A family-run business with decades of tradition continues as a new restaurant under the leadership of a local brother and sister. La Familia Restaurant and Bar is moving into the former space of Tio Leo’s in Mission Gorge. Opened in 1979, it was the first location of Tio Leo’s for founder Leo Sciuto, whose family later opened a handful of Mexican restaurants in San Diego. With the Mission Gorge location closing in late 2023 and the Poway branch subsequently closing in May, only the Tio Leo’s in Linda Vista survives.
But Mexican food is back on the menu, at least in Mission Gorge, where owners Vincent Becerra and Angelina Luna plan to open La Familia in October 2024. After a decade of working with their father, ¡Salud! Tacos owner Ernie Becerra, the siblings are now running this full-service restaurant, which will offer a menu of traditional, home-cooked dishes like mole and guisados. There will also be tacos, including some that might be familiar to fans of ¡Salud!.
The elder Becerra says he’s only playing a supporting role at La Familia as he continues to focus on San Diego Taco Company, his catering business. Becerra closed his beloved taqueria Barrio Logan last June, along with La Bamba Room, the winner of Eater’s 2023 award for best new bar. Becerra tells Eater that he’s not ruling out reopening ¡Salud! Tacos at some point in the future, and that La Bamba Room will make a comeback of sorts. La Familia will have a lounge and bar area that should offer a similar look and feel.
