CHICAGO (WLS) -- He was just 7 years old when he started helping out at his grandfather's taco stand in Mexico.

Today, chef Pepe Barajas owns two thriving Chicago restaurants, and his family's recipes are his secret to success.

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From humble beginnings to taking a chance and venturing on his own in the restaurant industry, Chicago chef Pepe Barajas is putting the American dream to the test.

Barajas is the owner and chef of La Josie in the West Loop and Solazo on the city's Southwest Side. His menus include old favorites along with fresh takes on Mexican dishes.

His intro to the industry happened at the age of 7, when he was living in Mexico City.

"I got my first taste of working at a restaurant, at my grandfather's Puestos De Tac

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