By Kathy Chouteau
Richmond peeps observing the slow-but-steady progress of building renovations at the corner of San Pablo and Macdonald Avenues will be excited to learn that a homegrown, family-run business has finally launched there.
Mi Casa Grill, a Mexican eatery owned by Richmond natives Blanca Zepeda and her husband, Juvenal Magana—with an operational assist from their family and friends—officially swung open its doors Feb. 22 at 12056 San Pablo Ave. in Richmond, adjacent to Grocery Outlet.
For the couple, “opening their restaurant has been a dream long coming,” said Zepeda, who said Mi Casa Grill not only offers them a chance to share the splendor of their family recipes—passed down from the cocinas of their mothers and abuelas—but also to give back to the community they call home.
Zepeda said that the restaurant is off to a good start and that “there’s been a lot of love and support from the community.” She shared that many people had been following the building’s remodel and word of mouth has spread and that they’re “appreciative and grateful to everyone.”
Since the eatery’s February launch, popular menu items have been the Mole Poblano, Chile Relleno and the Red Snapper Caribeño. “Those three have really become the staples so far,” she said. The restaurant, which also serves up signature cocktails, beer and wine, features a modern-meets-traditional Mexcican-inspired décor in a bright, clean space with windows overlooking San Pablo Avenue.
“We’ve seen the progress that Richmond has been making over the past few years and we wanted to be contributors to that,” said Zepeda about the restaurant’s launch, while emphasizing that giving back to the community has been ingrained in her since her time at Grant Elementary School.
The Richmond High School graduate and her husband—who once served as the general manager of Monteros Restaurant on Solano Avenue in Albany—said they “want to make it a place for the community, a place not only for us, but for everybody.” As part of this overall aim, Mi Casa Grill looks to not only offer delicious food and an inviting atmosphere, but also is committed to offering their coworkers equitable and fair wages above minimum wage, said Zepeda.
Mi Casa Grill is located at 12056 San Pablo Ave. in Richmond and serves Mexican-style breakfast, lunch and dinner Tues.-Thurs. from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri. from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sat. and Sun. from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant, which will be delivering via Doordash as of March 29, is in the process of launching a website soon. It can be found online on Instagram here and reached via phone at 510-374-6033.
