He Bet Everything on One Taco Shop…And It Worked | Mike Scotto | Tony's Tacos

Staying Hungry sits down with Mike Scotto, founder of Tony’s Tacos, to talk about turning a struggling taco shop into one of Long Island’s fastest-growing restaurant brands. Hosts Michael D'Onofrio and Vinny Pappalardo dive into Mike’s journey from arriving in America with just $600 to scaling multiple restaurant locations through branding, marketing, culture, and relentless hustle.The conversation covers restaurant growth, AI and automation, customer psychology, Chick-fil-A’s business model, social media strategy, and why modern restaurant owners need to think bigger to survive. If you’re a restaurant owner, entrepreneur, or someone chasing a big goal, this episode is packed with value.⏱️ Timestamps0:00 – Why the restaurant business is brutal10:04 – Moving to America with $60022:11 – How Tony’s Tacos started27:08 – From $600 weeks to $45,000 weeks41:25 – Building the Garden City flagship55:20 – Chick-fil-A’s culture and success1:11:05 – AI and the future of restaurants1:31:10 – Expanding Tony’s Tacos1:52:40 – Why courage matters more than moneyFollow Tony’s Tacos:https://www.instagram.com/tonystacoshttps://tonystacos.comFollow Staying Hungry:https://www.instagram.com/stayinghungrypod