One of Mexico City's most prolific restaurant groups has taken over the space that last housed Larsen's Steakhouse in San Diego's Westfield UTC mall for the opening of a new, upscale Italian restaurant and bar.
Founded by Pepe Cuaik in 1993 with the opening of Mexico City's first Chinese restaurant Hunan, Grupo Hunan now operates nearly two dozen restaurants in Mexico City, including the city's multiple branches of Nobu, as well as a restaurant in Cabo San Lucas, another in Guadalajara and a recently opened Mexican restaurant named Alma at The Grove in Los Angeles.
Grupo Hunan is in the process of taking over the 7,500 square-foot, ground level space that housed Larsen's Steakhouse at Westfield UTC mall in La Jolla. Larsen's occupied the unit for five years before abruptly closing last month. Larsen's lease was reportedly terminated by the mall's parent company, allegedly following negotiations with Grupo Hunan.
After an interior renovation, Grupo Hunan will open an upscale Italian restaurant in the former Larsen's. The company currently occupies three Italian concepts - Prosecco Tavola Rustica, Negroni Trattoria Italiana, and Trastevere Ristorante Italiano. There is no word on whether Grupo Hunan will replicate one of those three brands or open something completely new, but it has been confirmed the eatery will be an Italian restaurant and bar. We reached out to Westfield UTC representatives several times by every medium possible to get a comment, but they never responded despite seeing our messages.
Grupo Hunan's San Diego Italian restaurant is expected to open by year's end at 4545 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 1050, on the ground floor of Westfield UTC mall in San Diego's La Jolla UTC area. For more information, visit grupohunan.com.
