You Say Potato, I Say Papa

Laisa Chavez Macias
Sep 26
3 min read

(This article was written by Laisa Chavez Macias and was featured in the October 2025 issue of Explore Harlingen Magazine.)

Dreaming Big

We've all heard the saying, "Build your own dream, or someone else will hire you to build theirs." It's easier said than done, but after 15 years as a manager of a Mexican restaurant, Alejandra knew it was time to take the leap from employee to owner.

Photo courtesy of Juan Macias of J Macias Photographer

As for most people, 2020 was a year of serious reflection for Alejandra and her husband Marko Esparza. The impact that Covid had on employees was eye opening. And with the couple expecting their first child, they knew they wanted the security and flexibility of building something of their own to pass down to the next generation.

Alejandra started working in restaurants when she was only 15 years old. She knew the ins and outs of the food industry, and Marco (an artist by trade) channeled that same creativity in the kitchen. Together they make the perfect team.

Why Baked Potatoes (Papas)?

Marco was born in Chicago, but his parents were originally from Monterey, Mexico, where papas are everywhere! This got them thinking, how can we bring potatoes onto the menu, but add that Rio Grande Valley (RGV) flavor to them? Answer: Make them BIGGER and top them with the RGV’s favorite local foods! So that's exactly what they did. And just like that, La Papa Loca went from a dream to a reality.

Next item on the list: location location location. Figuring out where to set up shop can be a challenge, but thankfully things lined up perfectly for Alejandra and Marco in this department. Before opening, they had been in contact with the owner of the Moon Rock, when the food truck park was just breaking ground in Harlingen. The timing was perfect, and they started their journey together.

The Menu

La Papa Loca specializes in loaded baked potatoes, but it's not the only thing they serve. I had the opportunity to swing by and enjoy some of their best-selling menu items as well as a papa from their "secret menu.” More about that later!

Let's get back to that secret menu item I teased about. No gatekeeping here. It's called the RGV Papa, and it's LOADED with fajitas, queso fresco, avocado, nacho cheese, and then topped with hot Cheetos for the win. It's quite literally an explosion of flavor!

Alejandra and Marco have created something very special at La Papa Loca. They have something for everyone, and even if you don't see it on the menu, all you need to do is ask.

They are happy to customize or even create a new plate as best as possible. The rotating menu keeps things interesting and offers specialty items for limited periods, giving customers something new to look forward to. The food is always fresh and made to order, and that hard work has paid off. La Papa Loca Food Truck is in the Restaurant Guru top 10 list for 2025, beating out more than 400 other contenders. It's not the first time they've made the list either.

So, the next time you have a craving for a delicious baked potato, be sure to head out to their food truck located inside the Moon Rock Food Truck Park. It’s the perfect place to sit back, relax, enjoy an evening breeze, and eat some great food.