About – Taínos L.A.

About Us

Our Story

Tainos L.A. is a family-owned Puerto Rican restaurant bringing the island’s warmth, flavor, and heritage to Woodland Hills. We focus on bold seasonings, generous portions, handmade juices, and authentic recipes that come straight from our home kitchens in Puerto Rico. Our mission is simple: serve real Puerto Rican food with pride, tradition, and love.

MEET THE FOUNDER (ODESSA)

Meet the Founder — Odessa Rodriguez

Odessa Rodriguez founded Tainos L.A. with one mission: to bring true Puerto Rican cuisine to the West Coast. After years running a ghost kitchen and building the Tainos brand from scratch, she expanded into a full-service restaurant driven by culture, community, and authenticity. Odessa’s passion comes from her roots—growing up with homemade Puerto Rican dishes and wanting to share that same experience with Los Angeles.

MEET THE CHEF (TÍO)

Chef Edwin “Tío” Torres Cedeño

Born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Chef Edwin “Tío” Torres Cedeño began his culinary journey at age 17 after moving to the metropolitan area of San Juan. He trained in some of Puerto Rico’s most iconic restaurants including La Tasca, Windows of the Caribbean , and the early founding days of Paco Pollo.

After years cooking professionally in Puerto Rico and later in Connecticut as an Italian chef, he moved to Los Angeles to bring his experience, tradition, and heart to Tainos L.A. Today, Chef Tío leads the kitchen and helps craft a menu rooted in real Puerto Rican flavor. Tío is the heart of Taínos L.A.

Family-Owned. Culture-Driven

This is a true family project—Odessa, her husband Nick and Chef Tío, Tainos L.A. is run by family—from the founders to the chef to the team behind the scenes. Our restaurant is built on values we grew up with: tradition, generosity, hospitality, respect and love. When you dine with us, you’re eating food that comes straight from our culture and our family’s recipes.