San Diego will soon have two outposts of Tocaya Organica, a ‘fresh-casual eatery’ with four locations in the Los Angeles area, one in Miami and several more in the works. Run by The Madera Group, it’s a relaxed, health-focused version of Toca Madera, a modern Mexican restaurant in West Hollywood, that features a menu of tacos, salads, bowls, and wraps made with organic produce, hormone-free meat and sustainable seafood; there are also gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options.
A previously-announced site in the Gaslamp, at 755 5th Avenue, will come online by the end of the year. Replacing the hospitality group’s former nightclub, the 6,000-square-foot restaurant will incorporate the building’s historic brick into a design centered around wood, stone and natural fabrics. Tosh Berman, CEO and co-founder of The Madera Group, shared that the layout will include an open kitchen, a mezzanine area that will function as a lounge/work space, patio seating, and a 40-foot succulent wall. Tocaya Organica is also headed to Westfield UTC, where it joins the incoming wave of eateries and is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2018.