A CT deli’s cuisine comes from Mexican grandmother’s recipes. Diner raves: ‘the best I’ve ever had’

Like grandmothers all over the world Maria Rangel, who is from Mexico, loves to feed her grandchildren every time they walk through the door.

But in the Rangel family’s case, two of the adult grandchildren are cashing in on the authentic Mexican recipes Abuela Maria has delighted them with for years.

Andrew and Elizabeth Rangel have reopened El Sol Deli in Manchester owned by their father and turned it into a taqueria of sorts using Abuela Maria’s from scratch recipes.

The tacos, empanadas, burritos, flautas and specialty empanada tacos are selling like hotcakes.

Sometimes there’s a line out the door, customers say online.

Andrew Rangel said they are selling 2,000 empanadas per day.

“Our menu is good handmade fresh tacos like back home,” Andrew Rangel said. “It’s our grandmother’s food we grew up with.”

The tiny spot at 631 Main St. has been reopened for three months after being closed about a year.

They first opened during the pandemic as a traditional deli. The family owns another El Sol Deli at 1400 West Broad St., Stratford, but they continue to sell typical deli food with some Mexican.

Andrew Rangel said they’re finding success in Manchester at 631 Main St. this time around because of the cuisine and heavy social media promotions.

“So far it’s a blessing,” Andrew Rangel said of the change. “Social media has now changed our life. It helps us get word out and connecting with local food influencers. We did it a little different this time.”

He said family members passed out menus downtown initially “to really get our name out there.”

Everything is made from scratch starting with their grandmother’s hand-made flour and corn tortillas. All the sauces, Pico de Gallo, guacamole, are grandma’s recipes as well.

The vegetable toppings and meats are as fresh as can be, he said.

The deli carries numerous types of empanadas with four more on the way, he said.

They have a wildly popular “empanada taco” dish that’s an empanada sliced and stuffed like a taco with lettuce, tomato, Pico de Gallo, sour cream and homemade guacamole.

Customers online are raving about Ed Sole Deli, especially the empanada taco.

One customer wrote online, “Tried the empanada tacos. The combination was amazing!. My fiance got the birria tacos and it was also amazing! Let’s make this business thrive in Manchester. Definitely will be coming back.”

One customer wrote on Facebook, “Visited El Sol Deli today and the food was delicious! We had the empanada tacos (steak and chicken) and I wish I’d ordered extras.”

Another customer wrote online that El Sol’s taco is, “the best I’ve ever had.”

Andrew Rangel said the business is all about family working together, with Elizabeth Rangel as the main chef.

“Without the help of our entire family none of this could come together,” he said.

Grandmother Maria, who now lives in New York and sees the grandchildren often, continues to inspire Andrew, 22, just by being a grandma.

“She still serves me food every time I walk through the door,” he said. “If I don’t eat she says, ‘is my food not good enough?”‘

Andrew Rangel said he drives two hours from New York to get to Manchester each day, but it’s worth the trip.

“I love it. This is what I want to say is a dream come true,” he said. “To see people happy, it just makes you want to come back to work every day.”

What else has grandma taught him?

“Anything you prepare make sure you prepare it with a lot of love. You can’t rush the process.”