Comedor Nishi is a casual La Jolla restaurant featuring Mexican breakfast and lunch dishes, with “nods to Japan and Europe.”
It is part of Showa Hospitality, a San Diego-based restaurant group with locations in Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Diego, including The Taco Stand and Himitsu in La Jolla.
The La Jolla Light asked the following questions about Comedor Nishi to Showa Hospitality owner Julian Hakim.
Q. How and when did Comedor Nishi begin?
A. Comedor Nishi began in 2023 shortly after chef Pancho Ibañez and his wife, Daniela, moved to San Diego to work for Showa Hospitality full time.
I knew we had to find a place for them to showcase their remarkably delicious and simple approach to food, which got them so many accolades in Mexico. As luck happens to turn up, I was approached about purchasing the old Coffee Cup space on Wall Street, a place I frequented over the years and thought that doing something here would bring a wonderful new chapter to such a beloved space.
Q. How would you describe its mission?
A. Comedor Nishi brings simplicity and expression through its ingredients. It’s about quality and technique rather than trends or overindulgence.
Nishi wants to be a neighborhood spot where people can relax, grab a coffee and eat brunch.
Q. What makes it unique compared with similar businesses?
A. Between Chef Pancho and Daniela, there are over 40 years of experience in Mexico City’s finest kitchens — Chef Pancho as chef de cuisine of Pujol and Daniela as head pastry chef of Maximo Bistrot, perhaps the two most recognized restaurants in Mexico City.
Bringing them into the same kitchen to create a menu that is about simple comforts is something special.
Q. What about Comedor Nishi do you want everyone to know about?
A. I think Comedor Nishi executes dishes as they were intended to be executed. Dishes that most people have tasted before, such as chilaquiles or cochinita pibil, are made here the way they were intended and without anything extra.
Q. What are the personal and professional benefits of doing business in La Jolla?
A. La Jolla is where I spent part of my life growing up and where my mother still lives. It’s a beautiful town where people know each other and look out for one another.
It’s also a town where I have personally had a lot of success, with The Taco Stand back in 2013 on Pearl Street and Himitsu in 2018 on Torrey Pines Road. It’s a place I cherish deeply and wish to continue contributing to.
Comedor Nishi is at 1109 Wall St., La Jolla. Hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. For more information, call 858-412-4269 or visit comedornishi.com.
— Business Spotlight features enterprises that support this publication. ♦
