Las Cuatro Milpas ordered closed by county health inspectors, records show

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A beloved Mexican eatery in Barrio Logan whose rumored closing spurred a frenzy online has been shut down temporarily by county officials after a number of health code violations were uncovered during a routine inspection.

Las Cuatro Milpas was ordered closed by health inspectors just before New Year’s Eve due to the reported presence of vermin and a lack of compliance with standards for plumbing and safe storage of equipment, among other things, county records show.

Specifically, the restaurant was knocked for being out of step with standards on nonfood contact surfaces; equipment, utensils, linens storage and use; plumbing; vermin-proofing the premises; and maintenance of floors, walls and ceilings.

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Previous inspections in recent had flagged some of these same issues, but still gave the eatery “A” scores, according to the county health records. Further details about what exactly health inspectors found when looking at the restaurant were not provided.

The humble restaurant has been a mainstay of Barrio Logan since the 1930s, when it was founded by the grandparents of one of the current owners, Sofia Estudillo. Over the years, the joint has become a go-to for many seeking no-frills, old school Mexican food.

The restaurant’s popularity and tenure in the community gave way to a wave of concern following a report that claimed it was set to close permanently in the New Year. While Estudillo disputed the rumor, its future remains uncertain amid tough financial headwinds.

As the San Diego Union-Tribune reported in October, the restaurant was facing a potential property auction due to about $50,000 in delinquent property taxes.

The closure due to health code violations could pose another economic obstacle for Las Cuatro Milpas, as it is unclear when the county may allow it to open its doors again.

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These kinds of compelled closures often only remain in place until the restaurant can rectify the issues found when the first inspection occurred — a period of time that could last anywhere from a few days to weeks, depending on the severity.

FOX 5/KUSI reached out to the daughter of Estudillo for more information on the temporary closure and is waiting to hear back.

“It has obviously been around for so long, it’s been a pillar of the community. It’s a place that’s very loved by so many people,” a visitor who was disappointed to see Las Cuatro Milpas Thursday after she went to Barrio Logan to try their food told FOX 5/KUSI. However, she chalked the closure up to procedure, rather than bona fide safety concerns.

A long-time patron of the Mexican eatery, Derrick Temple, similarly told FOX 5/KUSI said he was shocked the restaurant was having any issues with health code compliance, but said he plans to return as soon as they are reopened.

“I’ve never had a problem with the food, never gotten sick here or anything,” Temple said. “I’ve been eating here for many, many years off and on, so I’ll come back.”

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