Few San Diego food legends can measure up to Roberto’s Taco Shop, but at least one can relate to its success—literally. Lolita’s, the 34-year-old taqueria with six locations, is part of the family.
“Roberto’s my mother’s dad. My mom is Lolita, a nickname for Dolores,” says Jorge Farfan, manager of the Chula Vista restaurant. His parents own Lolita’s, and his mother is also a manager. “Dad was pretty much like, ‘I’m not going to work under my father-in-law.’”
Farfan senior launched Lolita’s in Chula Vista in 1984 and helped breed a cult following for their California burritos and carne asada fries, all made from family recipes. The 70-year-old still gets into the Lolita’s kitchen at 5 a.m. every day to cook.
“I tell my uncles, if I’d go food for food, we’d beat you every day,” Farfan says. “But there is no Lolita’s without Roberto’s.”
LISTEN UP! Hear more about the Lolita’s family story on the Happy Half Hour podcast.
Did You Know? Lolita’s and Roberto’s Are Family
Illustration by Holly Exley
