Lucha Libre Taco Shop is a fast casual Mexican restaurant in the Mission Hills neighborhood of San Diego, California. Founded in 2008 and known for its elaborate and colorful interior design, it also has locations in North Park and Pacific Beach.

Lucha Libre Taco Shop
Interior of the original restaurant, 2009
Lucha Libre Taco Shop is located in San Diego
Lucha Libre Taco Shop
Location within San Diego
Lucha Libre Taco Shop is located in California
Lucha Libre Taco Shop
Lucha Libre Taco Shop (California)
Lucha Libre Taco Shop is located in the United States
Lucha Libre Taco Shop
Lucha Libre Taco Shop (the United States)
Restaurant information
Established2008
Owner(s)Jose Luis Rojano-Garcia[1]
Street address1810 W Washington St, San Diego, CA 92103
Coordinates32°44′36″N 117°10′54″W / 32.7433°N 117.1816°W / 32.7433; -117.1816
Websitewww.luchalibretacoshop.com

History

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The restaurant was first opened in 2008 by brothers Jose Luis, Maurilio, and Diego Rojano-Garcia as a side project.[2] They grew up watching lucha libre and thought that the culture around it fit how they envisioned the menu and interior design of the restaurant.[3] It opened its second location in the North Park in 2015.[1][4] They had previously opened an outpost in Petco Park in 2014.[5]

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The restaurant serves many types of tacos, including queso, ado-haba (adobada and habanero), seafood (mahi-mahi or shrimp), classic, rolled, surf & turf, and birria quesa. Burritos include seafood, surf & turf, classic veggie, classic, poblano, surfin', and pluckin'. Sides offered are corn, rice, refried beans, and black beans. Quesadillas are also sold.[3]

Interior design

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Most of the restaurant's walls are painted hot pink and display many souvenirs and memorabilia from Mexican wrestling.[6][7] The roof contains masks and disco balls, and the restroom is completely gold. The restaurant also contains a "Champion's Booth", which is a gold booth that can only be reserved a day before. The brothers wanted to incorporate their culture different way than other Mexican restaurants.[2] The trash bin is made from an old television set. Ron Burgundy, played by Will Ferrell, from the Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy has his face on the set. Wrestlers eat at the restaurant for free and customers can get a 15% discount if they wear a wrestling mask. Because of this, many professional wrestlers visit.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b Woo, Candice (September 9, 2014). "Lucha Libre Pins North Park for Second Taco Shop". Eater San Diego. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Yap, Lauren (June 25, 2012). "Lucha Libre flavors outwrestle its San Diego taco shop competitors". The Daily Aztec. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Official website". Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  4. ^ Woo, Candice (August 14, 2015). "Get a Ringside Seat for Lucha Libre's New North Park Knockout". Eater San Diego. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  5. ^ Wood, Matthew (April 1, 2014). "Petco Park's New Food Options Will Keep Fans Happy — Win or Lose". NBC 7 San Diego. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  6. ^ Barry-Jester, Anna Maria (July 24, 2014). "Fish And Chips Abound in Southern California's Burritos". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  7. ^ Guillory, Susan (November 30, 2017). "This Wrestler-Themed Taco Shop Understands The Value Of Customer Experience". Forbes. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  8. ^ Chillag, Amy (August 16, 2016). "Brothers turn wrestling passion into taco joint". CNN Business. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
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