Born in Guanajuato Mexico, Sam Toledo epitomizes the fact that hard work and dedication will breed success. Sam came to the United States at the age of 14 to help his family out financially. He began working as a farm laborer, then, was hired as a dishwasher at a local restaurant. Thus began Sam’s career in the restaurant business. He worked his way up from dishwasher to bussing tables and then to assistant cook within two years.
		Sam was married at 18 and continued working in the restaurant business. He worked at various restaurants as a cook, server, bartender, and head chef. A few years later Sam became the manager of a fast growing local chain of restaurants, El Cid, with four locations in Fresno and one in nearby Oakhurst. After working as a general manager at all of the El Cid locations for more than a decade, Sam was ready to open his own restaurant in Fresno. He started with an empty building, remodeled the inside himself with money he borrowed on his credit card. After eight hard months, Sam finally opened his doors for business in September of 1991. Sam always knew there was something special about his food and the way he learned to cook from his beloved mother and his ex-bosses Emilio and Emilia Canales, but once the public tasted it then they knew too. Sam’s unique cuisine has met with critical acclaim over the years and his dishes are both unique and delicious. With the success of the first restaurant, Sam opened his second location in February of 1995 and his third just three months later. Sam believes that hard work and perseverance do indeed pay off, and because of that, he has helped three of his nephews open their own restaurants after they displayed the ambition to also own their own businesses. The Toledo’s restaurants are truly a family operation with Sam’s children working side-by-side with their father.