Birria El Rey Hopes to Take Over San Diego Following Summer Debut

After a successful pop-up run that started during the pandemic, Birria El Rey is getting ready to open a brick-and-mortar in Golden Hill , located at 1128 25th Street.

Currently, the birria-focused eatery operates from a window-serve kitchen with only a handful of seats outside from Tuesday to Sunday. Now, owner Cristian Marin Vazquez is getting ready to expand into a much larger space: in Krakatoa’s former home, which is only a block away from its current home, previously reported by What Now San Diego . The new site is expected to open in Summer 2024 and will also be open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

In addition to the original menu’s staples, including birria tacos, chilaquiles, fries, and ramen, Vasquez plans to add more proteins, such as beef and chicken, and more birria creations. Once this brick-and-mortar is established, the owner tells San Diego Magazine that he wants to open even more locations of Birria El Rey throughout San Diego, especially further north. Then, when the brand is established with a handful of locations throughout the city, Vasquez says he wants to open a breakfast concept. The timeline for these additional locations and concepts is yet to be determined.

This is a massive accomplishment for Vasquez, who worked throughout San Diego after training at Culinary Art School in Tijuana. When the pandemic hit and stopped the hospitality industry, Vasquez found himself without a job. As a result, he started selling his birria creations through a weekend pop-up that eventually expanded to six days a week following its increasing popularity. Now, the owner is getting ready to open in a much larger spot and eventually throughout San Diego with multiple concepts.

Keep up with What Now San Diego’s restaurant, retail, and real estate scoop by subscribing to our newsletter , liking us on Facebook , and following us on Twitter . Opening a restaurant? Browse our Preferred Partners .