Tortilleria Perches

For Jesus Perches, success has never been measured solely by sales, expansion or growth. Instead, it begins with something much more personal: seeing his mother’s recipes bring people together.

“My strong purpose, what has kept me so focused and dialed in, is seeing my mom’s dishes come out of the kitchen and seeing her smile,” Perches says. “To me, I’ve already reached success because I knew growing up how amazing her food was.”

That purpose has guided Tortilleria Perches since 2005, when the Perches family purchased a small tortilla factory, grocery store and restaurant in Springfield. What started as a modest operation with just 22 seats has grown over the past 21 years into a destination known for authentic Mexican cuisine, full-service catering and a commitment to treating customers like family.

The story begins long before the restaurant opened. Perches’ parents immigrated from northern Mexico and settled in southwest Missouri, where his mother, Maria Perches—known affectionately by customers as “Mama Maria”—shared her cooking with family, friends and local businesses.

“My mom used to cater long before we had a restaurant,” Perches says. “That’s really where it all started.”

When the opportunity arose to purchase the business in 2005, Perches was preparing for college. His parents gave him a choice: pursue school or learn the business firsthand. He chose the latter and never looked back.

Over the years, the restaurant expanded one step at a time. First came additional seating, then a larger kitchen, then a bar and more dining space. Each expansion was carefully planned and supported by a growing customer base that appreciated the family’s commitment to quality.

“We just kept taking baby steps,” Perches says. “Every time we grew, it was because our customers gave us the opportunity to grow.”

That growth has been fueled by a philosophy that remains unchanged today: stay authentic and never compromise quality.

“We could have taken shortcuts,” Perches says. “We could have used canned ingredients or changed recipes to make things easier. But that’s not who we are.”

The restaurant’s menu reflects recipes passed down through generations and influenced by both sides of the family. Perches describes the cuisine as a unique fusion of the regions where his parents were raised.

“My mom is from Durango and my dad is from Chihuahua,” he says. “I always compare it to barbecue. Every region has its own style. What makes us different is that our food brings together flavors from both regions.”

That commitment to authenticity helped Tortilleria Perches establish its own identity in the Springfield market. While many restaurants adapt their menus to fit local expectations, Perches and his family remained committed to serving the dishes they grew up eating.

“We wanted people to experience authentic Mexican food,” he says. “We stayed true to what we believed in.”

Today, that same attention to detail extends beyond the restaurant and into one of the company’s fastest-growing divisions: catering.

In fact, catering was part of the family’s story before the restaurant ever existed, and Perches sees it as a major part of the company’s future.

“My goal is for catering to eventually match our restaurant business,” he says.

The catering operation has earned a reputation for reliability, flexibility and service. Whether serving corporate meetings, weddings or large community events, the team focuses on making the process easy for customers.

“We want people to feel secure,” Perches says. “When they hire us, they shouldn’t have to worry about the food. We’re going to take care of it.”

That customer-first approach has led to long-term relationships with businesses, venues and organizations throughout the region. Many clients first discovered Tortilleria Perches through referrals from satisfied customers who appreciated not only the food, but also the professionalism and attention to detail.

“Communication is a big part of what we do,” Perches says. “We want the customer to feel confident from the first conversation all the way through the event.”

The company continues to evolve in other ways as well. Recently, Tortilleria Perches expanded its reach through retail distribution of its fresh salsa, which is now available at grocery stores across southwest Missouri.

“Our customers always told us they loved the salsa,” Perches says. “Now they can take it home with them.”

Despite the growth, Perches remains focused on the same values that shaped the business from the beginning: family, authenticity and service.

The Perches name is displayed prominently on the restaurant, and that carries meaning for everyone involved.

“We have a lot of respect for our last name,” he says. “When you put your family name on something, it makes you want to represent it the right way every day.”

More than two decades after opening its doors, Tortilleria Perches continues to serve the community that helped build it. For Perches, the mission remains simple.

“We want people to know we’re still here for them,” he says. “We love feeding this community, and we’re grateful for the support they’ve given our family over the years.”