Founded by Pablo Rios in 2017, Barrio Dogg started from humble beginnings as a food cart fashioned from a 1964 Impala, embodying the spirit of the local Lowrider culture before transitioning into a brick-and-mortar establishment in 2018. The restaurant's expansion in 2019 added a taproom, enhancing its offerings with local and Mexican craft beers, and further embedding itself into the fabric of Barrio Logan with its lowrider art gallery.Ìý
Barrio Dogg closed its doors last week without prior announcement and has begun clearing out the space. Attempts to contact the restaurant were unsuccessful, as the phone line appears to be disconnected. We reached out to the ownership by email and social media for further details but have not received a response. This closure marks another significant loss for Barrio Logan, underscoring the ongoing challenges businesses face in this historical hub of Latino culture.Ìý
The closure of Barrio Dogg follows a troubling trend in Barrio Logan, where other iconic establishments like Salud, a favored taco spot, La Bodega, a pivotal art gallery and community center, and Border X Brewing and Restaurant, which operated for a decade, have also shuttered. Even Las Cuatro Milpas, a 91-year-old taco shop deeply rooted in the community, has faced significant financial and operational hurdles, highlighting the precarious state of small businesses in the area.
Despite this closure, the fate of Barrio Dogg's outpost inside San Diego Padres' Petco Park and its new branch in San Antonio, Texas, remains uncertain. The San Antonio location, at 620 South Presa in Southtown, was part of Barrio Dogg's first out-of-state expansion, bringing its unique blend of comfort food and cultural homage to a new audience. At one point, Barrio Dogg hoped to open a branch in Los Angeles and even a licensed outpost in Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood.Ìý
Barrio Dogg was located at 2234 Logan Avenue in San Diego's Barrio Logan. For more information, visitÌý.
Originally published on January 20, 2025.Ìý
