The new restaurant has taken over the former Super Mario’s Mexican Food space in the retail plaza that also houses Wa Dining Okan, Woomiok, and Koon Thai, joining a rapidly evolving stretch of Convoy increasingly packed with both longtime Asian dining institutions and newer fast-casual concepts.
The expansion marks the latest chapter for the Rodriguez-Ocampo family, whose La Perla brand has become deeply woven into San Diego’s burrito culture over the past decade. The family currently operates La Perla #2 in Pacific Beach, La Perla #3 in Point Loma, and La Perlita Mexican Food in Mission Beach.
For many longtime San Diegans, however, the original La Perla location on Emerald Street in Pacific Beach remains the most iconic. Founded in 2011 by Guillermo Rodriguez-Ocampo and his family, the original shop earned national recognition after being named among America’s best burrito destinations by The Daily Meal and later appearing in Netflix’s Taco Chronicles documentary series.
That original Pacific Beach restaurant closed following a difficult period for the family. In 2022, the Emerald Street property was sold to new operators who reworked the concept into a seafood-focused restaurant. Shortly afterward, family patriarch Guillermo Rodriguez-Ocampo passed away in December 2023 at age 63, leaving the future of the brand uncertain.
Instead of fading away, however, the remaining La Perla locations have continued expanding under the stewardship of Rodriguez-Ocampo’s wife and son, preserving the menu and style that helped the taqueria develop its loyal following.
The new Convoy location offers essentially the same menu San Diego burrito enthusiasts already know from the Pacific Beach and Point Loma shops, including carne asada fries, California burritos, surf-and-turf burritos, rolled tacos, tortas and breakfast plates.
But the undisputed star remains the Oaxacalifornia Burrito, the oversized creation that helped propel La Perla into local legend status. The burrito layers carne asada fries, pico de gallo, guacamole and cheese inside a flour tortilla wrapped with a second tortilla fused together by melted cheese between the layers, a decadent hybrid that became widely shared across social media and food blogs long before “viral burrito” culture became commonplace.
The opening also further solidifies Convoy Street’s transformation into one of San Diego’s most competitive food corridors, where independent operators increasingly coexist alongside major regional chains and destination dining concepts.
Unlike trend-driven restaurant openings built around aesthetics or social media gimmicks, La Perla’s appeal has historically centered on something simpler: massive portions, rich comfort food and a distinctly San Diego style of burrito excess that locals continue embracing year after year.
The new La Perla Cocina Mexicana is now open at 3860 Convoy Street, Suite 101, in San Diego’s Kearny Mesa neighborhood.
Originally published on May 19, 2026.
