Celebrating a 10-year anniversary for anything is a tremendous accomplishment, especially for a restaurant.

It is a milestone Raul Valdivia never thought he would see when he opened Taco Bar in Gaithersburg on Feb. 14, 2002.

The secret to his success? Good and honest Mexican food.

“We try to make it authentic as possible,” he said. “Most of our customers aren't Mexican.”Since opening the original Taco Bar at 3 Russell Ave., Valdivia’s brother, Jose, opened a second Taco Bar, perhaps more popular than its original counterpart for its location inside a beer and wine store, in a gas station, 10003 Fields Ave., also in Gaithersburg.When diners visit Taco Bar on Russell Ave. Feb. 14, they will be met with free gifts such as mugs and T-shirts, free drinks and other giveaways — as a thank you for their support during the years, Valdivia said.

“I never knew I would get to 10 years,” he said. “Never.”