After the 2023 opening of a successful food truck, Taqueria Mi Tierra Caliente, Maria Hernandez knew the only location for a future brick-and-mortar restaurant would be in downtown Summerville.
Leslie Gutierrez, Maria’s daughter, who helps run Mi Tierra Caliente, said the whole family is deeply entrenched in Summerville — it’s where Hernandez raised her kids and where they all attended school.
“My mom’s dream had always been to own a restaurant in downtown Summerville,” Gutierrez said. “She said if it’s not in downtown Summerville, I don’t want it.”
Now located at 102 S. Cedar St., Mi Tierra Caliente (which translates from Spanish as “my hot land”) is in a prime location, situated near popular spots like Swank Desserts and Matt’s Burgers.
“When this place opened up my mom said, ‘I don’t know — do you think it will be a hit?’ ” Gutierrez said. “She had a lot of doubts, but I said, ‘I think it’s going to be popular. … There’s a lot of traffic and a lot of businesses so I said, Why not? Let’s just do it.’ ”
And do it they did. Mi Tierra Caliente quietly opened in November and is currently open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, as well as for Sunday brunch.
Mi Tierra’s food truck is still operational, and while you’ll find some similar dishes at the restaurant, there are also additional entrees that translate better to a sit-down establishment than a grab-and-go truck.
Gutierrez’s favorite dish is the enchiladas de guerrero, which are traditional red enchiladas stuffed with cheese and served with chicken. “They’re different from any other place,” she said.
Something new for Summerville
Diners tell Gutierrez that a lot of Mi Tierra Caliente’s dishes are a refreshing departure from the kind of Mexican food they find at other places around town.
“They say, compared to every other Mexican restaurant, this is one of the most authentic places you could probably find here,” she said.
Gutierrez helped her mom plan the menu for Mi Tierra Caliente, and encouraged her to include the dishes they grew up eating at home. “I said, ‘I think we should stay with our roots. … All the dishes on our menu are things that I grew up eating here and in Mexico,’” Gutierrez said. “A lot of people love it. A lot of people are trying new things,” she added.
Mi Tierra’s menu includes small bites, salads and snacks, platos de casa and caldos (soups). You can also choose from a variety of beers and cocktails.
Gutierrez said it’s been fun to see friends and neighbors come into Mi Tierra Caliente. “It’s teachers and people that I grew up with that are coming here,” she said. “It’s amazing.”
And while Mi Tierra only opened a few months ago, Gutierrez said she and her family are always ready to see what might be on the horizon. It was the food truck, after all, that led customers to the brick and mortar.
“Regulars [come to Mi Tierra] from the food truck and they’ll say, ‘I’m so happy you have this,’” Gutierrez said. “It’s different plates [from the food truck] and they say, ‘Oh my God, I’m excited to try this.’ ”
The future appears bright for Mi Tierra Caliente. “We’re open for new adventures,” Gutierrez said.
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