Prima Cantina, a Baja California-inspired restaurant with existing locations in Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades, is preparing to open a new location in Malibu at 22235 Pacific Coast Highway.
The new location will take over the space formerly occupied by Tramonto Bistro and JUJU Asian Kitchen, according to a recent liquor license application. An opening date has not yet been announced, but signage on the restaurant’s website confirms the Malibu expansion is in progress. Guests can expect Prima Cantina’s signature blend of coastal Mexican cuisine, including tacos, fajitas, and a full bar serving craft margaritas and cocktails.
Prima Cantina is owned and operated by Nando Silvestri, who launched the concept with a focus on fresh ingredients and Baja-style cooking. The restaurant combines the culinary traditions of mainland Mexico with a California twist, offering dishes like carne asada tacos, shrimp ceviche, and street corn esquites. The new location marks the brand’s third outpost in Los Angeles County.
The Malibu location is expected to follow the same approach as its predecessors, which feature casual dine-in service, seasonal specials, and “Fiesta Hours” with discounted menu items. The expansion into Malibu positions the brand to tap into the coastal community’s appetite for beach-adjacent dining and vibrant Mexican fare.
The menu highlights a wide selection of tacos and entrees, including lobster tacos, carne asada, and enchiladas. Vegetarian-friendly options such as the mushroom barbacoa taco, veggie bowl, and chopped salads are also available. Guests can build custom meals with protein add-ons like mahi-mahi, skirt steak, or impossible ground beef.
“Prima Cantina is a reflection of the spirit and essence of Baja, California,” according to the comapny’s website. “Baja is a diverse region both in culture and geography, which inspires our cooking. Our menu blends elements of the deep culinary heritage of mainland Mexico with the lighter, ocean-inspired, unique coastal cooking of the Baja peninsula, fused with the natural, produce-driven approach of California cuisine. Vibrant fresh herbs, smoky dried chilies, fresh Pacific seafood, bright salads, savory tacos, and a focus on grilled food express these regional inspirations and our distinctive take on tradition.”
