Recommendations for Diners, Drive-ins and Dives

Comments (2)

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  Liz July 21, 2026

  My dad Jose has been a Guy Fieri fan for as long as I can remember. Before he ever owned a restaurant, we would sit together and watch Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. He loved seeing the stories behind each restaurant; the hardworking owners, the family recipes, and the passion behind the food. I could always tell how much those stories inspired him. I don’t think my dad would ever nominate himself, so I am doing it for him. Jose’s story started long before Golosas Mexican Sandwiches opened in Grand Junction, Colorado. He was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, where he earned an agriculture degree. Before coming to the United States, he was already an entrepreneur. He owned a business in a local mercado selling produce and goods for his community. Through hard work, he built a successful business and created a life for his family. Eventually, problems with the business caused him to lose everything he had built. It was one of the hardest moments of his life, but it also showed something that has always defined him: he knows how to start over. In the 90's, he came to the United States to seek the American Dream. Originally, he planned to stay for only a year, but life took a different path. He arrived without knowing English and had to rebuild from the beginning. He worked in the fields picking fruits and vegetables and doing whatever work was available. About a year later, my mother, my sister, and I joined him because being apart from him was incredibly difficult for our family. Eventually, he found his way into the restaurant industry. He started as a dishwasher, but he never saw any job as just a job. Every kitchen became a classroom. He watched, learned, and absorbed everything he could. He taught himself cooking through dedication, experience, and passion. Cooking became more than a hobby. At family gatherings and on his days off, he would create dishes and experiment with flavors. Over time, that passion became a dream: opening a restaurant where he could create something of his own and leave a legacy for my mom, my sister, and me. In 2015, that dream became Golosas Mexican Sandwiches. My dad originally wanted to focus on tortas, but his vision grew. He created every recipe himself and expanded the menu to share the flavors he developed over the years. The Supergolosa Torta represents his creativity and passion. It is a huge, unforgettable sandwich made with three meats, layers of toppings, and bold flavors that keep people coming back. His Menudo is made with patience and tradition, bringing people together over a meal that reminds them of home. His Carnitas Tacos show that even a simple dish can become special when it is made with care. But what makes Golosas special is not only the food. It is my dad. He is there every single day. He arrives around 6 a.m. and often stays until 8 p.m. On weekends, he arrives even earlier to prep before opening. He does not do it for recognition. He does it because he takes pride in what he built and because he truly cares about his customers. He is one of the most humble people I know. When people compliment his food, he simply smiles and keeps working. He is always focused on making things better. Like many small businesses, Golosas faced challenges after 2020. Keeping the restaurant growing has not always been easy, but my dad has never stopped showing up. The hardest part is that he holds himself to such a high standard that sometimes he feels like he has disappointed us. But as his daughter, I see something completely different. I see a man who came to this country without knowing the language and built a life for his family. I see someone who started over more than once. I see someone who went from working in the fields, to washing dishes, to creating a restaurant filled with recipes he created himself. My dad may not realize it, but he already succeeded, he found the American Dream he was looking for. Having Guy Fieri visit Golosas would mean more than a television feature. It would be a full-circle moment for the man who spent years watching Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and admiring the stories of restaurant owners just like him. I hope Guy gets the chance to meet my dad, taste the food he created, and see what our family has always seen: a man who rebuilt his life through hard work, humility, and passion. Golosas Mexican Sandwiches is not just a restaurant. It is his journey, his sacrifices, his dreams, and his love for his family served one plate at a time. Thank you for considering Golosas Mexican Sandwiches. We would be honored to welcome Guy Fieri to Grand Junction, Colorado, and share the story behind the food. Thank you for taking the time to read my dad’s story. I hope one day Guy gets the chance to meet the man who inspired me and so many others through his food. With love, Liz Jose’s proud daughter

• 
  Liz August 11, 2022

  What makes our Family Restaurant unique is the flavorful menu of authentic family recipes, drinks, and mix of fun food combinations that will make you literally drool. You can enjoy anything from a big bowl of our authentic Menudo and Gordita recipes to any crazy combination of Mexican Tortas and Burgers. My father Jose Sanchez founded this restaurant after 20 years of hard work and sacrifice. He immigrated to the US in 1995 from Mexico when he had to decide to leave his home country in order to provide a better quality of life for my mother, sister, and I. My father never pictured that the restaurant business would become a passion for him over the years. As his passion for food grew stronger and stronger, he decided to quit his restaurant job to keep pursuing his dreams of owning a restaurant. On July 2015, he decided it was time to make his vision come to life, so Golosas Mexican Sandwiches was born in the small city of Grand Junction, CO. He created this concept based off the craft of the Mexican Torta but with a twist. His unique idea started on the ability to give customers the chance to get in touch with their creative side when it came down to choosing what ingredients you want to mix on a Torta to then get it to “FLAVOR TOWN”. He wanted something unique, something that you cannot find at your typical Mexican Restaurant, but at the same time something with the authentic Mexican flavor. Therefore, his Torta concept was born, where now you can choose from his unique mixes of tortas: The Super Golosa to the Caprichosa, or even just a plain Asada Torta if you’re feeling shy. Even if you’re not craving a torta, you can find different dishes to choose from; tacos, menudo, nachos, loaded French fries, gorditas, etc. Golosas started in a “hole in the wall” location on one of main streets in Grand Junction. It was easy to miss when you drove by, and to be honest, not as aesthetically pleasing on the outside. However, as soon as you took the risk to come inside, you were surprised on how clean and welcoming this place was and continues to be. The aesthetic of the restaurant and décor ideas all came from my mother, Celia, who as we joke, “helps my father keep this place together”. Eventhough the original location Golosas started on made it difficult to attract new customers, word of mouth made the restaurant known by locals and people driving in from out of town. Approximately 3 years ago, my father was able to move the restaurant to a slightly bigger location, which has also made a bigger name for Golosas. The year 2020 was the most difficult time for my father, and others may I add, but he never gave up. The closure of many restaurants during COVID made us all panic and left us feeling very uncertain for the future of his dream. Today, we are grateful that the support of his recurring loyal customers helped him stay in business. Although his health has made it difficult for him to keep the energy he once had, he keeps getting up at 4am some mornings to make sure the recipes are always the same and consistent of what he originally offered for his customers. I could go on and on about my father and the success he has made for himself. In reality, I think the best way to keep learning about Golosas Mexican Sandwiches and its history is for you to come on by and show everyone watching a new spot to check out! We look forward to the opportunity to sit with Guy , the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives team and enjoy a great Torta with a refreshing Cucumber and Lime water.