Peek Into This Palace of Tequila and Mexican Food

Grid View

La Tequila, which recently opened in the former location of Los Arcos in Chula Vista, has an extensive food and drink menu, but the 6,000-square-foot
space also provides a visual feast, from colorful surfaces, glittering embellishments and birds, lots of birds, whimsically painted on walls or perched on branches throughout the restaurant.

Karina's Group, which owns seven other family-run area restaurants, including the Karina's
Mexican Seafood locations and Savoie in Otay Ranch, did a substantial remodel here, and principal David Contreras-Curiel, who designed the space, says that they wanted to provide a downtown dining experience to the South Bay.

Naturally, tequila is the focus here, with a selection of more than 200 available by the flight, glass or bottle, which can be stored in personal "tequila lockers"; an agave field planted next to the new outdoor patio adds to the theme. The menu, which features breakfast, lunch and dinner, is centered around traditional dishes from the tequila-producing region, and includes carne en su jugo, a beef soup with onions, garlic and bacon, slow-stewed beef birria, crocodile tacos with homemade tortillas and tlacoyo, masa cakes stuffed with savory fillings. La Tequila is also making homemade paletas, frozen pops in seasonal flavors.

· Karina's Group [Official Site]
· All Eater Inside Coverage [~ESD~]