By Joyce Wang and Arad Mirmadjlessi | July 24, 2025
When driving down Route 206, it’s easy to lose oneself in the flow of traffic and miss the vibrant local establishments that contribute a distinct personality to our town.
Slow down and smell the fresh tortillas on your next drive and visit Tito’s Deli and Taco Place. Tucked in a modest storefront on Wall Street, across from Princeton Airport, is a portal into the rich story and family recipes of the owners — the Aparicios.
From left, the Aparicio Family: Marvin, Katherine, Uriel, Brian, and Maria. Arad Mirmadjlessi, the Montgomery News student intern, is on the right.
Even the lively orange walls are testaments to the family’s bond and dedication. They were hand-painted by the Aparicio family before opening, holding memories of paint-drenched shirts and laughter. Family is everything at Tito’s, and through their Mexican cuisine as well as American deli classics, you can share the happiness of a home-cooked meal.
Tito’s opened in February, owned by Brian Aparicio with the help of his mother, Maria, in the kitchen. Tito’s is the sole restaurant in the plaza, which Brian described as being “nerve-wracking” at first, as he was worried people would have trouble finding the restaurant in a business complex.
Thankfully, since opening, Tito’s has developed a following, especially during lunchtime. “It’s the Mexican food that really sells the most,” he said. The authentic flavor of Maria’s dishes, is traced to her childhood. She learned from her mother in Mexico.
Above: Tito’s Deli & Taco Place (inside and outside) opened in Research Park on Route 206 across the street from Princeton Airport. There is seating outside and a separate seating area inside.
Prior to opening Tito’s, the Aparicios owned the 206 Corner Deli in Belle Mead, which they sold three years ago. Brian’s experience running the 206 Deli with his family is what introduced him to the deli culture and the restaurant business.
Brian admits he didn’t initially see himself as the head of his new family business. He graduated from Rutgers Business School in 2021 and began his professional career working as a global security analyst for Dow Jones. However, he found himself dissatisfied with corporate culture, leaving his position in March of this year to run Tito’s full time.
Conducting thorough risk assessments related to global security issues “wasn’t for me,” Brian said. “It was draining.”
The restaurant business, on the other hand, provided an inspiring career path, giving him a chance to follow in his parents’ footsteps.
Above: A Tito’s taco.
“Working with people, having people enjoy our food… it’s very motivating” Brian said.
Additionally, having experienced previous success owning the 206 Corner Deli, Brian says authentic and traditional Mexican food is “needed and necessary.”
The entrepreneurial spirit runs vividly in the Aparicio family.
Outside of Tito’s, Maria Aparicio and her husband own a landscaping business, where she says she does “all the paperwork.” Maria has proven herself to be the proverbial backbone of her family’s flourishing businesses.
Aside from instructing the kitchen with her cooking abilities, Maria leads the back-end processes of the restaurant, including inventory. She often brings the fresh meat in from shipments and cuts them all herself.
“It’s her recipes, her cooking,” Brian told me. “Without her, [the restaurant] would not be here.”
Her signature recipe – Chilaquiles – fried tortillas drenched in red or green salsa with rice, beans, eggs, sour cream, lettuce, fresh Mexican cheese, and onions. ■
Tito’s Deli & Taco Place
421 Wall St, Princeton.
Phone: 609.423.0262.
Web: titosdeliandtacoplace.com ■
Usually, an unspoken rule in business is not to work with family. But for the Aparicios, family is the heart of their success. Brian’s younger brother, Uriel, stocked inventory diligently during our interview. Brian tells me the trust shared among their family has enabled them to operate efficiently and share the joy of their family recipes. Even the name of the restaurant, Tito’s, reflects the love and loyalty they have for one another. Tito is the nickname Brian’s other younger brother, Bertin, had while growing up.
Advertisement
Homemade food isn’t just delicious, it also carries a universal feeling of comfort and shared understanding. The delight of traditional food made from scratch is capable of crossing cultural boundaries and uniting people. After trying the Quesabirria tacos and tasting the slow-cooked, savory beef, I was immediately reminded of my own mother’s Taiwanese braised beef noodle soup. Although the countries are across the globe from each other, they bonded for me in an instant. “Food is what brings people together. Food doesn’t discriminate,” Brian said. “Everyone can have a taste of Mexican food no matter who they are and enjoy it.”
After some deliberation about what the third word should be, Maria was the one who decided on “smile."
“After they eat, they always leave with a smile!” Maria told me happily. It’s hard not to leave with a smile just from experiencing the jubilant nature of the Aparicios in conversation. Their shared understanding, their insistence on authenticity, and their infectious laughter are the glue that holds the restaurant together.
Tito’s has big plans for the future. After the Whole Foods Market opens across Rt. 206, Brian hopes new customers will begin frequenting Tito’s in droves.
This winter, they are planning on selling traditional Mexican hot chocolate, called champurrado. Mexican Hot Chocolate has a more noticeable rich chocolate taste, it's not overly sweet, and spices like cinnamon and chili are added to it to give it a unique flavor profile.
Currently, their menu includes dishes such as a classic bacon egg and cheese sandwich, hot and cold subs, Quesabirria tacos, huevos rancheros, enchiladas, and more.
