According to California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) records, a Type 41 license application (beer and wine for on-site consumption) has been submitted under Cazadores Mexican Grill Inc, with Rafael Barragán Rodríguez listed as president and chief executive officer. Barragán, along with his family, operates several San Diego-area Mexican restaurants, including Cazadores Mexican Grill and Cotijas Taco Shop, both known for their classic, family-style approach to traditional Mexican fare.
The arrival of Cazadores marks a swift transition for the 1,200-square-foot Wall Street café. Comedor Nishi, opened by Shōwa Hospitality - the restaurant group behind The Taco Stand - launched in August 2024 with a unique Japanese-Mexican fusion brunch menu developed by Chef Pancho Ibáñez, an alum of Mexico City’s Michelin-starred Pujol. The inventive daytime restaurant quickly drew curiosity for its duck carnitas, chilaquiles with Japanese-style salsa roja, and matcha conchas. But despite positive reviews, Comedor Nishi quietly wound down operations earlier this fall.
The change underscores how competitive and fluid La Jolla’s dining scene has become. Once the home of Coffee Cup Café, a breakfast icon that operated for nearly 30 years before closing in 2023, the cozy Wall Street spot remains one of the most desirable - and challenging - locations in the Village. While Shōwa Hospitality has not commented publicly on the closure or sale, ABC filings confirm the transfer process is underway, signaling the end of the short-lived fusion concept.
Cazadores Mexican Food is expected to bring a more traditional and affordable Mexican menu to the heart of La Jolla Village, continuing the Barragán family’s focus on homestyle dishes and neighborhood-friendly service. No official opening date has been announced, but build-out work is expected to begin soon, and a winter debut appears likely. For now, the transition marks yet another culinary chapter for one of La Jolla’s most storied café spaces - from the long-loved Coffee Cup to the ambitious Comedor Nishi, and now to the family-driven Cazadores Mexican Food.
Cazadores Mexican Food is expected to open by early 2026 at 1109 Wall Street in San Diego's La Jolla.
Originally published on October 20, 2025.
