On Thursday, March 20, from 4-8 p.m., Taste of Third returns to Downtown Chula Vista, inviting food and drink lovers to explore the neighborhood’s vibrant culinary scene along Third Avenue. This year’s event will feature an exciting lineup of local favorites, each offering a unique taste of what makes Chula Vista’s dining and craft beer culture so special. From innovative breweries to island-inspired eateries and modern Mexican cantinas, the people behind these businesses bring passion, creativity, and community spirit to every dish and drink they serve. Get to know the faces behind the flavors as they gear up to showcase their specialties at this year’s Taste of Third
Downtown Chula Vista Association District Manager Dominic Li Mandri said this year, the event has around 25 restaurants and is still counting.
“We are still adding more and more every day,” he said. “In our mind to create a ‘best of’ walking environment in downtown Chula Vista, we will be stationing performances at key intersections along the route for participants to bask in the vitality and immerse themselves in the culture and festivities on the night,” he said.
Li Mandri said like in the past, you can arrive and receive your passport, but he encourages attendees to purchase tickets beforehand instead of day-of the event.
“We are trending very well this year, and we want to make sure that those that are interested buy their tickets sooner rather than later so they can participate this year. It is shaping up to be another great year. We have had some new businesses come to the block, as well as some unfortunate closures, but that is the nature of downtown businesses, especially as it is constantly evolving. We are going to miss some of the highlights that we have had in previous years, but obviously we are looking forward to welcoming new people to the block and new participants this year like Tender Hooligan, Mujer Divina, and Brewjeria. It is a very exciting time in downtown Chula Vista. All of this is in context of the opening of Gaylord in May, so we want to start off our season right with this great event and carry on into the summer,” he said.
Brewjeria Taproom & Kitchen, the newest addition to Third Avenue’s thriving craft beer scene, brings a decade of passion, culture, and community-driven brewing to Downtown Chula Vista. Founded by a close-knit group of brewers from South LA and the San Gabriel Valley, Brewjeria blends science, tradition, and creativity—reflected in its name, a fusion of “brew” and “brujería” (witchcraft). Owner Agustin Ruleas has helped shape Brewjeria’s identity as more than just a brewery, but a space where culture and craft intersect. With deep roots in nonprofit work and a history of using beer to support local causes, Brewjeria is a welcome addition to Third Avenue, offering innovative brews and a vibrant gathering place for beer lovers and community members alike.
Ruleas said Brewjeria opened on Third Avenue in September 2024 but just celebrated its fifth year last November.
“An opening came up here in Chula Vista that actually had a kitchen, so the Chula Vista location is a tasting room and kitchen. We were always interested in having a location here, so we took the chance. We serve about a dozen of our craft beers made here in Brewjeria Chula Vista, and we also have some other guests taps, as well as mixed drinks made with agave wine. They are actually really good sellers for people who are not into beer,” he said.
Ruleas said its food menu is tacos, nachos, and then ventures into American food such as burgers.
“It is kind of bar food. We are trying to blend it all within that little suite with the beer, but we also want to have tasty bites along with it. We are still building it out,” he said. “We took over El Cruce+241, and we have kept a few of their original recipes. We have only been open for about five and a half months, so we are still building our menu items, working with our cooks in developing new items as we go.”
Husband-and-wife duo Eddie Trejo and Joann Cornejo are the visionaries behind Machete Beer House and have brought their passion for craft beer and Mexican flavors to Downtown Chula Vista with La Nacional. This modern Mexican cantina blends bold Oaxacan-inspired cuisine with expertly crafted cocktails, offering everything from ribeye tacos to mezcal Negronis. La Nacional is a space where guests can savor the flavors of Sonoran cuisine, sip on refreshing cocktails, and enjoy a welcoming, high-energy atmosphere. Returning for their second year at Taste of Third, Trejo and Cornejo continue to celebrate their love for community, culture, and exceptional food and drink.
Trejo said La National was a project that took about four years before it could open, getting its spot on Third Avenue right before the COVID pandemic, finally opening in November 2023.
“The concept is like it is a Mexican cantina, with an old-world style border at the bar. We focus on Mexican spirits. We have a vast collection of tequila and mezcal, what most people think of when they think of Mexican spirits, but there are many others. We kind of make it our job to teach that to people to have cocktails that incorporate those along with other Mexican ingredients,” he said.
For Taste of Third, Trejo said there will be an option for people who want alcohol.
“We are going to have classic margarita and possibly one other cocktail as an option. For the food, we want to highlight our birria, chips and salsa, we make our chips in-house. And the salsa we have is spectacular. I think it is one of the best salsas. And fresh guacamole we make every day with avocado with fresh ingredients,” he said.
Trejo said the local community has welcomed them to Third Avenue.
“It has been great. People have been telling us that this is exactly what they wanted to see on the block and something they felt was needed as another type of option being that we are a bar and restaurant. We have a location in National City and just had our 10th anniversary on Saturday. And that location is just 21 and up. With this one we can have families,” he said.
Trejo said the environment changes at night to cater to 21 and up, with DJs on Friday nights, becoming more of an adult environment.
Other favorites are returning to Taste on Third such as The Balboa South, 3 Punk Ales, Lime in the Coconut, X, and Groundswell Brewing, and more.
For more information and tickets, visit www.downtownchulavista.com/events/taste-of-third.
