The team behind San Diego's hit Lucha Libre Taco Shops chain of restaurants is getting in the dessert game with the launch of Zonkey: Hip Pops & Fresh Aguas, a new concept opening this weekend in North Park.
A family run business from the start, the Rojano-Garcia family debuted their pro wrestling-themed Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop on the base of Washington Street in San Diego's Middletown neighborhood in 2008 and quickly gained fanfare due to the funky design and well-executed Mexican taco shop delicacies. Owned by brothers Jose Luis, Maurilio, and Diego Rojano-Garcia, who grew up in Mexico idolizing wrestling stars, Lucha Libre became a San Diego destination after entering national stardom through a feature on Travel Channel's Man vs. Food in 2010. The popularity resulted in the expansion of the eatery into Petco Park in 2014, followed by the opening of another location in North Park in 2015. A 1,759 square-foot Carlsbad location opened in early 2020 within The Shoppes at Carlsbad but closed later that year due to the pandemic.
As the group behind Lucha Libre Taco Shops grew, so did their families. With children, came a desire to bring something else to their stores. Something they felt was missing, and more importantly, something their little ones now demanded - "what's for dessert?!". So now, the group has ventured beyond their taco shop food roots and are opening their first dessert and beverage focused concept Zonkey: Hip Pops and Fresh Aguas.
"We recognize that we are not the first paleta concept in San Diego, just like there were plenty of tacos shops when we first opened Lucha in 2008," said Diego Rojano-Garcia, one of the co-founders of the Lucha Libre Taco Shops. "But this hasn’t deterred us. Quite the opposite, it’s driven us to stand-out the way we did with our taco shop offerings close to 15 years ago...to leave our mark on the San Diego food scene in this fun space. We have something to say, and we hope people like the story we want to tell”,
Named after the donkeys painted with fake zebra stripes that can be spotted in Tijuan since the 1930s, Zonkey is starting their paletas menu with over 20 unique flavor options, multiple toppings, and dipping choices, allowing customers to create endless combinations. Customers can even rent their own mini paleta carts filled with their favorite pops for parties and events. Zonkey has partnered with award winning barman Andrew "Coco" Cordero, formerly of Consortium Holdings, to develop a lineup of boozy paletas and hard drink "coolers" made with customer’s choice of sparkling water or beer.
Aguas frescas (Spanish for "cool waters", or literally "fresh waters") are light, non-alcoholic beverages made from one or more fruits, cereals, flowers, or seeds blended with sugar and water. All of Zonkey’s Fresh Aguas use reverse osmosis (RO) filters for its water foundation and from there - they combine fresh and unique fruits, roots, and flavors to create never-before seen agua fresca combinations with fun add-ons like boba tapioca pearls.
"We recognize that we are not the first paleta concept in San Diego, just like there were plenty of tacos shops when we first opened Lucha in 2008," said Diego Rojano-Garcia, one of the co-founders of the Lucha Libre Taco Shops. "But this hasn’t deterred us. Quite the opposite, it’s driven us to stand-out the way we did with our taco shop offerings close to 15 years ago...to leave our mark on the San Diego food scene in this fun space. We have something to say, and we hope people like the story we want to tell”,
Named after the donkeys painted with fake zebra stripes that can be spotted in Tijuan since the 1930s, Zonkey is starting their paletas menu with over 20 unique flavor options, multiple toppings, and dipping choices, allowing customers to create endless combinations. Customers can even rent their own mini paleta carts filled with their favorite pops for parties and events. Zonkey has partnered with award winning barman Andrew "Coco" Cordero, formerly of Consortium Holdings, to develop a lineup of boozy paletas and hard drink "coolers" made with customer’s choice of sparkling water or beer.
Aguas frescas (Spanish for "cool waters", or literally "fresh waters") are light, non-alcoholic beverages made from one or more fruits, cereals, flowers, or seeds blended with sugar and water. All of Zonkey’s Fresh Aguas use reverse osmosis (RO) filters for its water foundation and from there - they combine fresh and unique fruits, roots, and flavors to create never-before seen agua fresca combinations with fun add-ons like boba tapioca pearls.
Zonkey was integrated into the Lucha Libre Taco Shop location at 3016 University Avenue in San Diego's North Park. The group has plans to expand the Zonkey concept to independent stand alone locations and integrate Zonkey products to existing or future Lucha Libre Taco Shop locations.
For more information, visit luchalibretacoshop.com.
