When a taco shop’s website is www.tacosmackdown.com and the owner tells you they are taking over the world one taco shop at a time you should expect uniqueness and Lucha Libre has definitely got it. 

What makes this place different? Hot pink walls covered in posters of Mexican professional wrestlers (including a floor to ceiling black and white photograph of a wrestling match). A roped off VIP booth in the corner complete with a chandelier and golden goblets. An Andy Warhol style portrait of a masked wrestler… I could go on.

 

We got dinner here with friends because one of them grew up watching Lucha Libre, Mexican professional wrestling, and he wanted to try this themed restaurant. I’m glad he was there because he identified all of the fighters on the posters on the walls and he even knew that the movie that was playing starred the famous El Santo (Yes, it is now on my Netflix queue).

There were two little ones with us who jumped every time someone called out a name into the microphone (which looks just like one used in a wrestling or boxing match). The littlest little one was overwhelmed by how loud and hot and crowded it was but when our food came the refried beans calmed him down a lot.

 

Lucha Libre was one of the restaurants featured on the Man vs. Food season premiere  this year and I got to talk to owner Jose Luis about the impact it has had on business. The show was originally interested in their California Burrito, a San Diego specialty, but Lucha Libre countered their suggestion with their Surfin’ Burrito (grilled steak, shrimp, fresh french fries, avocado, pico de gallo, cheese, & super secret chipotle sauce). That was a good idea. The next week, the burrito went from being their fourth most popular  (250-300 sold per week) to their first by far (over 2000 per week!).

Jose Luis says they are definitely experiencing “growing pains” this month but good growing pains.

 

The fare is separated on the menu into “classic” and “gourmet.” The gourmet tacos, burritos and specialties are as almost as wild as the decor. I love the Queso Taco (crispy cheese, grilled chicken, avocado and a special sauce) and my husband liked the Surf and Turf Taco.They’ve also got a great selection of Mexican and Californian beers and a flan of the day. I’m serious: Flan Of The Day!

The only thing that could have made dinner more fun would be if the

servers were wearing wrestling masks. Or maybe that would have made it

a lot worse. Either way, for a different kind of taco shop check out

Lucha Libre.