Nixtamal
Masa rests overnight so tortillas puff without cracking on the comal. Lupe tastes every batch before the window opens.
Taquería & mezcal bar · Barrio Logan
Corn, fire and a long mezcal list.
Ember Taco Co presses masa to order on Logan Avenue, shaves al pastor off a pineapple-crowned spit and fries Baja fish in oil nothing else touches. Lunch moves fast at the counter; dinner slows down with mezcal flights, aguas frescas and a short late menu on weekends.
Who stocks our kitchen
- Barrio Masa Co-op
- Ensenada Day Boats
- Otay Mesa Chiles
- Valle Mezcal Imports
From the plancha
Corn tortillas pressed to order, salsas that change with the market and a comal that never cools during service.
Al pastor
Vertical spit with pineapple glaze; slices land on warm tortillas with onion and cilantro. The spit turns from lunch through dinner.
Baja line
Beer-battered fish with cabbage slaw and lime crema on dedicated fryer oil so masa stays gluten-free at the comal.
Late counter
Friday and Saturday the bar keeps a short menu going until midnight: two tacos, a tostada and aguas frescas.
Logan Ave after dark
A Friday night, start to finish.
From the comal
- Counter and table seats
- 34
- Salsas made each morning
- 3
- Mezcals on the shelf
- 22
- Years on Logan Ave
- 6
Behind the comal
Lupe grew up four blocks from Logan Ave; Rafa has nixtamalized every batch since opening.
- Lupe CastañedaChef & co-owner
- Rafa IbarraMasa & comal
- Dani OchoaBar manager
Said over tacos
“The al pastor actually tastes like fire and citrus, not just red food dye. We keep coming back for the salsa macha on mushrooms.”
“We split three tacos and still had room for the horchata — portions make sense, and the mezcal list has real depth.”
Good to know
Gluten-free tortillas?
Corn masa only on the dedicated comal; flour tortillas are prepped in a separate area with their own utensils.
Kids at the counter?
High chairs until 20:00; mild salsa and aguas frescas on request.
Catering?
Taco trays for 20+ with two-hour notice on weekends; mezcal service available for private events.
Walk-ins at lunch?
The counter is first-come from 11:30; dinner tables are reservation-first after 17:00.
Dinner books two weeks out
Taco lines move fast at lunch; mezcal flights pour until close on Fridays and Saturdays.
Logan Avenue
2200 Logan Ave, San Diego, CA (fictional)
- Tue–Thu 11:30–22:00
- Fri–Sat 11:30–00:00
- Sun 11:00–21:00
+1 619 555 0159