Mexican Cantina Brings Family Recipes and Fresh Cocktails to Ocean Beach | Eater San Diego

"Opening Saturday, October 10, this new Mexican eatery and cocktail bar occupies the 4,000-square-foot space on Bacon Street that previously housed Nati’s and has been transformed by design firm Tecture with mostly outdoor seating. Ownership includes Brendan Huffman and Hoffman Leung of Social Syndicate (who run Wonderland Ocean Pub and OB Surf Lodge) alongside brothers Matt and Judd Braun of Blue Water Seafood, and they intentionally paid homage to Nati’s by bringing Mexican food back to the space. Born and raised in Tijuana with family roots in Guadalajara and Nayarit, chef Gabby Lopez has incorporated many passed-down recipes into a menu that features a trio of mariscos dishes, mini Tijuana-style hot dogs, a variety of tacos, and larger plates including pork chile verde, chicken tinga enchiladas, a molcajete of seafood sautéed in garlic butter, and carne a la tampiqueña (a citrus- and garlic-marinated steak). The bar program offers beer from in-house Resident Brewing and Mexican craft labels like Colima and Insurgente, plus cocktails from classic margaritas to an OB Parrot made with Doctor Bird Jamaica Rum, Amaras Verde Mezcal, Rinomoto, demerara, pineapple, and lime; service will run lunch and dinner daily." - Candice Woo