Meet David Guerrero | Chef and owner

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

Hi David, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I came up with the idea for the business, one day after a family barbecue. My family always talked about my cooking being good but you doubt it since it’s family who says it. Can you really trust family. Until I had a family friend try some of my food and told me that I should start selling it, at first I didn’t believe him, but when he travels hours to go try out some of the food from places that are in your Instagram, famous, and he tells you that your food can compete with them. That is when it opens your eyes, that’s what eventually made me start Warrior Smokehouse. I figured let me combine some of the different flavors that I’ve always grown up with which you have in your Mexican carne asada and let’s change it up a little bit and include some of the cooking styles in Texas bbq having that smoked flavor and make it my own. So I turned it into something that I feel not that many people have seen or tasted.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I come from a humble background. I remember learning from my mom at a young age and always being drawn to the kitchen when she was making food specially desserts. Growing up I never knew that I would develop this passion for food. Now I have used a lot of different techniques, flavors, culinary styles and have fused it all into what is our signature style.

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?
Well for me it’s having them experience all of the different food that I love to eat. For breakfast spots there’s 3 of my definite stops. Bea Bea’s in Burbank, CiCi’s cafe in Tarzana, and of course the homie Big Arts Tacos in Mission Hills for some of the best breakfast burritos you will ever have. For dinner I’ve always been a fan of The Cheesecake Factory so that’s one of me and my wife’s favorites (guilty pleasures) also some of the best Al pastor tacos @ Angel’s Tijuana tacos in Noho and of course we have to do a cookout Warrior Smokehouse style. Where we cook some of our private secret menu items along with some of our crowd favorites.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are a couple people that I feel have led to my success in this journey first and foremost I wanna shout out my buddy Robert thanks to him and his push, I was able to actually get out of my comfort zone and create this business. I also have to give a shout out to my wife and partner in the Warriors Smokehouse. With her help and effort is how we get things done day in and day out and it shows in our product. Also a shoutout to my Suegra with her delicious salsas that makes our tacos, different and unique. Of course we can’t forget about your mom and dad definitely want to give them a shoutout for teaching me that resilience, and never give up attitude. Also for always having my back and willing to help promote the business.

Instagram: WarriorSmokehouse