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El Pastor Del Rica secures California liquor license for San Diego Gaslamp location

El Pastor Del Rica secures California liquor license for San Diego Gaslamp location

Rule Changes San Diego, CA local

Taqueria receives ABC permit to serve alcohol at 565 5th Avenue

August 20th, 2026: ABC files license for El Pastor Del Rica

Overview

Updated 52 minutes ago

El Pastor Del Rica, a taqueria headed for downtown San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, has cleared one regulatory hurdle. State licensing records filed August 20 show an active California liquor license at 565 5th Avenue.

The permit, classified as type 47, lets a bona fide eating place sell beer, wine, and spirits alongside meals. It's one approval in a longer process—the restaurant must still complete city inspections and other requirements before serving customers.

Why it matters

The license clears a key regulatory hurdle for the taqueria to serve alcohol, but doesn't guarantee the restaurant is open.

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Key Indicators

Type 47
License classification
On-sale general eating establishment permit from California ABC, allowing alcohol with food service.
1
Licenses filed
One official license record filed on August 20, 2026.

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Organizations Involved

Timeline

1 event Latest: August 20th, 2026 · 3 weeks ago
  1. ABC files license for El Pastor Del Rica

    Latest Licensing

    California ABC records an active type 47 license for the taqueria at 565 5th Ave. The permit allows alcohol sales with food service.

Scenarios

1

El Pastor Del Rica opens its doors at 565 5th Ave

Likely Resolves by Feb 20, 2027

Discussed by: San Diego Union-Tribune restaurant coverage and local food blogs track Gaslamp openings

The restaurant completes city inspections and opens for business. The type 47 license requires food sales to remain the core of the operation, with alcohol served alongside meals.

2

License lapses before El Pastor Del Rica opens

Unlikely Resolves by Aug 20, 2027

Discussed by: ABC license data; many issued permits are never used

The restaurant stalls on other permits or funding and never opens. An unused ABC license is eventually abandoned or lapses.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

December 1933

Repeal of Prohibition (1933)

The 21st Amendment ended federal Prohibition and handed alcohol regulation to the states. States quickly built licensing systems to control who could sell liquor, where, and when.

Then

States rushed to issue permits and set rules for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.

Now

A lasting patchwork of state alcohol laws emerged, with each state running its own approval process.

Why this matters now

It explains why a restaurant in San Diego needs a state-issued license before serving a margarita—the ABC system comes directly from post-Prohibition authority.

1955

California creates the ABC (1955)

California consolidated alcohol regulation into a dedicated department, the Alcoholic Beverage Control agency. It set license categories by business type, including one for restaurants where food is the primary business.

Then

A single agency began issuing and policing all alcohol licenses in the state.

Now

The license categories, including type 47 for eating establishments, still shape how restaurants operate in California.

Why this matters now

This is the structure El Pastor Del Rica just entered. The type 47 category exists because California decided long ago that restaurants serving alcohol must prove food is their main business.

Sources

(1)