Location – Bronx

Address – 832 Westchester Avenue, Bronx, NY 10455

I wanted to analyze my favorite fast food local restaurant that I grew up going to since childhood, this fast food restaurant is called Laileilei – it is a local Spanish fast food place that varies from all the foods that you can imagine – starting with empanadas, they have lots of options like chicken , beef, shrimp, chicken with cheese, beef with cheese, cheese and tostones, they sell rice platters – chicken over rice, lamb over rice, pernil over rice, turkey over rice, etc. They also have juices, wellness shots and smoothies option for those who are watching over their diets and who care about their health. They even have breakfast menu to start the morning off for children, students and families who want a eat something before going to where they need to go. This restaurant is a traditional family catering service that has been in the bronx for about 25 years aiding in helping their customers feel at home and to experience a thrill of Spanish culture. As you can see there are other local stores near Laileilei’s which were added around the corner to fill in space and to also sell their foods, for instance, there was once a McDonalds near Laileilei’s but it got switched to the other side of the street near the train station, which is now replace by a local fish market. This place is located 6 blocks away from where I live on Prospect Avenue where all the Spanish workers and families live so it’s easier for people to go and buy their foods. I like that this place keeps the traditional vibe of Spanish culture and selling local Spanish cuisines, while also selling things that a local deli also sells.

Questions –

How does the use of local sourced ingredients affect the quality and authenticity of dishes served in traditional restaurants ?

How can we as a community keep the local traditions alive in areas without it being more gentrified ?

Why might customers be willing to pay extra money at a traditional store rather than a regular deli that sell expensive products?