Tacos, coffee, crystals, and plants; Mac Plaza is a food truck hub and more

Here’s what’s on the menu at this new family business

Diana Perez moves a mile a minute these days. One moment she’s checking in with a food truck vendor, the next she’s clearing a table and then, when she notices a couple hesitating in the entryway of her family’s business, she launches into an explanation.

“Hi guys, welcome! Is it your first time here? Let me give you a small tour.”

She points out the different businesses within the space- a gift shop over here, outdoor plants in the greenhouse over there, indoor plants upstairs, and open seating for the in-house cafe and the food trucks parked out front. 

Last October Perez and her family —her sister Nancy Maszckak, brother-in-law Daniel Maszckak, and mother Veronica Tufino — opened Mac Plaza in the former Fackler Construction space just next door to El Rancho Market. 

The business combines several different facets. On the ground floor there’s a gift store with costume jewelry, rocks, and crystals. Diana and her mom staff a small deli and bar with a menu of salads, sandwiches, coffee, smoothies, drinks, and snacks. Nancy, who has a green thumb and has been selling plants online for the past several years, offers both garden plants, houseplants, and custom-blended soil and a great variety of succulents. Inside, behind big roll-up garage doors, is a seating area with booths, a longer table, a toddler-friendly play corner loaded with toys, and, on the walls, murals and paintings by Veronica.

The idea for the family business was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Nancy and Diana were both laid-off from jobs in the restaurant industry. They are originally from Mexico, but were living in California at the time. They relocated to Oregon after Nancy and Daniel were married. The couple loves UFOs and it was his dream to move to McMinnville. 

They chose the name Mac Plaza to invoke the idea of a community gathering place, Diana explained, in Mexico, “you go to the plaza you’re gonna find a lot of food, vegetables for sale, everything.”

Food is an essential part of the business model. Diana said “when we saw this building we saw a lot of potential”  to be a community hub for locally-owned food trucks. The informal pod, which also has picnic table seating out front, is currently home to three food trucks and they plan to add more. Antojitos la Gordita, Mario’s Taqueria, and Tacos y Mariscos el Cebollo all serve Mexican food. Though there is some overlap on their menus – catch me out there conducting a scientific birria taste test – they each have specialties you won’t find at the other trucks. 

Antojitos la Gordita has the biggest menu, one that includes tamales, sopes, flautas, and empanadas in addition to tacos. Stop by early for breakfast tacos or breakfast burritos. They even make a burrito loaded with chilaquiles. It’s also worth saving room for a slice of heir churro cheesecake, which is a tender flan-tres leches hybrid. 

Mario’s Taqueria, in contrast, has a more minimalist menu that specializes in tacos al carbon, tacos stuffed with charcoal-grilled meats. The truck also has a trompito, a small version of a vertical spit roaster, which gives their tacos al pastor a smoky kiss. Another homey dish on the menu is mulitas, a version of a quesadilla made with two tortillas sandwiched together. 

At Tacos y Mariscos el Cebollo the specialties are tacos and shrimp and seafood cocktail, spicy and refreshing, they’re perfect on a warm day. Not in the mood for seafood? Try their loaded tostadas or chilaquiles topped with fried eggs. 

Each of the trucks keeps their own hours, but through the summer months Mac Plaza is open 10:00am until 8:00pm every day but Wednesday. 

Emily Teel writes about cooking and dining and develops recipes on behalf of national brands. Mom to a toddler, she’s also an avid gardener and loves to forage for mushrooms in berries in the Pacific Northwest.

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