Business & Tech

Sombrero Mexican Restaurant Opens in O'Fallon On Wednesday

The restaurant serves San Diego-style Mexican food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

There's a new Mexican restaurant in town serving up burritos, tostadas, enchiladas and more for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Sombrero serves San Diego-style Mexican food and opens in O'Fallon on Wednesday, Feb. 22. The restaurant is located at 1491 Mexico Loop Road East in O'Fallon, where Del Taco once stood.

Sombrero originated from a father and son team in San Diego, CA beginning in 1984.

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John and Karen Barnett, of Wildwood, own the new O'Fallon location. Karen said the local establishment is the first franchise opened outside of San Diego.

John grew up in San Diego and moved to the St. Louis area years ago. He said since then, he's been searching for the Mexican food he grew up on. Now he's happy to be able to bring the authentic experience to O'Fallon.

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"This is what I had as a kid and couldn't find here," he said.

John said Sombrero food is handcrafted with fresh ingredients and is cooked with trans-fat free cooking oils.

"Everything is made here. We pull our own pork and other meats," he said, adding that they also peel their own avocados.

John said one specialty you won't normally see outside of California, is the hot carrots at the salsa bar, which are marinated and similar to jalapeños. 

Other core items include, carne asada, rolled tacos, fresh guacamole, rice and beans and house made salsa.

The Barnetts are not new to opening restaurants in the St. Louis area. The couple has owned the The Melting Pot in Town and Country for 10 years.

John said they hope to open more Sombreros in the St. Louis area, depending on the success of their new O'Fallon establishment.

Click through the gallery above to see photos from our Monday sneak peek of Sombrero.


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