taylor + maya
Taylor Mason, (left) is the founder and proud co-owner of Taylor's Tacos Chicago. She met Maya Mason (right) in 2016, and together they launched Taylor's Tacos Chicago, LLC. What started as a fun way to bring friends together has blossomed into a pop-up catering company + taco shop that specializes in authentic street-style tacos with a whole lot of soul!
Taylor was born and raised on the west side of Chicago. She graduated from Whitney Young High School and went on to graduate from Pepperdine University after receiving a full basketball scholarship. Sunny California is where her love for street tacos flourished. When she wasn't playing ball, she was known as the team cook and the infamous Taco Tuesdays. Her senior year of college, her mother had unexpected back to back brain aneurysms. Taylor made the tough decision to return home to Chicago after graduation to help the family biz while her mother was nursed back to health. The greatest thing she missed about the west coast was bringing people together in the name of tacos! As her mother got better, she decided to curate an artist showcase called "The VIBE Collective" and she sold the first Taylor's Tacos for $1. After a sell-out event and a line around the corner, she knew that there might be a little something to the taco life.
Maya Mason went to the illustrious Chicago Academy for the Arts with a focus of ballet that she pre-professionally practiced for about 15 years. She went on to Columbia College in Chicago in the hopes of becoming a fashion merchandiser. She acquired her work ethic from her parents who both had culinary degrees and worked within the food industry. Maya learned so much from them inadvertently. She grew up in her mother's garden, learning how to grow and manipulate her own organic foods. She learned recipes from her father who managed a multitude of restaurants. Cooking, the science of cooking, design and the art of food was something that was always close to her heart.
Taylor and Maya met in 2016, two years after the first Taylor's Taco was made. Maya brought on the creative direction and unique flavor profiles and Taylor took on the business execution and branding. Together, they officially launched Taylor's Tacos Chicago in 2018. They moved into their own private commercial kitchen within The Hatchery, where they have grew their business tremendously. Taylor and Maya have curated and conducted over 2000 catering events to date. They married in July 2020, opened their own commercial event space called TAYLORED in March 2022, and their own taco shop and catering kitchen in May 2023.
