Sancho's Tacos has moved its Huntington Beach flagship one blockside, from its original downtown space to the adjacent building at 6th Street and Pacific Coast Highway. The new location gives diners views of the beach and pier.
The new site formerly housed Mediterranean restaurant Angry Al's and held a soft opening Oct. 20, according to the Los Angeles Times. The menu is largely unchanged, but breakfast is now served all day. Owner Donnie Lancaster is working to secure a full liquor license and plans to seek permits for improvements to the building's roof area, the paper reported.
Beach Access and Visitor Activity
Huntington Beach says its Public Works Department built sidewalks on both sides of 6th Street, creating a pedestrian route from the Pacific Coast Highway crossing to the beach access stairs. The city's update describes the sidewalk work; it does not establish the status of restaurant permissions or roof-area permits.
The new location is in a city that draws substantial visitor activity. Visit Huntington Beach's FY 24-25 annual report estimates 2.25 million visitors in 2023—people visiting for the day or overnight who live outside Orange County—and $565.3 million in direct visitor spending. More than 65% of that spending went to local businesses other than accommodations, according to Visit Huntington Beach.
How Sancho's Grew Beyond Its Original Location
Lancaster opened the first Sancho's Tacos in downtown Huntington Beach in 2010, followed by a Balboa Peninsula location in 2013. The Los Angeles Times reported that the chain now has seven locations, including restaurants in Newport Beach, San Clemente and Laguna Niguel, as well as one in Lancaster's native Bakersfield. The business employs more than 300 people and has no outside business partners, the paper reported.
The original Huntington Beach building is slated to become a Krazy Kooters, a burger concept Lancaster also owns that has a location in San Clemente, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The New Space's Lowrider-Inspired Decor
The new restaurant's interior draws on lowrider culture. Vintage clown figures from the 1940s, once used in carnival games, have been repurposed as beer dispensers, the Los Angeles Times reported. The menu retains Sancho's signature Chubbie sweet sauce and spicy 5150 sauce, alongside the restaurant's focus on fresh, never-frozen ingredients.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Lancaster started the business with a $100,000 loan from a friend's father.
Family Members Help Run the Business
Lancaster, who lives in San Clemente, runs the operation with help from family members, according to the Los Angeles Times. Erika Lancaster Young handles much of the business's logistics, while Torrie Lancaster manages its social media accounts.
