East Village's Michelin-recognized LOLA 55 Tacos + Cocktails is gearing up for a local expansion that includes a new outpost in San Diego's North County.
Founded by Tijuana-born Frank Vizcarra, who followed a career as a professional soccer player with gigs as a longtime executive at McDonald's and then as an investor/advisor for Tender Greens, LOLA 55 is a family-run, fast-casual bar & restaurant named after Vizcarra's mother. After more than three years of development, the flagship 3,200-square-foot LOLA 55 opened within the new IDEA1 Apartments in San Diego's East Village in August 2018 with a kitchen helmed by executive chef and partner Andrew Bent. Over its nearly four year tenure, Lola 55 has won the hearts of local food lovers and critics alike, even earning the highly coveted Bib Gourmand distinction from California’s Michelin Guide and being named as one of "."ÌýLola 55's Executive Chef Drew Bent also competed on an episode of Food Network's "Beat Bobby Flay", where he conquered the celebrity chef in a fish taco competition.Ìý
Formerly La Costa Towne Center, the North County shopping center recently underwent a $10 million renovation and has since attracted several multi-million-dollar tenants, including a that recently opened, a branch of Los Angeles-based Sweetgreen salad chain, and incoming eateries ÌýandÌýthe second location of San Diego-based Trust Restaurant Group's The Wise Ox Butcher & Eatery.
The menu at LOLA 55 combines Chef Drew Bent's love for wood-fire cooking with his respect for San Diego taco shops and locally sourced ingredients. Inspired by Oaxacan-style cuisine, where mesquite is used to jointly prepare and season food, LOLA 55 grills most of its meats and vegetables on a custom, Santa Maria wood grill. The menu offers "inspired food at affordable prices", with most of the items priced between $3-7. Tacos are made with housemade tortillas and ingredients sourced from area farms and purveyors. The menu also includes a large list of vegan options, including numerous plant-based tacos. The restaurant also serves a full list of craft cocktails, local & Mexican craft beer, an array of side dishes like elote and aguachile, market-driven entrees and soft beverages like agua frescas and horchatas.
For more information about LOLA 55, visit , and be sure to visit the original location at 1290 F Street in San Diego's East Village.
