“I think my restaurant is capable of beating other restaurants,” Cafe Del Sol owner Leonel Diaz said. “I’m not talking about the looks and how big it is outside—I’m talking about the food.”
Though he’s most focused on cooking delicious meals, Cafe Del Sol’s environment is nothing short of fun. The restaurant stands out on a quiet downtown Menlo Park side street thanks to its vibrant, festive atmosphere and creative Mexican food.
The restaurant opened in 2003, when current owner Leonel Diaz accepted a friend’s offer to purchase it in its early stages. His mother, Emilia Gonzalez, and her friend, Uriel Gonzalez, initially led the restaurant. Diaz held a minor position, as he was working at another restaurant and wanted to give them space to collaborate.
In 2014, Diaz took ownership after Emilia asked him to help guide staff and work full-time. While Uriel and Emilia are less involved in the business today, the chefs at Cafe Del Sol have been there since opening.
Cafe Del Sol’s innovative takes on classic dishes distinguish the restaurant from nearby Mexican spots. The menu was derived from family traditions, secrets, and input from the three owners.
“Everybody brought a little piece to the recipes, but one of the most important things for us is garlic,” Diaz noted.
The most popular dishes include camarones a la plancha, a grilled shrimp dish, and seafood enchiladas. “There are people who come from Carmel, San Jose, and San Francisco just to eat our enchiladas,” Diaz said.
The restaurant uses Spanish and cilantro rice instead of regular white or brown rice, creating a combination of cultures that customers enjoy. They often experiment with seasonings and unconventional flavors, such as pumpkin seeds in salads and mango sauce in savory plates, and adjust dishes according to consumer response.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Diaz was afraid for older customers’ safety. Cafe Del Sol tried deliveries but didn’t have a consistent online platform to facilitate them. So, they only offered pick-up at the door and encouraged digital payment.
Following the pandemic’s instability and an increase in competition, re-acquiring a steady flow of customers has been difficult. “We are losing the eating out culture, and it’s getting hard right now, but we’ll keep trying,” Diaz said.
Despite these challenges, The Almanac has named Cafe Del Sol Menlo Park’s Best Mexican Restaurant for eight consecutive years.
“Seeing my customers happy here makes me enthusiastic. It’s like the energy Superman gets when he’s flying or a musician singing for the crowd,” Diaz said.
Diaz is working on a new type of catering that demands less taxes from buyers and would allow the restaurant to gain traction. His idea sprouted from the dilemma of third-party companies taking “unfair” amounts of profit and “advantage” of restaurants.
“It’s good to stay local. When you pay Uber Eats, the money doesn’t stay local, it goes away. When I buy my groceries, I buy them here in Menlo Park, so the money stays here,” he said.
Diaz also aims to expand his social media skills and presence to attract more customers.
Cafe Del Sol is located at 1010 Doyle St. in Menlo Park and is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 9 p.m.
