Meet Abel Dominguez Jr | Chef, husband and business owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Abel Dominguez Jr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Abel, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process was to be my own chef, my own boss. To spark something out of the passion in my soul. With that drive, build a business that will financially free my family. I wanted to focus my energy on creating Mecha BBQ to someday provide investment capital for not only me but for my family and friends to reach and achieve our dreams. I imagined being able to have the freedom to create eye catching dishes, pairing my Mexican roots with the aquirred culinary experience I’ve gained.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I became obsessed with the word MECHA because of its definition of fire and or spark. Alot of people ask, why Mecha? I respond, I sparked the idea and fired the Passion. I learned how to smoke out of a compact grill. As i thrill from failure, I tried more than grilling a traditional carne asada. After a few burnt ribs, I wanted to upgrade into a smoker. How ever didnt want to go the traditional offset smoker route. Instead, I wanted to try different and affordable options. I purchased a 55-gallon barrel from an industrial business and customized it to a vertical drum smoker. It took years of mental and physical challenges while running a kitchen earlier in life at a 9 to 5 to fast forward now running my own business. I am proud to share Mecha bbq today as a memorable experience. A customer shared with me recently how he was sitting in a table, curld up feeling sad and depressed, but as soon as he saw a plate pass by, he immediately lit up. After ordering and eating his own plate, he came back dancing, expressing how the food filled him with joy. Creating that experience for people is how I overcome challenges. Moments like these continue to fuel my passion.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Cruising down PCH, Stunt Row, and the San Fernando Valley bumping some oldies is a must! Another day, we can ride down to A’s BBQ in East Los, one of my favorite BBQ spots. I am not much for planning but enjoy life as the day goes by. We can hit up Inglewood for “Carnitas El Artisa” , and “Birria Los socios” and “The Goat Mafia” for a Taco Tuesday. Stopping by the Downtown buildings for beautiful skylines and Angels park to appreciate the Dodgers Stadium is a must. Los Angeles has beautiful deteriorated buildings that till this day, tell stories. However, our week goes , we must stop by moms kitchen for some authentic Durango Mexican dishes. There’s no better vibes than friends, family and and food.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The love of God is the core of Mecha BBQ. I am thankful for the people he’s put in my life. People i grew up with and have met running this business helped me gain knowledge, strength, and character. That being said, I want to give a huge shoutout to my wife. Together, our talents flow effortlessly to spark happiness into our cutomers. It is with our everyday faith that we are able to grow day by day. I want to thank my mother, a single parent of a first-generation Mexican American kid who taught me never to give up by working through difficult times. My nephew Joey, for helping in multiple ways to bring my ideas to life! Thank you to the mentorship of Chef Jim and Chef Paco throughout the years of working in the restaurant industry. I want to give thanks to Gary Vaynerchuk for his raw, encouraging words and shared knowledge. A huge thank you to Shadowgrove brewery and 818 brewery for making it our homes Thursdays and Fridays for over a year now. To all my family, friends, and customers who support without hesitation. Together, we continue to make it possible to share love and laughter through my food. All of you are truly a blessing to my life.

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