festivalgoers enjoying the photobooth.

    SWFest: Celebrating Five Years of Creativity and Community

    Mayan Kaqchikel

    Mayan Kaqchikel

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La Jali Arrives: Bringing Mexicantown Heritage to Taylor

EL CENTRAL by EL CENTRAL
May 8, 2025
in Community, Local Small Business, Restaurants
Reading Time: 4 mins read
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  • Alejandro Ugalde Sandoval
  • Alejandro Ugalde Sandoval
  • May 8, 2025

Outside, the bold yellow letters simply read: La Jali. Inside, sunlight spills through wide windows, casting a golden glow across tables where families lean over trays of tacos and handmade sopes. Laughter and conversation fill the room, echoing beneath rows of colorful papel picado strung across the ceiling. This vibrant scene unfolds not at the long-standing La Jalisciense in Southwest Detroit, but at its first expansion: a new location in Taylor.

For more than a decade, the original La Jalisciense has been a beloved staple and neighborhood fixture on Vernor Highway, where shoppers browse Mexican imports and regulars gather for traditional meals. With La Jali, the Vargas family brings a streamlined version of the original while preserving the warmth that defines it.

Stephen Poloni, 66, and Kathy Poloni, 63, of Taylor, MI., pose outside La Jali on Telegraph Road in Taylor on Monday, May 5, 2025. The couple had eagerly awaited the opening of the new restaurant. “Everything tasted homemade,” said Kathy. “The food was excellent, and the chips were fantastic.”
Stephen Poloni, 66, and Kathy Poloni, 63, of Taylor, MI., pose outside La Jali on Telegraph Road in Taylor on Monday, May 5, 2025. The couple had eagerly awaited the opening of the new restaurant. “Everything tasted homemade,” said Kathy. “The food was excellent, and the chips were fantastic.”

The new La Jali space on Telegraph Road is bright and efficient, balancing modern counter service with cultural touches. Near the entrance, a compact market section features Mexican candies, salsas, and other nostalgic staples, serving as a clear nod to the extensive market of the original location.

José Vargas Jr. moves precisely in the kitchen, eyes fixed on the growing line of orders. Meanwhile, his sister Leslie Vargas stays close to the front, preparing drinks and answering customer questions from behind the bar. Calm and focused, the pair set the tone for the entire operation.

“This new format keeps things fast and casual, but the flavor and care are exactly the same as our original location.” José shared in a press release.

Server Angelina Celestee delivers tacos and handmade sopes to diners at La Jali in Taylor, MI., on Monday, May 5, 2025
Server Angelina Celestee delivers tacos and handmade sopes to diners at La Jali in Taylor, MI., on Monday, May 5, 2025

That spirit resonates with diners. Kathy Poloni, a Taylor resident, had been watching the location closely in anticipation of opening day. “Everything tasted homemade,” she said. “The food was excellent, and the chips were fantastic.”

Darion, Lorie Spencer, and Katherine Howard made the visit part of their Cinco de Mayo tradition. “It felt like a celebration,” said Lorie. “And the sopes were definitely worth the wait.”

By sunset, the crowd hasn’t thinned. Dishes move swiftly from kitchen to table, a blur of motion reflecting the busy opening, but the atmosphere remains warm. A family lingers over empty plates, sharing a final laugh under the colorful banners. Located at 9411 Telegraph Road, La Jali has done more than open its doors: it has extended a welcome.

*****

Alejandro Ugalde Sandoval is a commercial photographer and independent photojournalist based in Detroit. His work documents the lives of immigrant communities in Southeast Michigan, focusing on how culture, community ties, and economic opportunity shape everyday life. He is dedicated to bridging information gaps and fostering meaningful conversations within the region.

EL CENTRAL Hispanic News is partially funded by Press Forward, the national movement to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news. Learn more at www.pressforward.news.

Tags: foodlatinosMexican Food
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