Episode 10
Let’s Taco ‘Bout It: The Taylor Tacos Story with Taylor and Maya Mason, Part I
Listen to Part One here.
About the Episode
In this first of a two-part episode of The Big Dig Chicago, we sit down with Taylor and Maya Mason, the entrepreneurial duo behind Taylor’s Tacos Chicago, to explore how a bold idea turned into one of Chicago’s taco brands.
Their story begins with curiosity, travel, and a willingness to try something unexpected. After discovering the vibrant street-taco culture while attending college in California, Taylor Mason returned to Chicago inspired to recreate that experience in her hometown. What began as an idea soon grew into a thriving business built on flavor, community, and persistence.
For some, the concept raised eyebrows. Two African American women building a taco business? Why tacos?
In this episode, Taylor and Maya talk candidly about navigating those questions while building a brand rooted in authenticity and respect for the culinary traditions that inspired them. They discuss the early days of launching the business, their deep connections to Chicago, and why they chose to plant their entrepreneurial flag in the neighborhoods they know and love.
Part one of this conversation explores the origins of Taylor’s Tacos and the journey of two women who had the audacity to pursue a vision that didn’t fit neatly into anyone’s expectations. Along the way, we dig into themes of Black entrepreneurship, women in business, and the responsibility of honoring a cuisine that originates outside one’s own culture.
Because sometimes the most interesting stories begin with someone asking a simple question: What if we tried it anyway?
About the Guests
Taylor and Maya Mason are the founders of Taylor’s Tacos Chicago, a Black- and LGBTQ-owned culinary business known for its vibrant street-style tacos and community-centered approach to food.
Founded in 2018, Taylor’s Tacos began as a small catering venture and quickly grew into a sought-after presence across Chicago’s event and food scene. The business now operates out of The Hatchery Chicago, a nonprofit food and beverage incubator designed to support emerging culinary entrepreneurs.
Taylor, a West Side Chicago native, first fell in love with street tacos while attending Pepperdine University in California. Inspired by the flavor, accessibility, and communal spirit of taco culture, she returned home determined to introduce that experience to Chicago audiences.
Maya Mason brings creative culinary vision and artistic perspective to the business. A graduate of the Chicago Academy for the Arts and Columbia College Chicago, Maya grew up in a family where cooking and gathering around food were central to community and celebration.
Together, the pair have built Taylor’s Tacos into a brand defined by bold flavor, entrepreneurial grit, and a philosophy they call CommuniTAY. It is the idea that food can bring people together across neighborhoods, cultures, and experiences.
