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 "The Best Mexican Restaurants in San Diego in MICHELIN Guide California." Lola 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.
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 location of Shake Shack that recently opened, a branch of Los Angeles-based Sweetgreen salad chain, and incoming eateries Ohio-based Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams and the second location of San Diego-based Trust Restaurant Group's The Wise Ox Butcher & Eatery.
For more information about LOLA 55, visit lola55.com, and be sure to visit the original location at 1290 F Street in San Diego's East Village.
