City Heights is getting a serious caffeine-and-chilaquiles upgrade this fall, courtesy of Paulina and Alesio Marquez. The husband-and-wife team behind Galū Café & Delicatessen in Chula Vista are opening a second, larger spot called Lugā Cafe & Kitchen, taking over the former El Borrego space on El Cajon Boulevard. The new cafe is designed as a true sit-down hangout, a step up in size and format from their tiny Third Avenue counter, with the Marquezes eyeing an October debut and planning more full plates to go with their signature drinks.
What Lugā Will Offer
Lugā will keep the whisk-to-order matcha routine that Galū regulars swear by and a lineup of specialty lattes. San Diego Magazine notes crème brûlée and banana‑crème as among the planned pours, with the new kitchen expanding into prepared egg dishes, chilaquiles and more substantial breakfast-and-lunch sandwiches featuring proteins like steak and fish. Hours are expected to start at about 9 a.m. and run until roughly 5 p.m. daily, with the team signaling that those times could shift as they settle into service.
From a Small Counter to a Neighborhood Spot
Galū made its debut on Third Avenue in Chula Vista in May 2024 and quickly built a following for quick bites like avocado toast and croissant sandwiches, according to Galū. The name itself is a family affair, drawn from the couple’s children, Gael and Luna, and local coverage has spotlighted Paulina and Alesio as hometown entrepreneurs, per Times of San Diego.
Where Lugā Will Land
The new cafe is set to move into the former El Borrego restaurant at 4280 El Cajon Blvd, an address listed on El Borrego. That spot sits on a busy stretch of El Cajon Boulevard that has been steadily filling in with eateries geared toward neighborhood regulars.
What Comes Next
Paulina told San Diego Magazine that Lugā is "an opportunity to reveal a more playful, exploratory side of our craft", and the couple hopes the City Heights cafe will be the first move in a broader family-run expansion. For now, San Diego coffee and breakfast fans can anticipate a roomier, sit-down cousin to Galū arriving on El Cajon Boulevard this fall.
