According to county officials and reporting by the San Diego Union-Tribune, the owners of the nearly century-old eatery have until March 2026 to fully pay off more than $60,000 in overdue property taxes or risk a government-mandated asset sale. Additional tax liens bring the restaurant's total outstanding debts to over $190,000.
This development marks the latest in a string of challenges that have cast doubt over the future of Las Cuatro Milpas, a business founded in 1933 by Petra and Natividad Estudillo. Despite continued popularity and long lines outside its Logan Avenue location, financial and operational struggles have taken a toll.
County tax records show that the Estudillo Manuel Family Trust failed to enter into a five-year repayment plan before a June 30, 2025 deadline. Under such a plan, a partial upfront payment could have stalled enforcement. With that opportunity now expired, the only options to avoid public auction are to pay the full property tax debt or to sell the property privately before next March. Compounding the issue are additional liens, including $103,000 in unpaid state sales taxes and more than $30,000 owed to the federal government.
Broker estimates suggest the Barrio Logan property could fetch nearly $3 million on the open market, assuming there are no encumbrances affecting the land or structures. However, as of now, no public plans to sell have been confirmed by ownership.
This is not the first time Las Cuatro Milpas has faced scrutiny or closure. In January 2025, the restaurant was forced to shut down for three weeks following multiple failed health inspections that uncovered a severe German cockroach infestation and widespread sanitary violations. County reports, obtained by San DiegoVille through a public records request, detailed live and dead cockroaches in food prep areas, gaps in walls, and plumbing issues - ultimately prompting a closure order and only later allowing the restaurant to reopen after remediation.
The dual pressures of financial debt and operational compliance have now culminated in the most serious threat yet to the restaurant's survival. Though the family has indicated a desire to continue operating the restaurant as long as they are healthy enough to do so, the mounting debt and looming sale deadline suggest difficult decisions lie ahead.
Las Cuatro Milpas has long held a cherished place in San Diego’s culinary and cultural landscape, offering handmade tortillas, rolled tacos, burritos, and tamales served simply and affordably. The restaurant is beloved by generations of locals and visitors alike, who line up daily for its no-frills menu and community atmosphere.
As the March 2026 tax sale deadline draws closer, it remains to be seen whether the family will find a financial solution, opt to sell, or ultimately be forced to relinquish ownership of one of San Diego’s most historically significant dining establishments. For now, Las Cuatro Milpas remains open at 1857 Logan Avenue in Barrio Logan.
Originally published on July 15, 2025.
This development marks the latest in a string of challenges that have cast doubt over the future of Las Cuatro Milpas, a business founded in 1933 by Petra and Natividad Estudillo. Despite continued popularity and long lines outside its Logan Avenue location, financial and operational struggles have taken a toll.
County tax records show that the Estudillo Manuel Family Trust failed to enter into a five-year repayment plan before a June 30, 2025 deadline. Under such a plan, a partial upfront payment could have stalled enforcement. With that opportunity now expired, the only options to avoid public auction are to pay the full property tax debt or to sell the property privately before next March. Compounding the issue are additional liens, including $103,000 in unpaid state sales taxes and more than $30,000 owed to the federal government.
Broker estimates suggest the Barrio Logan property could fetch nearly $3 million on the open market, assuming there are no encumbrances affecting the land or structures. However, as of now, no public plans to sell have been confirmed by ownership.
This is not the first time Las Cuatro Milpas has faced scrutiny or closure. In January 2025, the restaurant was forced to shut down for three weeks following multiple failed health inspections that uncovered a severe German cockroach infestation and widespread sanitary violations. County reports, obtained by San DiegoVille through a public records request, detailed live and dead cockroaches in food prep areas, gaps in walls, and plumbing issues - ultimately prompting a closure order and only later allowing the restaurant to reopen after remediation.
The dual pressures of financial debt and operational compliance have now culminated in the most serious threat yet to the restaurant's survival. Though the family has indicated a desire to continue operating the restaurant as long as they are healthy enough to do so, the mounting debt and looming sale deadline suggest difficult decisions lie ahead.
Las Cuatro Milpas has long held a cherished place in San Diego’s culinary and cultural landscape, offering handmade tortillas, rolled tacos, burritos, and tamales served simply and affordably. The restaurant is beloved by generations of locals and visitors alike, who line up daily for its no-frills menu and community atmosphere.
As the March 2026 tax sale deadline draws closer, it remains to be seen whether the family will find a financial solution, opt to sell, or ultimately be forced to relinquish ownership of one of San Diego’s most historically significant dining establishments. For now, Las Cuatro Milpas remains open at 1857 Logan Avenue in Barrio Logan.
Originally published on July 15, 2025.