California Burritos has taken over the space at 3973 Mission Boulevard, near the border of Pacific Beach and Mission Beach, where La Playa operated for nearly three decades before closing in September 2026. The building has undergone a noticeable transformation, with its exterior repainted white, new signage installed and outdoor seating arranged along the sidewalk. The restaurant is now open for business.
The new arrival marks a quick turnaround for the property, which was vacated less than two months ago following a tumultuous final year for La Playa and the Rodriguez family, who operated the neighborhood taco shop for generations of beachgoers.
California Burritos is an established, family-operated San Diego restaurant business associated with owner Gustavo Cardenas. The company has operated since 2006, and Cardenas was previously recognized by local credit union MyPoint Credit Union during Hispanic Heritage Month in 2022 for his years of small business ownership and involvement in the San Diego community.
The new Mission Boulevard location operates under the name California Burritos PB, with signage featuring palm trees and a coastal-inspired design. The refreshed storefront retains the building's familiar footprint while giving the former La Playa space a considerably brighter appearance.
The menu offers an extensive selection of San Diego-style Mexican food, including California burritos, carne asada burritos, rolled tacos, breakfast burritos, quesadillas, tortas, enchiladas, seafood dishes and combination plates.
A California burrito is listed at $13.90, while carne asada burritos cost $13.50, carnitas burritos are $11.35 and bean-and-cheese burritos are $7.50. The restaurant also serves a surf-and-turf burrito for $14.25, shrimp burritos for $13.75 and a selection of breakfast burritos generally priced between $10 and $12.50.
Other offerings include carne asada fries, mini tacos, chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, soups, salads and Mexican desserts. The menu also features vegetarian and plant-based options, including a soyrizo California burrito, tofu fajitas burrito and several meat-free dishes.
The opening comes after the closure of La Playa Taco Shop, whose departure attracted considerable attention because of the circumstances surrounding its longtime owner, Victor Rodriguez Ocampo Sr.
Rodriguez was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside his National City home on Halloween morning in October 2025. After spending approximately two months at the Otay Mesa Detention Center, he was deported to Mexico around the beginning of 2026.
Rodriguez and his wife, Gabriela, had operated La Playa for roughly 30 years, building a loyal following among Pacific Beach and Mission Beach residents. The modest restaurant was particularly known for its fish tacos and the personal relationships the family developed with customers over decades.
Following Rodriguez's detention, Gabriela and the couple's son, Victor Rodriguez Jr., struggled to maintain operations while also navigating the family's legal and financial challenges. A community fundraising campaign established to help with legal expenses and support the business raised more than $18,500 from nearly 250 donors.
Although La Playa remained open for months following Rodriguez's deportation, the family ultimately announced plans to close the Mission Boulevard restaurant in September.
According to a neighborhood community account that reported speaking with the restaurant's owner, the closure also involved a proposed rent increase following a change in property ownership. The family reportedly could not reach acceptable terms for a new lease.
La Playa served its final customers at the longtime location in September, ending a nearly three-decade run along one of San Diego's busiest coastal corridors.
At the time, the Rodriguez family was reportedly searching for another location where La Playa could potentially reopen. No replacement location has been confirmed.
California Burritos' arrival represents a new chapter for the small restaurant property, which has long served as a convenient stop for locals, beachgoers and visitors seeking inexpensive, casual Mexican food just blocks from the Pacific Ocean.
While the storefront will continue serving burritos, tacos and other Mexican favorites, the business now occupying it is separate from La Playa and the Rodriguez family.
For longtime customers, the freshly painted building and new California Burritos signage are visible reminders of how quickly a familiar neighborhood fixture can change. For California Burritos, the location offers an opportunity to introduce its menu to the busy Pacific Beach and Mission Beach communities.
California Burritos PB is now open at 3973 Mission Boulevard in San Diego. For more information, visit sdburritos.com.
Originally published on November 15, 2026.