The space situated neatly at the corner of Orange and Isabella avenues, with a petite triangular outdoor dining spot outside the Coronado Historical Association, will have a new Mexican restaurant, La Corriente, in its place by the end of August.
Founded in Tijuana in 2010 by Karim Reza, a Mexican architect, the restaurant was inspired by the seafood traditions of the Mexican Pacific. Reza created La Corriente Group the same year and in 2012, childhood friend Diego González joined the project and together in the last 15 years, have been creating eateries all over Mexico.
In 2024, they expanded to La Jolla and opened their first restaurant in the United States. Coronado will be their second location in California.
The museum cafe is a picturesque venue, resembling a European bistro with sidewalk seating and umbrellas shielding diners from the warm rays.
Despite the idyllic setting, three restaurants have tried and failed at this location, according to Diego Girault, the director of operations at restaurant Chez Loma on Coronado, who’s seen these restaurants come and go and is one of the owners of La Corriente. The most recent establishment was a traditional French cuisine spot – L’Orangerie – that stayed open for less than a year.
At the end of July, the Coronado Historical Association board of directors thanked L’Orangerie and its chef, Chef Philippe Maurin – who is returning to France – for bringing authentic Parisian gastronomy to Coronado.
La Corriente will be opening in that building in just a couple weeks. It currently has a location in La Jolla, but another part owner Andres Brambila lives on the island.
Girault approached Brambila with the idea of opening a second La Corriente in Coronado.
According to Girault, it’s hard to manage a restaurant in a historic building. He knows firsthand because Chez Loma has succeeded in an old property – the historic Carez Hizar House – since 1974. Girault has been with the restaurant since 2008, starting out as a busser and now serving as the operations director.
Renovations are a hard part of operating in a century-old structure, said Girault. There’s not much one can do with renovating. But, Girault said he’s excited for the aesthetic improvements that will happen with La Corriente’s opening.
You have to understand that you’re in a place that has a lot of history. It’s very important that we’re able to honor it and let the heritage shine.
Diego Girault
“You have to understand that you’re in a place that has a lot of history. It’s very important that we’re able to honor it and let the heritage shine,” Girault said.
He believes La Corriente will do well in Coronado, despite its predecessors, because of the similarities it shares with Chez Loma.
“La Corriente La Jolla and that space (in Coronado) are very similar venues,” Girault explained. “They’re both very small and we are able to execute the menu very easily in that small kitchen.”
It will officially open at the end of August.
