Status: CLOSED (2024) – Sister Location Open
Jalisco Cafe in San Diego’s Imperial Beach was a landmark Mexican restaurant that closed after 80+ years at its original location. Despite Restaurant Impossible tackling “the dirtiest kitchen ever,” the featured location closed in 2024 – though the sister Bonita location continues serving the community.
An 80-Year Landmark
Jalisco Cafe has been a South San Diego institution since the 1940s. The restaurant became synonymous with authentic Mexican food in the Imperial Beach community, serving multiple generations of local families.
Maria Ozuna started as a server at the cafe, fell in love with the place, and saved up to buy it. She was living the immigrant American dream – until the kitchen became a nightmare.
The Episode (Season 19, Episode 4)
Title: “Dirtiest. Kitchen. Ever.”
Air Date: January 2022
Location: 1669 Palm Ave, San Diego, CA
That episode title wasn’t hyperbole. Robert Irvine walked into Jalisco Cafe and found one of the filthiest kitchens of his entire Restaurant Impossible career. The food was tasty, but the cooking conditions were a health hazard.
The restaurant’s interior looked tired and dated after decades in business. Everything needed attention.
The Deep Clean
Restaurant Impossible gave Jalisco Cafe the overhaul it desperately needed. The kitchen was sanitized, the equipment updated, and the dining room refreshed. Maria got a crash course in the standards she needed to maintain.
For a while, the improvements held.
The Closure
In July 2024, Maria and her team announced that the Imperial Beach location – the one featured on Restaurant Impossible – would permanently close. Patrons were redirected to the nearby Bonita location, also called Jalisco Cafe.
The space is now Rocco’s Family Restaurant. An 80-year run came to an end.
The Legacy Continues
The good news: Jalisco Cafe lives on. The Bonita location has been serving authentic Mexican food for over 50 years and continues operating. Maria’s dream didn’t die – it just consolidated to one location.
Status Summary
Imperial Beach Location: 1669 Palm Ave – CLOSED (Now Rocco’s Family Restaurant)
Bonita Location: Open and serving customers
Closed: August/September 2024
View Jalisco Cafe Bonita on Google Maps →
Jalisco Cafe’s partial closure reminds us that Restaurant Impossible can’t guarantee every location survives. But when a restaurant has multiple locations and decades of history, the story doesn’t end with one door closing.
Last verified: January 2026
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