The owner of City Tacos is entering a strategic partnership with the owner of Papalo BBQ to transform the La Mesa space at 8323 La Mesa Boulevard.
The La Mesa restaurant in La Mesa Village has been owned and operated by Chef Drew Bent since it debuted in 2022 as Papalito. The establishment is now majority-owned by Gerry Torres, the owner of City Tacos, which has a site next to Paplo BBQ, according to SanDiegoVille. As a result, Torres will remodel the space and launch a new project later this year. This partnership will not lead to any conversions of City Tacos into Papalo BBQ sites, despite previous reports.
This is an impressive accomplishment for both parties, as they have been independently around San Diego’s culinary scene for quite some time. Chef Bent graduated from the Art Institute of California and has worked in various restaurants around San Diego, including Searsucker, Puesto, and Carnitas’ Snack Shack. He has also gained national recognition for his contributions to Lola 55 and a handful of TV appearances, including on an episode of Beat Bobby Flay in 2021. On the other hand, Torres launched City Tacos in 2014 with Eduardo Baeza and has grown the brand to multiple locations across San Diego.
While Chef Bent has quietly been creating a well-respected brand since leaving Lola 55 in 2022, it wasn’t until this year that Daniel Vaughn of Texas Monthly made a surprise visit and wrote a business-defining article praising the Sonoran-style BBQ, giving the brand national attention. While Papaplo’s menu often changes with the seasons, some items include Smoked Mole BBQ Chicken and Smoked Cherry Pecan Glazed Pork Ribs and a handful of sandwiches, sides, and desserts.
Editorial Note: A previous version of this article stated that Bent and Torres would enter a partnership when, in fact, Torres would take over the space as the majority owner.
