We had the good fortune of connecting with Carmen Santillan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carmen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
We recognized the need for authentic Mexican flavored plant based proteins. As a someone who chose not to eat animal proteins for health reasons, I wanted to enjoy the foods I grew up eating. There was nothing available in the market place that would come close to authentic Mexican plant based proteins, so we decided to create our own. We wanted to share the product with communities that needed a healthier alternative to eating animals,.

What should our readers know about your business?
Cena Vegan is known for its authentic tasting Mexican food. We are extremely proud and grateful for the support we have received from the community. We have always focused on providing delicious food that is affordable, 100% plant based and a great value. Since day one we have looked for ways to be of service to the community and in the process have become a beloved little company in the Los Angeles area.

Cena Vegan has exceeded our expectations in that our food has reached so many more people than we imagined was possible when we first set out our little taco cart in Highland Park.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We are very lucky to have so many beautiful hiking trails nearby that provide unimaginable beauty and are very accessible. I love taking friends and family on local hikes when they visit LA. Hikes are always followed by lunch or dinner in one of the many restaurants around LA.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am grateful that my mother & grandmother instilled in me a love for cooking. More importantly that food was to be healthy, wholesome and meant to be shared with others. In our family food is an expression of love & community.

Website: https://www.cenavegan.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cenavegan/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CenaVegan/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cena-vegan-los-angeles-2

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/channel/cena-vegan

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