El Prieto specializes in regional-style tacos and Mexican seafood, with a street-style aesthetic and no shortage of variety. Menu highlights include classic tacos with asada, birria, al pastor, suadero, cabeza, lengua, and pollo, all starting at just $3.99. They also offer vampiros, quesatacos, burritos, tortas, mulitas, chorreadas, and over-the-top carne asada fries. The menu is expansive and customizable, offering an array of proteins across multiple formats.
The shop also houses a franchise of Mariscos Beto, a Sinaloa-based seafood brand. Mariscos options include ceviches, aguachiles in red, green, and black styles, shrimp and octopus cocktails, fish tacos, and surf-and-turf burritos. Diners can order Baja-style shrimp tacos, enchilado-style pulpo, and even loaded seafood fries, all under one roof.
Open daily from 7am to 10pm, the new El Prieto is tailored for locals, tourists, and Padres fans alike. It shares a block with Swagyu’s downtown location and appears to be part of a coordinated expansion in the East Village spearheaded by Hernández and his Grupo ARHE conglomerate. Earlier this year, Swagyu’s ownership reportedly shelled out well over market value to buy out neighboring restaurants, including El Puerto and Short Stop Mediterranean. Those acquisitions cleared the way for both El Prieto and a forthcoming pizzeria, Bobby’s Pizza.
Importantly, El Prieto is not affiliated with the similarly named Taquería By El Prieto in Chula Vista. That concept was founded by Jorge Vargas of Mariscos El Prieto food truck fame and is known for its late-night hours, Tijuana-style street tacos, and legacy in the South Bay. Despite the naming similarities, the two restaurants are entirely separate operations with different ownership, menus, and target audiences.
With a sprawling menu of tacos, burritos, mariscos, and more, El Prieto is a casual taqueria that marks another downtown expansion for the Mexican-run restaurant group now overseeing Swagyu under the direction of Sinaloa businessman Juan José Arellano Hernández. With El Prieto now open and serving a full range of meats, seafood, and regional fare, East Village’s food scene continues to evolve - blending Baja flavors, corporate ambition, and an unmistakable Sinaloa flair.
El Prieto’s debut is part of a broader culinary push from the Swagyu group, which has made headlines not only for its upscale wagyu smash burgers but also for its corporate restructuring and alleged ties to Grupo ARHE. Juan José Arellano Hernández, the group's current lead investor, has denied long running allegations of financial impropriety stemming from his business history in Mexico while at the same time aggressively expanding his San Diego restaurant holdings in recent months.
El Prieto is now open at 317 10th Avenue in San Diego's East Village.
Originally published on July 9, 2025.
