La Cocina de la Abuela, the family-run Mexican restaurant on Route 309 in Coopersburg, held its grand reopening on Oct. 10 after months of repairs following storm damage. The restaurant at 127 S. Third St. had been closed since strong winds tore into the building, and owners Octavio Nunez Zavaleta and Maria Cerezo are once again serving the carnitas, tamales and tortas that built the spot's following since it opened in January 2024.
The closure traced back to a March storm that battered the Lehigh Valley. According to WFMZ, strong winds partially ripped off the restaurant's roof and caused additional property damage, forcing an extended shutdown. The Morning Call described the damage differently, reporting that wind from a severe storm that Monday night blew the roof off the building shared by La Cocina de la Abuela and its next-door neighbor, The New Santiago's Restaurant, according to mcall.com. Either way, the storm left both restaurants shuttered for repairs.
La Cocina de la Abuela's reopening announcement, posted to the restaurant's Facebook page, promised customers could enjoy the same flavor and family tradition they remembered. The restaurant was closed for roughly six months before finally welcoming diners back this fall.
Scratch-Made Dishes And Daily Tortillas
Zavaleta, who was born and raised in Puebla, Mexico, along with Cerezo, told the station the restaurant serves authentic Mexican food including carnitas, tamales and tortas, with everything made from scratch. The kitchen turns out fresh corn tortillas every day, offers sweet and savory Mexican breads baked locally, and serves tortas and tacos with chicken, steak and pork, built with Mexican cheeses, fresh avocados and jalapeños.
The menu also includes tacos and traditional pozole served with tostadas, rice, beans and aguas frescas prepared with fresh pineapple and other fruits. Diners can choose from four types of made-on-site salsa to go with their meal. In coverage of the restaurant’s original opening, Cerezo said customers were enjoying its Mexican soups.
A Shared Building, A Shared Recovery
The New Santiago's Restaurant, which sits next door and was also damaged in the March storm, reopened in July after its own repairs. That restaurant, opened in 2018 by the same pair, Octavio Nunez Zavaleta and Maria Cerezo, offers freshly prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Its reopening had been previously announced for July 27 with a new menu, per the same mcall.com report from earlier in the summer.
La Cocina de la Abuela, whose name translates to grandma's kitchen in Spanish, is now open for dine-in and takeout from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant can be reached at 610-214-2225 for orders or more information.
