About Cocina 35
Chilaquiles is one of those dishes that is perennially fresh and new, while being older than most people know. Some say the dish goes back to the Aztecs (the word seems to derive from Nahuatl), but it’s unlikely the Aztecs topped theirs with carnitas and cilantro and all the other trappings of the current Mexican staple. The basics are fried tortilla cooked in salsa of your choice, typically with a fried egg on top. Beyond that, the world is your oyster.
Chilaquiles is one of the best breakfast dishes you can get and the place that serves probably the best chilaquiles in San Diego is Cocina 35. This restaurant makes what they call old school Mexican food, which mean is they stick to the traditions of Mexican cooking that is their heritage, but while the dishes are classic Mexican cuisine, the food is fresh and modern. They make everything from scratch daily and the result is evident. Cocina 35 has a few options for their own chilaquiles recipes, but the best part is you can customize the dish to your liking. Choose a salsa, choose some toppings, choose a drink, choose life.
Cocina 35 has five locations – the original in Otay Mesa, as well as ones in Liberty Station, Barrio Logan, Coronado, and downtown. All are sit down.
Great For
• Brunch
• Parents visiting
• Cocktails
• Chilaquiles
A Closer Look
Cocina 35 started from humble beginnings as a self serve cafeteria-style spot in the warehouse district of Otay Mesa called La Loteria. This spot was opened by Cesar Chaidez, an immigrant from Sinaloa Mexico who had run restaurants in that region before the increasing violence forced him to come to San Diego. The restaurants are now run by his children – Paulina and Cesar.
