After helping Alejandra’s Fine Mexican Food and Catina in Carlsbad with his extensive experience, Chef Abner Peralta has come back home to Chula Vista and revamped his first restaurant. Purchased by his father as a gift, Peralta began his journey with Taqueria El Korita in 2010. Born in Nayarit, Mexico, Peralta said he is familiar with the Nayarit concept, with the name of his own restaurant, El Korita is the word used for people born and from Nayarit.
Established as a well-known San Diego chef, Peralta began working under one of the country’s most successful and sought after chefs and restauranteurs, Brian Malarkey, at the age of 17. He helped open Burlap/Seersucker, served as executive chef of Green Acre from 2014 through 2019, was the executive chef and culinary director of Parakeet Café for three years, before working with Alejandra’s to help them upgrade its menu.
But the local Chula Vista taqueria has always been his heart, and with a lot of help from his family, a staple restaurant in the city. Peralta said he decided to leave Alejandra’s in December 2023 to work in his own business again.
“I had a successful year last year,” he said. “But after 13 years, it was time for me to come back and put back my time into my business and my community here in Chula Vista. I came back and decided to remodel it a little and make it more attractive to the community. It took about a month. A few little touches here and there, and people are noticing, and are happy that I am back. We are working on the menu right now to provide more options for the community and using my background to bring some of my specialties to the taqueria. We do sell a lot of menudo. That is mainly what we are known for. During the week we are going to do a lot of specials and try to make everybody happy here.”
“My background speaks for itself,” he continued. “It is more about the experience of living in the kitchen. I live by experience and with the great mentorships that I have had starting with Brian and the chefs I have worked with through the years, I have worked with many talented chefs which has brought me the ability to do what I love.”
Taqueria El Korita is located at 1355 Broadway in Chula Vista.
