Michelle Annett Roldan
Staff Writer
The Luchador Urban Taqueria Bar and Kitchen has reopened late last month in a new location at 184 W. 3rd St. in downtown Pomona. The locale will be open Monday to Thursday from 11 in the morning to 9 at night, Friday from 11 in the morning to midnight, Saturday from 10:30 to midnight, and Sunday from 10:30 in the morning to 9 at night.
“The sales have increased by like 30% because of the bar, in comparison to what it was when it was just food,” Alejandro Garibay, the restaurant’s manager, said in Spanish during a recent visit. “Before the menu was basically tacos and appetizers. Now we also added dinner plates, brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.”
Customers as well as Garibay seem delighted with the changes to the menu and locale. The added bar provides customers with a variety of bottled beers, tequilas, mezcales, and margaritas
Maria Dolores Romero of Pasadena shared a meal with her daughter Anna Gemma Recendez, who lives in Pomona, on Wednesday.
“I’m very content, taquitos tostadas were very delicious,” Romero said in Spanish. “And of course, a Corona beer to awaken the appetite.”
Aside from the $10 taquitos plate and beer, the restaurant offers lots of traditional Mexican dishes such as gorditas for $11, empañadas for $12, burritos for $12, tacos with rice and beans for $14, and street corn for $7. The menu also has a generous section of vegan meals such as the taco vegan trio including avocado, veggie, and cauliflower tacos for $15.
Portions are generous, and prices are fair, overall ranging from $7 to $30, with additional discounts during their happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“Generally in Mexican restaurants, you ask for a plate and they give you a ton of beans, a ton of rice, and let’s say just one chile relleno, and you pay twice as much as you’re really paying here,” Recendez said in Spanish. “Here they give you a little less, but specifically what you want, and we are satisfied.”
I was satisfied too, having the opportunity to try their pastor tacos with fresh handmade tortillas, spicy chipotle pasta, savory street corn, and of course the sweet and fresh pineapple and jamaica agua frescas.
The menu offers so many new and different dishes that catch customers’ eyes and make them want to come back for more.
Aside from satisfaction through a dish, the employees’ treatment towards customers creates a more than satisfactory visit.
“The lady attending me, also really kind, very attentive, she takes importance on the clients,” Recendez said. “The service up to today has been really good.”
The server Recendez referred to was America Magallan from Irvine, who said her experiences at work make the long drive worth it.
“I started when they opened,” Magallan said in Spanish. “I have been here for a little time, but all my coworkers are great.”
Magallan’s and other employees’ attitudes towards their job contributed to my enjoyable experience as well.
Garibay has improvement plans.
“We are going to work on the patio,” Garibay said. “We are going to do events there, reservations overall for private parties outside. We hope that in about two years we can also open a new restaurant in another city.”
Garibay encourages people to try their dishes at this new location, a location where he plans on growing.
“We hope more people come by and our clients become regulars, returning customers,” Garibay said. “We are a family business, open to all ages.”
Michelle Annett Roldan can be reached at michelle.roldan@laverne.edu.
Michelle Annett Roldan is a sophomore journalism major.
I need to check it out! Most taquerias don’t sell any alcohol, so that’s a very cool perk to have.