Lola’s Cantina & Snacks takes inspiration from the success of Snackateria

If you’ve stopped by East Dock and recognized the familiar shades and heart-shaped nose on a pink and purple sign that resembles the yellow one from the East Eighth Street Snackateria, your eyes are not deceiving you. In fact, that llama mascot has been on the move for quite some time.

Pollo and Polla Canal are the owners of Lola’s Cantina & Snacks, their newest dining concept that recently joined the storefronts of the old ice house. The mascot was inspired by the couple’s daughter, Ayleen, who questioned why their former nonprofit, Love in Motion, didn’t have a mascot.

“And I’m like, ‘What, that’s ridiculous. Nonprofits don’t need mascots because it’s like a serious thing, right?’” Pollo says. “And she’s like, ‘Why can’t they have a mascot?’ And again I’m like, ‘OK, if we did have one, what would it be?’”

And that’s how Lola the Llama was born.

Starting about 15 years ago, Love in Motion was a volunteer-led nonprofit that was dedicated to providing recurring appreciation efforts designed to honor, motivate and help retain the community’s most valuable commodities, such as teachers, healthcare providers, first responders and postal workers. Pollo says that they built great relationships with Dallas ISD teachers to support schools, and while the nonprofit has since ceased operations, Lola the Llama has remained.

After her nonprofit stint, she made an appearance as the mascot of a cleaning business known as Lola’s Cleans until inspiration struck their daughter Ayleen once again.

About four years ago, as a student at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center, she mentioned the lack of snack options surrounding the school for students. She suggested that her parents should rent a nearby spot and open up a snack shop. And so they did, opening their first food industry venture after years working in construction and cleaning with their Snackateria in April 2023.

“She changes up a little bit for every one,” Pollo says of Lola. “For the snack shop, I think the vibe is mainly orange and yellows. When we did the cantina here, we’re like, ‘Yeah, let’s put a beer in her kind of line of sight, right?’ So anyway Lola the Llama, she’s a little bit a part of everything. Some people say we pimp her out too much. I’m like, ‘She enjoyed it.’”

Even before the opening of Lola’s Cantina & Snacks, folks were swinging by since the sign went up because they recognized the Snackateria mascot.

“It’s been really refreshing as we’re working here, doing something, and people are like, ‘What’s up, I found y’all.’ I’m like, ‘Cool. I’m glad you did,’” Pollo says.

Though the Snackteria concept is temporarily closed, Pollo says they hope to bring the snack shop back to East Dock, too. As for Lola’s Cantina & Snacks, the menu takes inspiration from the success of the first food concept with a bit of a more mature twist, introducing alcoholic options and changes in presentation.

“The product presentation, we try to go tiny bit (further). I don’t think we will ever claim that we came up with something that never existed,” Pollo says.

Pollo added that their carnation-topped margarita, the Lola-RITA ($9), is their best seller by far. Other drink items include their spiked Mango-Mala, that includes mango, chamoy, tajín and lime ($10), the strawberry lemonade Fres-nada ($9), and Sandi-Boom watermelon jello shots ($5).

“Food wise, we don’t have a full kitchen, so if we can put it in an air fryer, you’ll probably be able to enjoy it here,” Pollo says.

They’re bringing back the Snackterria’s best-selling elote in a cup ($6) with a small stop to the left of the bar filled with toppings options like Slap Ya Mama Cajun seasoning and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos bits. Combo options include the Llama (hot) Dog KOMBO with chips and a beer, and the Cantina Queso KOMBO with a beer, warm queso, and chips each available for $12. There is also the Lola’s KOMBO that comes with your choice of a Lola-RITA or Mango-Mala and elote in a cup for $14. Future plans to expand the menu include mini mozzarella sticks and mini tacos.

Pollo says with the opening of Lola’s, they are striving to reach the same quality of service as the Snackteria, which earned over 100 five-star reviews. That environment is something they are trying to mirror with the cantina.

“We’re trying to allow that to be a common thing in our culture,” Pollo says. “Just try to be creative, have fun with it, make that person feel better than perhaps they didn’t before they walked in.”

Lola’s Cantina & Snacks, 900 E. Clarendon Drive, Ste. 110, instagram.com/lolascantinasnacks