Fire Breaks Out at Chula Tacos on Valentine’s Day Weekend
A fire broke out Saturday night at Chula Tacos, a beloved taqueria on H Street in Chula Vista, leaving the community shaken and the restaurant temporarily closed. The Chula Vista Fire Department responded quickly to the scene, where they found flames burning in the building’s attic.
Fire crews arrived to find smoke billowing from the popular taco shop and immediately began working to put out the blaze. After several minutes of intense firefighting efforts, they brought the fire under control at approximately 8:39 p.m. Thankfully, the flames didn’t spread to other parts of the building or nearby businesses.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for owner Rigo Munoz and his team. Munoz had stepped away briefly to celebrate Valentine’s Day with his wife when he returned to find his restaurant filled with smoke. “I started seeing smoke was coming out,” Munoz said. He immediately called 911 and rushed inside to evacuate customers and employees.
What makes this especially heartbreaking is that the restaurant had just opened at this location in late November 2025, only about two months before the fire. Munoz shared that Valentine’s Day was shaping up to be their best night yet since moving to H Street. The restaurant had recently started serving its popular carne asada, and customers were loving it. Business was finally starting to pick up.
One employee, a cashier, was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation but has since returned home. Despite the scare, Munoz remained grateful. “I was sad, but in good spirits,” he said when discussing the fire. “I was thankful that no one was seriously hurt.”
The family-owned business has been around for eight years, making this location their newest venture. Now, Munoz is focused on caring for his employees during this difficult time. “We all have plans, and we all have budgets,” he explained, acknowledging the impact the closure will have on his team.
Even in the face of this setback, Munoz is choosing to stay positive. “There’s a great God in heaven that has everything under his control,” he said. The outpouring of support from customers, family, and friends has helped lift his spirits. “We certainly appreciate all the messages of support we’ve been receiving from our customers, our family, our friends. It’s really uplifted our morale in this moment. It’s a rough moment, so that really helps,” Munoz shared.
Be sure to follow Chula Tacos on Instagram for updates.
What is next for Chula Tacos in Chula Vista
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Chula Vista Fire Department. Munoz is currently waiting for an insurance adjuster to assess the full extent of the damage. He estimates the H Street location will remain closed for about three months while repairs are made.
If you’ve ever enjoyed a meal at Chula Tacos or simply want to support a local family-owned business during a tough time, please send your love and prayers to Rigo Munoz and his family. They need our community’s support now more than ever. Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on news about Chula Vista and get updates on when Chula Tacos will reopen their doors.
