The only authentic Colombian restaurant in Phoenix was once a family-owned food truck roaming the streets. Owners Fabian and Julie Ocampo traded their wheels for waiters and opened Que Sazon, their first permanent location.
Business has boomed ever since the Ocampos opened their doors in Teeter House in Historic Heritage Square in March 2023. The married couple credits their success to their new location and unique style of cuisine.
Born and raised in Colombia, Fabian found his passion for cooking at a young age. During his childhood, he would help his mother and grandmother prepare large, communal meals for family, friends, and neighbors. Fabian met Julie in Missouri, where the duo began serving South American-style food on the streets of St. Louis in 2014. They have been able to share their love of cooking with their two children, Sebastian and Kaylee.
A lack of diversity in St. Louis and the desire to live closer to Julie’s family inspired the Ocampos to move states. As their clientele grew, they felt it was time for a change. Fabian bought Teeter House in Heritage Park in 2022 after the past owners were forced to shut down during COVID-19. After months of going through panels and finding loopholes, they secured the building.
Now settled into their space, Julie explains how working in Teeter House is different from their old food truck.
“There were a lot of great things about the food truck,” Julie said. “Flexibility, being able to make your hours, and picking the spots you wanted to go to. But in the summer, we would (have to) shut down for six weeks since it would get so hot. The nice thing about moving here is we have way more space. We’re in one location now where people could easily come during our business hours, and it’s nice to have a few more employees.”
Que Sazon has six employees, about as many as they can financially support. Fabian works as the head chef, Julie as the manager, Sebastian as an assistant cook, and Kaylee as a host and server. The Ocampo’s close relatives also help carry the restaurant during late hours and weekends.
Despite finding success since moving to Teeter House, the couple knows there is still work to be done. Some changes include adjusting menu prices and replenishing food and alcohol supplies weekly rather than every few weeks. The couple did express, however, that while they don’t profit from dishes like their famous empanadas, they do profit from other dishes and drinks.
At the end of the day, Que Sazon is about family. Anabelle Guerra, one of Que Sazons’ servers, says that the employees and regulars at the restaurant bring a sense of comfort and joy to the restaurant.
“We’re all kind of like best friends, so it feels like I’m hanging out with my second family with a side of work,” said Anabelle Guerra, one of Que Sazons’ servers. “It’s nice because we all know how to work together. Our customers and regulars are especially understanding. They know we are a small business, so it could be a little crazy at times.”
Que Sazon’s specialties include empanadas, sweet plantains, and Peruvian-inspired ceviche.
“This is my gatekeeper restaurant,” Rae Egans, a regular customer, said with a laugh. “Anytime I have family or friends come and visit me, I bring them here. Especially now that baseball season has started, we’ve been coming in to grab some drinks and some food before walking over to the stadium since it’s walking distance, and I just can’t get enough of how much flavor is in their food.”
Besides putting smiles on faces, the Ocampos hope to improve the restaurant’s interior with an outdoor misting cooler system and a larger bar area to attract more business during the hot summer months. Until then, they are satisfied as long as they are together, serving every dish with love, care, and a little taste of home.
