Dan Leyva, a 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 Food & Drink Honoree, is the Founder and CEO of Taco Azul, a new Mexican restaurant group in New England. Taco Azul represents Leyva’s latest entrepreneurial venture, but his dedication to cooking, eating, restaurants, service, and hospitality, has been a constant throughout his life.
A native of Santa Rosa, California, Dan is the eldest of three siblings, born to proud immigrant parents from Mexico. He was the first member of his family to graduate from high school and the first to attend and graduate from college. Dan constantly notes that the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University changed his life in ways he could never have imagined.
When Dan was 13 years old, he fibbed about his age and applied for a job at Kentucky Fried Chicken so he could earn money to go to the movies with his friends. He got that job, and from that moment, he has continued to love the hospitality industry.
Dan’s love for hospitality started when he was a young boy and helped his mom make tortillas and tamales to sell in their neighborhood. As much as he loved selling tortillas and tamales door to door, Dan always loved giving back and helping others. He thanks his parents for always instilling strong values.
Although attending the Hotel School was not initially a lifelong ambition for Dan (he discovered it only while completing his common application), his time at Cornell proved immensely rewarding. Whether it was chance, fate, luck, or a miracle, Cornell was meant to be.
Dan didn’t know what to expect during his four years on The Hill, but he made the most of it. Through the School’s Hotel Leadership Development Program, he worked his way up to be the director of guest services at the Statler Hotel. He participated in Hotel Ezra Cornell, competed in business plan competitions, was a member of the National Society for Minorities in Hospitality, was a brother of Beta Theta Pi, and so much more.
Dan on the Statler Auditorium stage as a featured speaker
in the Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series, October 2021
One of Dan’s most memorable accomplishments and honors throughout his time at the Hotel School was serving as a Dean’s Assistant to Dean Michael D. Johnson during his senior year. As a Dean’s Assistant, he was given the opportunity to represent the Hotel School at events throughout the country and to host renowned industry leaders invited as featured speakers for the esteemed Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series.
“Dan Leva is a quintessential example of what makes hotel school students so special and such great entrepreneurs. At SHA, Dan’s business education was grounded in hospitality where he applied what he learned daily. He learned to manage both people and balance sheets, which are the very things that entrepreneurs need to do to be successful. I can’t wait to see what his next chapter brings.”
Michael D. Johnson, Dean and Professor Emeritus
Nolan School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University
Upon graduation from Cornell, Dan moved to New York City to join a new restaurant group, Tacombi, where he helped the group open several new restaurants throughout New York. This experience was the kickstart to his journey of playing pivotal roles in helping companies grow and evolve. Dan is grateful to have been a part of the expansion of companies such as Ithaca Hummus, MealPal, SALIDO, and Wings Over.
A smileable experience with Hotelie Jordan Andino ’10, Chef, Restauranteur & TV Personality
at his NYC restaurant, Carriage House. Fellow Hotelies include Spencer Rubin ’10 and Dana Beninati ’15.
At every company, Dan has worked with the same three values: 1) Great People; 2) Amazing Product; and 3) Smileable Experiences. He measures success by the number of smiles that are created.
Dan back on campus as Entrepreneur in Residence
Throughout his career, Dan has been particularly proud of donating over 20,000 meals to charities and local communities, a testament to his commitment to giving back. This ethos continues as he serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence for Cornell’s Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship, and he is a frequent guest lecturer at the School.
Dan with SHA faculty Douglass Miller and Lilly Jan, guest lecturing
HADM 3350: Restaurant Management, in 2023.
Dan at Taco Azul
In 2018, Dan founded the Smileable Eating Club to foster new relationships and innovation within the hospitality industry, hosting events nationwide that bring together leading figures in the field.
In 2024, Leyva launched Taco Azul, a new Mexican restaurant group in Boston, Massachusetts, with the vision of serving the best guac, tacos, and margs, throughout New England. For Dan, tacos are more than just food – tacos are family, culture, honor, and love.
Following his belief that you can’t be good at everything, Leyva created a concept centered around a concise menu that is delicious and can be executed consistently time and time again.
His goal is to expand Taco Azul to all the major cities throughout New England with a continued focus on giving back.
Guacamole, Tacos, and Margaritas at Taco Azul.
(photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Boston Magazine)
https://www.bostonmagazine.com/restaurants/2024/09/04/taco-azul-beacon-hill/
Dan extends his heartfelt gratitude to his family, friends, colleagues, and everyone who has been a part of his life. Without each and every single one of them, he wouldn’t be where he is today.
Leyva offers special thanks to Cornell University, The School of Hotel Administration, the Cornell Hotel Society, and the Cornell Hotel Society Hotelie Hall of Fame for this incredible honor.
