Las Cuatro Milpas is back in Barrio Logan
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Expect a line out the door at Las Cuatro Milpas' new spot in Barrio Logan. Photo: Kate Murphy/Axios
Barrio Logan's beloved Las Cuatro Milpas is reopening its doors Tuesday in a new space.
Why it matters: The family-run Mexican restaurant that drew long lines out front had been a staple of the San Diego neighborhood for nearly a century before it closed in December.
Driving the news: Las Cuatro Milpas' new location will be open 8am-3pm at the Mercado del Barrio mixed-use development on National Avenue, just a few blocks from its original home.
- The Estudillo family, which first opened the restaurant in 1933, sold the original building on Logan Avenue for $2.2 million in November because of growing financial struggles.
- The family is reviving the iconic establishment, known for its homemade flour tortillas, rolled tacos, and rice and beans, in a more modern space with an upgraded kitchen and a patio.
"I couldn't let my great grandparents' legacy die," Nadia Estudillo told KPBS. "And my father couldn't allow that to happen for his grandparents either — hence our new location, our new chapter in the Estudillo book."
- "We're still going to keep our same dishes, same dynamic that people love as always, going down the cooking line," she said.
Zoom in: The restaurant has been collecting memories from locals, including photos of food and family visits, to decorate its walls as a time capsule for the community.
- Menu prices are expected to go up, but now you'll be able to pay with a card, not just cash.
- They also plan to sell merch.
Between the lines: Las Cuatro Milpas' business and property had accrued tens of thousands of dollars in tax debt and faced temporary closures due to health code violations.
- But with the building sale and new lease, the family should have no problem making rent and tax payments, broker Gino Kalasho, who helped Las Cuatro Milpas secure the new space, told the Union-Tribune.
The bottom line: While many San Diego restaurants are closing as the industry grapples with inflation and increased costs, Las Cuatro Milpas' reopening is something to celebrate — probably with some tacos.