Kathleen Barbosa, owner of The Burnt Tortilla Restaurant and Sports Bar, is one of three Crimson Honorees for the 5th annual YWCA Crimson Awards for Excellence will be honored Friday, Feb. 21 at the Holiday Inn, Torrance.
As a young girl growing up in Gardena, she dreamed of opening a Mexican restaurant that would serve fine, home-cooked meals prepared with the freshest ingredients. In preparation for this dream, she got an early start as one of six children in the Cardenas family, with the specific chore of grilling tortillas for the family dinner.
Kathleen Barbosa, owner of The Burnt Tortilla Restaurant and Sports Bar, is one of three Crimson Honorees for the 5th annual YWCA Crimson Awards for Excellence will be honored Friday, Feb. 21 at the Holiday Inn, Torrance.
As a young girl growing up in Gardena, she dreamed of opening a Mexican restaurant that would serve fine, home-cooked meals prepared with the freshest ingredients. In preparation for this dream, she got an early start as one of six children in the Cardenas family, with the specific chore of grilling tortillas for the family dinner.
The problem was she loved to listen to music and dance while prepping those tortillas. As she danced, the tortillas burned on the comal, the flat cast-iron skilled used for grilling. On any given night, you could smell burnt tortillas coming from the Cardenas home.
Luckily her dream of owning her own restaurant never went up in smoke.
Kathleen's decision to open a small taco restaurant became a family affair. Several members pitched in to help achieve her vision of creating delicious homemade Mexican food for the community. Not only did they help with renovations, painting and decorating, her family helped take care of her six-month-old daughter and 2-year-old son, until the opening of the original Burnt Tortilla became a Gardena fixture at 1725 W. Redondo Beach Blvd.
As a nod to Kathy’s humble and hazardous beginnings, the restaurant carried the most awesome name of Burnt Tortilla. “So unique! Everybody loved it!” she said. And the most frequent question over the years from vendors, customers and friends alike was: How did you come up with such a great name?
As the story goes, while calling to get the utilities turned on for her first restaurant, she was asked for the name of her business. Kathleen (Cardenas) Barbosa hadn't even been thinking of a name with all the commotion of getting the restaurant ready for opening, but recalled the smell of tortillas burning while she tended to her chores growing up.
The words burnt tortilla popped into her head, and a new and exciting phase of Barbosa's life began to unfold. Forty years in business have seen the additional 1989 opening of the Burnt Tortilla take-out still at its original location at 1427 W. Redondo Beach Blvd., Gardena, followed by a Burnt Tortilla Restaurant at 1310 W. Artesia Blvd. also in Gardena.
Barbosa’s dream of opening a small taco restaurant has mushroomed into a mini Mexican restaurant conglomerate. After a small setback in losing her Artesia Boulevard lease, spurred her toward her greatest accomplishment — the opening of the Burnt Tortilla Full Service Restaurant and Sports Bar right here in Gardena at 1435 W. Redondo Beach Blvd. This new dine-in restaurant and bar is beautifully designed with bright colors and attractive dining areas able to accommodate large groups for business meeting and family celebrations.
And it remains a family affair, including both her daughter and son as part of the daily operation.
“Testimony of why she is so successful are her cooks that have been with her for more than 30 years,” a YWCA official said. “And of her other 50-plus employees, many have been with her between 18 to 25 years. They are as devoted to her as she to them.
Entrepreneur Kathleen Barbosa far surpassed her dream by sheer determination and perseverance. She wasn't interested in just owning a restaurant, but one that served homemade food using the freshest ingredients.
“Her concern and attention to such details add to her integrity and ultimately her success,” the YWCA official said. “A visionary and an implementer, Kathleen Barbosa is known as a WoW Factor, a true inspiring YWCA Crimson Woman of Excellence!”
Barbosa will be joined by fellow honorees, Jane Tokubo and Deidra Seto as this year’s YWCA Crimson winners.
Reservations for dinner can be made until Feb. 18: $500 for a table of 10, $100 for 2, $55 for individuals with the choice of Steak with Mushroom Sauce, Filet of Salmon or Veggie Primavera Pasta
Congratulatory messages or ads in black and white are due on or before Feb. 10: $500 for full page, $260 half page, $130 for quarter page and $65 for business cards.
For additional information, call Jane at the YWCA office, 310-327-5356.
