More than three years after finally opening Fish Guts following an unusually long development process, chef and restaurateur Pablo Becker is dramatically expanding his footprint in San Diego's Barrio Logan with two new concepts slated to debut before the end of the year. Becker is planning to open Santo Poco, a takeout-focused sandwich shop above Fish Guts, as early as October, followed in November by Concrete Cowboy, a full-service restaurant centered around meat-driven tacos in the former Lia's Lumpia space across the street. The expansion effectively gives Becker three distinct concepts clustered around the intersection of Logan Avenue and Sampson Street, an area that has become one of San Diego's most interesting dining and cultural destinations.
Santo Poco will take over the second-story space at 2222 Logan Avenue that Becker previously intended to transform into Hasekura, an intimate six-seat omakase restaurant announced by SanDiegoVille in 2023. That project ultimately never materialized. Rather than sushi, Becker is now turning the upstairs space into a lunch-only sandwich operation offering takeout and delivery without dine-in service. The menu will draw inspiration from Mexican, Italian, French, Chicago and New York sandwich traditions while filtering them through Becker's cooking style. Among the planned creations is a sandwich paying tribute to late chef, author and television personality Anthony Bourdain, appropriately dubbed the Antonio Bourdain.
“There’s probably going to be a Cuban-style sandwich in there with a touch of Mexican, some cold cut Italians, too, putting my touch on them,” Becker told San Diego Magazine.
Across the street at 2219 Logan Avenue, Becker is developing an entirely different restaurant called Concrete Cowboy. If Fish Guts is Becker's celebration of what comes from the ocean, Concrete Cowboy will essentially become its land-based counterpart. The restaurant will focus heavily on tacos made with proteins including duck confit, ribeye, pork belly and skirt steak, retaining the relatively streamlined approach that helped turn Fish Guts into a destination. The Concrete Cowboy name and aesthetic are inspired by Becker's father, who grew up in Mexico City but has long been fascinated by Western and cowboy culture.
“He always liked that cowboy life, that vibe,” Becker told the magazine. “I always say ‘Dad, you just grew up in the wrong city.’”
The former Lia's Lumpia space will retain some of its existing cabin-like character while receiving an adobe-inspired exterior, Western wallpaper and taxidermy. Becker also plans to reconfigure the bar and transition the restaurant away from its former fast-casual setup into a full-service operation serving lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Local designer Dane Danner is overseeing the design and visual identity for both restaurants, including logos, menus and packaging.
The expansion marks the latest chapter in a restaurant career that has repeatedly brought Becker back to Mexican cooking. The San Diego native, whose family came from Mexico City, previously operated the ambitious El Vitral Restaurant & Tequileria before spending several years in Chicago working with his cousin and mentor, internationally known restaurateur Richard Sandoval.
Becker eventually returned to San Diego and began developing Fish Guts in 2019. After nearly four years of delays, the approximately 500-square-foot seafood taqueria finally opened in February 2023 at 2222 Logan Avenue. Its deliberately tiny menu revolves around locally sourced seafood prepared as tacos and sandwiches, including Baja-style battered fish, salmon al pastor and blackened swordfish.
“He always liked that cowboy life, that vibe,” Becker told the magazine. “I always say ‘Dad, you just grew up in the wrong city.’”
The former Lia's Lumpia space will retain some of its existing cabin-like character while receiving an adobe-inspired exterior, Western wallpaper and taxidermy. Becker also plans to reconfigure the bar and transition the restaurant away from its former fast-casual setup into a full-service operation serving lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Local designer Dane Danner is overseeing the design and visual identity for both restaurants, including logos, menus and packaging.
The expansion marks the latest chapter in a restaurant career that has repeatedly brought Becker back to Mexican cooking. The San Diego native, whose family came from Mexico City, previously operated the ambitious El Vitral Restaurant & Tequileria before spending several years in Chicago working with his cousin and mentor, internationally known restaurateur Richard Sandoval.
Becker eventually returned to San Diego and began developing Fish Guts in 2019. After nearly four years of delays, the approximately 500-square-foot seafood taqueria finally opened in February 2023 at 2222 Logan Avenue. Its deliberately tiny menu revolves around locally sourced seafood prepared as tacos and sandwiches, including Baja-style battered fish, salmon al pastor and blackened swordfish.
Despite its diminutive footprint, Fish Guts quickly developed a following and has repeatedly been recognized among San Diego's top destinations for fish tacos. Becker has also emphasized sourcing seafood from local fishermen rather than relying predominantly on imported products, an approach that helped distinguish Fish Guts in a city already saturated with seafood taco shops.
Once Concrete Cowboy opens, Becker reportedly intends to temporarily close Fish Guts for its own makeover. The original restaurant's stark white interior will be replaced with a warmer aesthetic, while the menu will be refreshed with new tacos and additional dishes. What Becker apparently isn't planning is turning Fish Guts into a chain.
“Fish Guts is cool,” Becker told San Diego Magazine. “I feel once you start branching out, it’s more forced, not as organic.”
Instead, he appears to be building something closer to a miniature restaurant ecosystem in Barrio Logan, creating different concepts within a few steps of one another rather than duplicating the restaurant that put him back on San Diego's culinary map.
Santo Poco is anticipated to open in October at 2222 Logan Avenue, above Fish Guts, while Concrete Cowboy is expected to debut in November at 2219 Logan Avenue in San Diego's Barrio Logan.
Once Concrete Cowboy opens, Becker reportedly intends to temporarily close Fish Guts for its own makeover. The original restaurant's stark white interior will be replaced with a warmer aesthetic, while the menu will be refreshed with new tacos and additional dishes. What Becker apparently isn't planning is turning Fish Guts into a chain.
“Fish Guts is cool,” Becker told San Diego Magazine. “I feel once you start branching out, it’s more forced, not as organic.”
Instead, he appears to be building something closer to a miniature restaurant ecosystem in Barrio Logan, creating different concepts within a few steps of one another rather than duplicating the restaurant that put him back on San Diego's culinary map.
Santo Poco is anticipated to open in October at 2222 Logan Avenue, above Fish Guts, while Concrete Cowboy is expected to debut in November at 2219 Logan Avenue in San Diego's Barrio Logan.
Originally published on August 18, 2026. Information first reported by Beth Demmon of San Diego Magazine.