October 3, 2023
Popular Los Angeles-based Mexican restaurant chain Kalaveras has taken over the former Fuddruckers space in San Diego's South County city of Chula Vista to open a second San Diego location.
Founded in Los Angeles County's Bellflower city in 2016 by brothers Jose and Francisco Brito, Kalaveras offers a Dia de Los Muertos-inspired design with a fast casual menu of "Latin American culinary classics" and an expansive bar selection. The concept now has nearly two dozen locations around Los Angeles with an aggressive Southern California expansion that includes outposts in San Bernardino, Long Beach, Silver Lake, Newport Beach, Old Town Temecula, and multiple incoming San Diego branches.
We reported last year that Kalaveras owners were seeking ideal locations in La Jolla and the Gaslamp Quarter to open their first San Diego location. Last month, news broke that the company secured a lease to take over the space on Grand Avenue in San Diego's North County city of Escondido that has housed La Tapatia restaurant since 2005 for its first of several San Diego branches. Kalaveras has now signed a lease to take over the building on Third Avenue in Chula Vista previously occupied by short-lived Culichi Town and Fuddruckers before that.
Expected to unveil at some point in 2024, expect the San Diego branches to offer a colorful interior design covered in Calaveras sugar skulls, as well as frequent live music, modern Mexican dishes, Mexican-style sushi, and nearly a 100 different varieties of tequila and mezcal. There is no word on whether on which of the Escondido or Chula Vista outposts will open first.
Kalaveras is anticipated to open in early 2024 at 340 Third Avenue in San Diego's South County city of Chula Vista. For more information, visit kalaveras.com.
