Mexican restauranteurs Amy and Alan To mark 15 years in Forest Hill with community wins

Two husband-and-wife restauranteurs have shared their passion for Mexican food with the Forest Hill community for 15 years. And they’re coming up with even more ways to give back.

Amor Mexico is open every night for dinner.

A Forest Hill couple have been sharing their passion for Mexican food and bringing people together for more than 15 years at their family restaurant.

Its name — Amor Mexico, meaning ‘Love Mexico’ in Spanish — was suggested by one of its beloved customers, summing up what the business is all about.

Amy To, who runs Amor Mexico with husband Alan, describes it as “a community restaurant”.

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“We are great believers in it’s the people who make the restaurant what it is,” she said.

“It’s not just Alan and I.”

Amy To at her “community” restaurant Amor Mexico.

The pair opened the restaurant in February 2004 when Alan wanted to change career and pursue his love of cooking and Amy wanted to pursue her love of working with people.

He’s the restaurant’s head chef and she manages everything else.

The business began as a Taco Bill franchise, but after eight years the couple decided to go their own way.

Amor Mexico’s chicken fajitas salad and beef quesadilla suprema.

Wanting the community to be involved in naming the restaurant, they ran a competition and receveived more than 300 suggestions.

Mrs To said their business had always received wonderful support and had customers who had been with them all 15 years.

“We are so blessed,” she said.

“They’ve been so supportive all these years.”

Amor Mexico celebrated its 15th birthday with belly dancers.

She said some locals used the restaurant as the meeting spot for their family reunions, while the business also regularly hosted functions from birthdays to hen’s parties and community groups’ events.

Mrs To said she was working on finding even more ways Amor Mexico could bring people together and support the wider community.

In November she hosted 60 women for a dinner where all the proceeds went to the Her Heart Foundation.

The Mexican restaurant can cater for up to 80 people.

And now she’s getting ready to host a women’s seminar about leadership, teamwork and business at the restaurant on May 29.

“We need more female leaders,” she said.

“And they come from the strength and spirit of community.”

The restaurant has started running special vegan and vegetarian night monthly, which Mrs To said were very popular.

Amor Mexico caters for all dietary needs, including fructose, lactose and gluten free.

It’s open every night for dinner.

Details: amormexico.com.au