March 10, 2025
El Sandwichon: Local Couple Turns Passion into Thriving Puerto Rican Food Truck Business
By Kyle Coppola
El Sandwichon: Local Couple Turns Passion into Thriving Puerto Rican Food Truck Business
CLERMONT, Fla. — Five years ago, Amanda and Jose Badea sat in a motel room, dreaming of a better future. Originally from Puerto Rico, the couple had been living in the motel for six months, grappling with uncertainty but fueled by a shared love for cooking. That dream has now become a reality—El Sandwichon, their Puerto Rican food truck business, has grown into a beloved staple in Clermont and beyond.
(Amanda and Jose Badea started El Sandwichon and it’s become a huge success. They now own three-food trucks in multiple locations in Central Florida.)
“Our dream was to be able to do what we love the most—to delight people with our seafood sandwiches in the unique style of El Sandwichon,” said Amanda Rodriguez. “It wasn’t easy. There were tears, bad days, and not-so-bad days. But with dedication and effort, we made it happen.”
What started as a single food truck serving authentic flavors inspired by their hometown of Ponce has quickly expanded. In just under a year and a half, El Sandwichon has grown to three food trucks, each bringing the vibrant taste of Puerto Rican cuisine to more customers.
(One thing is for certain, when you visit El Sandwichon you will not leave hungry.)
“The most important thing is that this has helped my family,” Amanda added. “El Sandwichon is now the livelihood of several families, and that is what fills us the most.”
The business, located at 1213 U.S. Highway 27 in Clermont, has become a destination for those craving traditional Puerto Rican flavors, including its signature seafood sandwiches. The Rodriguezes credit their success to hard work, faith, and the support of the local community.
(The story of El Sandwichon is amazing, but the food is out of this world delicious and 100% worth a visit.)
For those who have never experienced Puerto Rican cuisine, El Sandwichon offers an opportunity to savor authentic flavors in a family-friendly, welcoming environment.
“This dream continues,” Amanda said. “We will never fail you, and we thank the El Sandwichon team and everyone who supports us.”
📸 Photo Credit: El Sandwichon FL
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
