Tucked behind Norman’s bustling Campus Corner, Riko’s Tacos has served the Norman community through a small food truck window for the past four years.
Miguel Godinez had worked in the service industry long before opening his beloved taco truck.
Throughout Godinez’s 25 years of restaurant experience, he learned how to cook a wide range of food while working in various Chinese and Indian restaurants. In 2014, Godinez opened a Mexican restaurant on Lindsey Street called Cocina Don Miguel.
Due to a lengthy construction project on Lindsey Street, which began in 2016, business slowed down. Godinez made the decision to close the restaurant in 2018.
“Business was going great, and then it just went down due to them closing the street,” Godinez, whose daughter helped translate for the interview, said.
Still wanting to pursue and share his passion for cooking with the Norman community, Godinez reimagined his cooking and opened Riko’s Tacos in February 2019. The truck originally parked on Flood Avenue before settling in its current spot on Asp Avenue in September of that year.
“Due to all the stress from having (Cocina Don Miguel) and having to close it down, I didn’t want to reopen a restaurant but I still wanted my own business,” Godinez said. “I wanted to keep cooking.”
Godinez said while he loves cooking, the best part of his job comes from the connections he makes with his customers.
“(I enjoy) cooking and seeing people come back and be happy to come talk to me,” Miguel said. “I actually still have students, OU alumni, that will reach out to me via Instagram to see how I’m doing when they’re not even here anymore.”
Riko’s Tacos offers a variety of delicious and inexpensive tacos on Campus Corner including elote.
Wills Greene graduated from OU in 2021 and currently lives in Dallas, Texas.
During his undergraduate studies at OU, he walked to Campus Corner and followed the smell of something delicious past White Street. Around the corner, he found the food truck in an empty lot.
Even though Greene no longer lives in Norman, he makes sure to stop by Riko’s Tacos to check in with Godinez while in town for OU football games.
It was not just the food that kept Greene coming back. Greene said Godinez offered incredible service and a welcoming attitude.
“He’s one of the friendliest guys out there. … The reason Riko’s is different is because of the customer service,” Greene said about Godinez. “Miguel is one of a kind. He’s always happy and wants to put a smile on people’s faces with his food.”
Although many may presume the name Riko’s Tacos is coined from the name of a person, it actually refers to the food itself. The word means delicious or tasty in Spanish.
With food prices on the rise, Godinez has tried his best to keep his menu affordable for everyone, especially students who often stop by the food truck for lunch.
Despite slight increases on a few menu items, it is still one of the most affordable places to eat near campus. Prices range from $3 for a sope to $9 for a flautas plate.
“We’re here for the customers, and because of the customers,” Godinez said. “As long as I keep having the customers, I would love to keep being here.”
“Cook with love. That is the most important thing: cooking with passion.”
Riko’s Tacos is located at 722 Asp Ave. and is open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
This story was edited by Karoline Leonard and Emma Blakley. Cooper Marshall, Mary Ann Livingood and Nikkie Aisha copy edited this story.
