Celebrated Santa Barbara Restaurant Corazón Cocina Opens in Ventura | Eater LA

"Opened in 2016 in the Santa Barbara Public Market as a compact operation, this location offered a tight menu showcasing five tacos, one quesadilla, a salad, and two ceviches. The Guadalajara-born chef Ramón Velázquez—who immigrated to the U.S. in 1990 and worked at restaurants including Arigato and the now-closed Cielito—launched a popular weekly pop-up at Three Pickles Subs & Sandwiches in 2014 before opening this spot and later appeared on the Cooking Channel’s Taco Trip. The food draws on lessons from his mother and grandmother, presenting traditional Mexican fare such as burritos; salads; and a fiery Sayulita ceviche with wild Mexican shrimp, mango, tomatoes, ahi amarillo, avocado, and habanero aioli. Multiple tostadas and tacos feature proteins like birria with a peanut salsa macha and chicken mole, and quesadillas are prepared with tortillas made on-site. “My goal has never been to open a chain of restaurants and make money,” Velázquez says. “Our main objective and goal is to produce great food at a good price. We are driven by farmers’ markets, local fish, and great corn from Mexico.”" - Mona Holmes