No one represents the true spirit of entrepreneurship better than La Ha Tacos food truck owner and operator Jay Wing.

In December 2016, Jay and his wife Alexandra suddenly found themselves both out of work with a baby on the way, which is when fate took over. After hearing that the chip truck which had been operating at the Orléans Self Serve Car Wash on Youville Drive was going out of business, Jay was given the opportunity to buy a food trailer from his former boss at D&S BBQ in Carlsbad Springs..

Jay Wing is the owner of the La Ha Tacos food truck located in the parking lot of the Kult Hair Salon at 3746 Innes Rd. STAFF PHOTO

After talking things over with his wife, Jay decided to take a leap of faith and go into business for himself.

The first step was to choose what food he was going to offer. After looking around at the gastronomic landscape in Orléans he decided on the number one street food in Mexico – tacos. But not just any tacos. Jay was going to take his tacos to the next level by making his own marinades and salsas, using fresh ingredients and corn tortillas. They also cater to customers with food allergies including the use of gluten-free tortillas on request.

The next step was to choose a name. He decided on La Ha which is short form for La Hacienda which is another word for “home” in Spanish.

“I want our customers to feel like this is their second home,” says Wing. “The reason why I cook is to help people put a smile on their face and I like to think we do that with every taco we make.”

It took a while for his tacos to catch on, but he slowly started to build up a loyal clientele largely through word of mouth and social media.

Things were going nicely when COVID-19 pandemic hit. Like almost every other business at the time, the food truck had to suspend its operation. But then things quickly turned around when food trucks were able to reopen and take advantage of the fact that everything they serve is take-out.

When the pandemic-related restrictions were finally lifted in the spring of 2022, La Ha Tacos didn’t skip a beat. But then Jay was faced with another set back. The owner of the car wash put the land up for sale and shut off the services, forcing Wing to find another location on the eve of a new season.

Fortunately, one of his customers put him in touch with the owner of the Kult Hair Salon on Innes Road, who said he was more than welcome to put his food truck in the
corner of his parking lot.

The first summer was a challenge, but the combination of loyal regulars and new customers from the surrounding area has made the transition relatively smooth.

Resiliency is the key to success for any small business owner and Wing is as resilient as they come. He is also blessed with a spouse who is very supportive and staff who are committed to carrying out his vision.

“I have the best people I can possibly hope for working for me,” says Wing.

La Ha Tacos is open from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. They are closed on Mondays. You can visit their website and check out their menu at lahatacos.com.