Longtime diners line up for Las Cuatro Milpas restaurant reopening at new location
A beloved Barrio Logan restaurant reopened Tuesday to long lines, marking a new chapter for the family-run business after financial struggles forced its previous location to close.
The new Las Cuatro Milpas is located just a couple of blocks from its former site at 1984 National Avenue, Suite 1131. The first people were in line for its reopening shortly after 3 a.m.
“I’ve always come here 3-4 times a week, and I’ve been doing that for 30 or 40 years,” said long-time customer Jackie Brown.
Daniel Olivas said he’s been going to the restaurant for 20 years.
“The last time we went, we didn’t even know it was our last time because when we tried to go back again, they were closed,” Olivas said. “Pretty happy that they were able to reopen and we can have this again.”
Natividad “Nati” Estudillo, co-owner, said the quick turnaround to reopen has been both surprising and rewarding.
“I’m really excited about it. I feel really blessed that we were able to pull it all together so quickly. Everybody, a couple of people are like, ‘It’s so quick, you guys are all ready?’ Yeah, we’re back, we’re back,” Estudillo said.
The new location is smaller, with seating for about 60 people compared to 100 at the previous space. However, the updated facility includes a patio and now accepts credit and debit cards instead of operating as cash-only.
Estudillo said the community’s support has been overwhelming as the reopening approaches.
“We see the messages a lot of people love us, and they miss us, and they can’t wait. I can’t wait. Believe me. I can’t wait. I’m joining for some tortillas,” Estudillo said.
While the recipes remain unchanged, customers can expect higher prices due to increased overhead and rising food costs, according to the owners.
The previous location was forced to sell due to significant financial hurdles, including more than $60,000 in unpaid property taxes and about $130,000 in other tax liens.
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Despite those challenges, the family says reopening is about more than business — it’s about preserving a legacy as the restaurant approaches its 100th anniversary.
“We just want keep my grandparents’ legacy alive because it was important for them, so we need to keep growing to keep the family in it. It makes us happy to be able to do it,” Estudillo said.
Looking ahead, the owners plan to host more community events as they reestablish themselves in the neighborhood.
The restaurant was open Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.
