Welcome to Ramiro y Chela's, where an incredible journey of culinary passion and family tradition comes to life. Our story begins with Ramiro, who arrived in the United States from Mexico with dreams of building a better life for his family, carrying with him the rich traditions of authentic Mexican cuisine passed down through generations.

Like many immigrants pursuing the American dream, Ramiro started at the bottom – washing dishes in Italian restaurants in Chicago. But his natural talent and dedication didn't go unnoticed. The chefs saw his passion for cooking and began teaching him the art of Italian cuisine. What started as a necessity became a love affair with Italian cooking techniques, flavors, and traditions.

For nearly 20 years, Ramiro mastered his craft in Chicago's Italian kitchens, learning everything from handmade pasta to perfectly balanced sauces. He didn't just learn recipes – he absorbed the soul of Italian cooking while never forgetting the Mexican flavors that shaped his childhood. This unique combination of skills and cultural knowledge would later become the foundation of something truly special.

When the family moved to California, Ramiro opened Edgar's Italian Restaurant, where his authentic Italian dishes quickly became beloved by the community. But as he entered semi-retirement, he realized he wanted to honor both sides of his culinary journey – the Italian techniques he'd mastered and the Mexican heritage that had always been in his heart.

That's how Ramiro y Chela's was born. Today, we bring you the best of both worlds: Italian classics prepared with the skill and authenticity Ramiro learned over two decades in Chicago, alongside traditional Mexican dishes that celebrate our family's roots. From our handmade tamales made with recipes passed down from Chela's family to Ramiro's perfectly crafted chicken parmigiana, every dish tells the story of an immigrant's journey and a family's love for bringing people together through food.