San Diego has some of the best Latinx-owned businesses in the country. Here are some of our favorites, from restaurants to art shops and beyond.
Southern California is a treasure trove of Latinx-owned businesses. Countless chefs, bakers, artists, businesspeople, and more have brought their talents to the area and continue to give back to their communities. This is particularly true in San Diego, which, as we all know, is incredibly close to the Mexico border.
It’s time that we highlight these small businesses and uplift the people who have had the immense courage to start a new venture and put themselves and their crafts out there. That’s precisely why we rounded up 10 excellent options, from bakeries and restaurants to salons and art shops. With so much diversity in goods and services, you can support local Latinx business owners in many ways, which enriches your entire community.
1. Azúcar
Address: 4820 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107
Hours: Monday-Friday: 7 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Starting with the sweetest Latinx-owned business on this list, we have Azúcar. This “Cuban style patisserie” is named after the Spanish word for “sugar.” Owner and baker Vivian Hernandez opened Azúcar as a love letter to her childhood, when her family shared sweet treats after dinner. According to the patisserie’s website, Hernandez has been baking for decades, starting at age 7 and turning it into a business as early as her high school years.
When you visit Azúcar, you can expect to find many classic Cuban pastries, all created with care. The classic guava-and-cheese pastry known as Pastelito de Guayaba con Queso is a staple here, as are scones featuring raspberry and passion fruit, ham croquettes, meat pies, and more. Those who prefer savory bites can also order sandwiches, including Cubanos.
2. Combine & Create
Address: 2151 Logan Ave, San Diego, CA 92113
Hours: Thursday-Sunday: 12 p.m.-5 p.m.
San Diego native Vanessa Ortiz Reyes established Combine & Create in 2015 to connect admirers of art with her multimedia work after studying fine art and photography at Cornish College of the Arts. Combine & Create is located in Barrio Logan, an artistic San Diego neighborhood. There, you’ll find Reyes selling two main types of art: jewelry and photography.
Reyes sells photos from her global travels and cyanotypes. If you’ve never heard of cyanotypes, you’re not alone. The process of creating cyanotypes began in the mid-1800s and is a unique printing method that typically produces a blue final product, making prints feel more atmospheric. This method isn’t widely used today, so checking out Reyes’ pieces can give you a special look into the history of photography.
3. Dia del Cafe
Address: 2873 Adams Ave A, San Diego, CA 92116
Hours: Monday-Friday: 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Need an extra pep in your step after enjoying some sweet treats and beautiful art? Hit up Dia del Cafe for a pick-me-up that will knock your socks off. The interior of Dia del Cafe is one big ode to Mexico; stunning artwork and colorful draped decorations transport you the moment you set foot in the building.
Its menu follows suit. The coffee at Dia del Cafe carries “tradition and flavor in every bean,” according to its website, and one glance at its menu confirms it. The cafe is known for its horchata, which you can order on its own or served as a latte with either matcha or espresso. Other drink options include Mexican mocha lattes and miel y canela (honey cinnamon) lattes. Hungry too? The La Soya panini should do the job with its eggs, cheese, and soy chorizo.
4. Artelexia
Address: 3803 Ray St, San Diego, CA 92104
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Artelexia is a true passion project for owner Elexia de la Parra. She has long been fascinated by travel and culture, and she used everything she’d learned over the years to create the Artelexia brand over a decade ago. She first popped up at the farmers market in Little Italy, but it wasn’t long before she grew into her own storefront. Today, her store is located in San Diego’s North Park neighborhood, and it carries a highly curated selection of products that make perfect gifts for anyone in your life.
The variety of products at Artelexia is beautiful, especially when you realize that they all tie back to her heritage in some way. Browsing the shop’s online catalog is also enticing because Artelexia ships most items directly to your doorstep. Some notable finds include the Horchata Candle, Axolotl Embossed Glass with Lid, Bonita Pocket Mirror, and Day of the Dead Wooden Utensils.
5. City Tacos
Address: 3028 University Ave, San Diego, CA, 92104
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
If you get hungry after shopping at Artelexia, you might as well stop at the North Park location of City Tacos on your way home. If you somehow didn’t know, City Tacos is a San Diego institution with six locations across the city, including La Mesa, Sorrento Valley, Encinitas, Pacific Beach, and OB Playground. This local chain has become so popular because it prioritizes fresh, tasty ingredients and preparations, and its menu has something for everyone, featuring around 20 different types of tacos at any given time.
City Tacos’ award-winning dishes come in a variety of flavors. For one, there’s a fish taco featuring mahi-mahi, and there are also quesabirria, the pulled-beef tacos that have gone viral on TikTok in recent years. Want a bit of both the land and the sea? Order the Surf & Turf tacos for shrimp and steak served pipin’ hot. Pro move: Visit on Tuesday for 10% off your order in celebration of everyone’s favorite weekly holiday.
6. Angelica B Beauty
Address: 2226 Fern St, San Diego, CA 92104
Hours: Monday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Tuesday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Wednesday: 12 p.m.-8 p.m.; Thursday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Named after esthetician and owner Angelica Sele, Angelica B Beauty is one of San Diego’s premier spas. Sele has been in the esthetician game for over 15 years, and it shows in her shop’s Google rating. Angelica B Beauty has a cumulative 4.7-star rating, which we mention because spas and salon visitors are typically picky and only give high marks when they’re well-earned.
This might just go back to Sele’s work ethos. She writes on her website, “Whether you’re coming in for skincare or waxing, my goal is simple: to give you an experience that feels honest, personalized, and grounded in real expertise.”
Services at Angelica B Beauty include waxing, facials, lashes and brows, and makeup. One thing that really sets this spa apart is its commitment to being eco-friendly, including using certified eco-friendly makeup brands on its clients.
7. Next Step for Downsize Living
Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Next Step for Downsize Living is exactly what it sounds like: a way to help San Diego community members along on their downsizing journeys. The woman at the center of this business is Rose Rugama, and she’s passionate about helping people feel comfortable and safe in their spaces.
Next Step for Downsize Living is a bonded and insured business, so you and your belongings are protected when you work with Rugama. The company helps with planning, actually moving from one home to another, and everything in between. If you’re interested in Next Step for Downsize Living’s services, you can email rose@downsizingsd.com or call 619-942-1989.
8. Empanada Kitchen
Address: 2855 El Cajon Blvd Ste 3, San Diego, CA 92104
Hours: Monday-Wednesday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Thursday-Friday: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday: 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.
With a tagline like “Happily Baked,” you can’t help but smile when you enter Empanada Kitchen. This North Park restaurant specializes in Argentinian-style empanadas that are perfect as a snack or a full meal if you order several. Empanada Kitchen’s menu is beautiful because it’s not bloated; this restaurant knows what it does well and doubles down on it. Outside of the salad of the day, the menu contains just 10 empanadas—and, really, what else do you need?
In the morning, you can feast on the bacon-and-egg empanada, which riffs on a classic bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. Then, once lunch hits, you’ve got several options, including sweet corn and basil, ham and cheese, and lamb, among others. Order these with a classic Coke in a glass bottle, and you’ll be set for a good ol’ time.
9. Llamas Taqueria
Address: 1430 E Plaza Blvd # E10, National City, CA 91950
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Llamas Taqueria comes to San Diego from the mind of Oaxaca-born Guadencio, who worked in restaurants for over three decades before finally opening his own establishment. Everything at Llamas Taqueria is made fresh and with love, including the tortillas, which are hand-pressed daily to ensure they’re soft, supple, and the perfect vessels for the rest of Guadencio’s delicious dishes.
The menu at Llamas Taqueria features burritos, tacos, quesadillas, bowls, and platters. Eye-catching items include the carne asada fries, pork belly burrito, chile verde platter, and al pastor bowl. The taqueria also serves four flavors of cheesecake—classic, ube, raspberry, and white chocolate pistachio—as a lovely cherry on top of a yummy meal.
10. La Puerta
Address: 560 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-12 a.m.; Friday: 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m-12 a.m.
In English, puerta translates to “door,” and at La Puerta, the door is to seriously good food. In fact, the restaurant’s website says it’s the “home of the best Mexican food in San Diego.” Now, we’ll leave that distinction up to each of you, as that’s a personal declaration, but what we will say is that La Puerta has an unbeatable atmosphere: decor that’s simultaneously grungy and chic plus music that makes you want to dance while feeling right at home.
One look at La Puerta’s menu will make your stomach growl (and we’re speaking from experience). Starters like the potato flautitas (mini flautas) and shrimp tostaditas (mini tostadas) will whet your palate in the most delicious way possible. Then, you can order one of many loaded fries options, like the al pastor fries or the carnitas fries. If you’re looking for a unique main entree, consider the Carnitas & Pancakes, a Mexican spin on the traditional chicken-and-waffles dish from the American South. It features slow-cooked pork, buttermilk pancakes, syrup, clarified butter, and powdered sugar. Again, a stomach growl is upon us.
