In some neighborhoods, you can’t walk two blocks without passing four specialty coffee shops; in others, you have to hop in a car to get a java fix. But across San Diego, more and more cafes are popping up in places not yet completely saturated, bringing unique flair to thirsty communities ready to support small businesses.
In May 2024, Paulina and Alesio Marquez opened Galū Cafe & Delicatessen in Chula Vista as a total leap of faith, using every cent they had and every ounce of energy. Both culinary professionals worked in high-level kitchens before at places like Juniper & Ivy and Finca Altozano, chef Javier Plascencia’s grill in Valle de Guadalupe, so they had the chef chops. But owning a business is a lot different than cooking for someone else.
Two years later, Galū is humming along well enough that the Marquezes are ready to launch business number two in another not-yet-drowning-in-coffee neighborhood: City Heights. Lugā Cafe & Kitchen will open in the former El Borrego restaurant space next to the Copley-Price Family YMCA this fall, hopefully in October, Paulina says.
Both businesses are named for their children (Gael and Luna) and the similar name is meant to demonstrate a similarity between the two, but an evolution from one to the next. Marquez says Lugā is “an opportunity to reveal a more playful, exploratory side of our craft… where our team can push past the familiar to create something more elevated, more dynamic.”
Guests can still expect the signature whisk-to-order matchas and specialty lattes like crème brûlée and banana creme (as well as the traditional espresso menu), but while Galū’s food menu leans more toward quick bites like avocado toast and croissant sandwiches, Lugā will offer plates like prepared egg dishes, chilaquiles, and various sandwiches for breakfast and lunch with proteins like steak and fish. The new location will also offer a larger footprint of indoor/outdoor seating than Galū to allow for more of a sit-down, cafe-style space.
Marquez says the hope is for Lugā to be the first step in a bigger expansion for the family-owned business. And with plenty more neighborhoods still waiting for their own deluge of coffee options, the field is wide open.
Lugā Cafe & Kitchen will open fall 2026 at 4280 El Cajon Blvd. Initial operating hours may fluctuate, but are anticipated to start from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
Stone Brewing Sells (Again), This Time To Two Buyers
Corporate sales aren’t usually incredibly interesting, but when it comes to Stone Brewing, there’s usually a little bit of fun drama to pay attention to. When the San Diego brewing behemoth first sold to Sapporo in 2022, the deal was (mostly) newsworthy to beer drinkers due to the fact that executive chairman Greg Koch had staunchly promised to a ridiculous degree that it would never, ever sell out. Well, not only has it sold once, but it’s now sold again, this time to both Firestone Walker Brewing Company and Duvel Moortgat USA.
What does that mean for local beer fans? Well, the Southern California Stone-Sapporo venues at Liberty Station, Little Italy, Oceanside, Pasadena, San Diego International Airport, and Petco Park will go to Firestone Walker, and the future of the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens in Escondido after the end of 2026 is a question mark. Stone beers aren’t going away, but we can probably expect to see fewer of them and more Firestone beers floating around in their stead (which, to be honest, isn’t a terrible trade-off). As a longtime beer writer and fan, it’s never fun to see a giant crumble, so to Stone I say, thanks for the memories (those hazy and otherwise).
PARTNER CONTENT
Beth’s Bites
- Downtown Del Mar is getting a taste of New Zealand when Queenstown Del Mar opens its doors on May 13 at 1435 Camino Del Mar (the former WestBrew space). The hospitality group’s first foray into North County will bring its New Zealand-inspired comfort food and craft cocktails to the area, including its signature lamb burger, sausage rolls, and fish & chips. Hint: keep an eye out for hidden Easter eggs in the design by Michael Soriano (Realm of 52 Remedies, Pearl Hotel).
- San Diego may have been shut out of this year’s James Beard Awards, but you can’t keep us down for long. On June 24, the new event space EVE will host the 2026 California Michelin awards ceremony—the first time the ceremony has taken place in San Diego. Currently, 42 local restaurants are named in the guide from recognized (high-quality) to starred (like Addison by William Bradley, the city’s only three-starred venue) and if my predictions are correct, more are on the way.
- Since launching in late 2025, Phở Gà Go has been takeout-only from Crab Hut in Mira Mesa, which is great for people who want to swing by to grab a family meal on their way home in mid-San Diego County. But starting on May 11, guests will be able to enjoy the menu for lunch Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on-site, giving you another chance to enjoy the comforting bowls of chicken pho, weekly specials like bun bo hue, and vermicelli bowls in the middle of the day. (Not to worry—takeout is still available.)
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