Elena’s is a planned Mexican eatery that will open at 255 West Portal Ave. in late 2022, SF Chronicle reports. The restaurant is the fifth and latest concept to come from the Duggan family, which owns and operates Original Joe’s in North Beach and Westlake, as well as Little Original Joe’s in West Portal.
Marie and John J. Duggan took over the flagship Original Joe’s in 1983 and have since passed on the family business to their children, Elena and John. As West Portal natives, the siblings sensed a need for a full-service Mexican restaurant in their community.
The restaurant is inspired by Elena’s two oldest daughters, who are of Mexican heritage through their father, who himself is from San Bartolo Morelos outside of Mexico City.
A casual eatery, Elena’s will serve up Mexican-American classics such as tacos, enchiladas, and tostadas. They also plan to incorporate seafood on the menu, serving dishes such as ceviche and crudos. There will also be a bar in the 4,471 square-foot space, which previously was home to a pawn shop called SF Gold Buyer. Construction on the restaurant is expected to take around a year.
