by Nina Welch

The grand opening of Taqueria Luna at 129 Avenida Del Mar was celebrated with authentic Mexican food and the vibrant music of a lively Mariachi Band on June 10.

Owner Tomas Luna, affectionately known as Tommy, is a well-known San Clemente local, who attended Las Palmas Elementary School, Shorecliffs Middle School, and San Clemente High. Since his dad was a busboy at La Siesta Restaurant on El Camino Real, Tomas started working there in the summers at age 16 until the restaurant closed due to a fire in 2022.

For 25 years, Tomas’s dream was to open his own restaurant, which came to fruition when he purchased Adolfos on El Camino Real. With his current relocation to Avenida Del Mar, the name was changed to Taqueria Luna. He learned the art of Mexican cooking when he worked with the La Siesta chef Antonio Garcia, who now works for Tomas. The popular Antonio’s Burrito is on the menu. 

A former customer remembers going to La Siesta in the early ‘90s for a Pacifico and a carnitas plate with guacamole. Now one can do the same in a different atmosphere in downtown San Clemente. Hungry diners can choose from a wide selection of Mexican cuisine and enjoy an outdoor courtyard atmosphere. Favorites of regulars include carnitas enchiladas with green sauce and chicken flautas with a creamy chipotle salsa. For a healthy choice, ceviche tostados is on the menu. Each combination plate includes a healthy portion of guacamole, and what’s Mexican food without a cerveza with a lime wedge? 

The good news is that breakfast is served all day, and Taqueria Luna is open till 11pm during the week and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Since it’s the only downtown restaurant that is open late, patrons leaving the bars can feast on a steak burrito or breakfast tacos.

Tomas and his wife, Ellie, who was a cook at Café Calypso, are long time San Clemente residents. They have two daughters, Melody, 26, and Natalie, 15. Natalie works for the restaurant in the summer.

When asked where he was 30 years ago at the time of the San Clemente Journal’s inception, Tomas remembers Coronets dime store on the corner of Avenida Del Mar and Ola Vista. He also recalls when he was 15, he used to walk over the vacant hills to Shorecliffs where the outlet mall is now. He reflected that mainstay businesses from over 50 years include Sam’s Shoes, Russell’s Stationary, and Fred’s Liquor, and the numerous video stores on Del Mar are now a thing of the past.

Visit Taqueria Luna anytime day or night; Ellie and Roxy will take your order. Enjoy $2 tacos on Taco Tuesday, a catering service available with a taco cart and grill for any event, and Mariachi music dating back to the 18th century celebrating Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day at this festive restaurant.