Mendocino Farms is a sandwich market that is looking to open on Tuesday Nov. 14 at the Aliso Village Shopping Center.
Mendocino Farms is a restaurant chain based in the Western United States mainly selling sandwiches and salads. The company uses earth-grown ingredients, sourcing them locally.
The restaurant was created by Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen-Del Pero. Del Pero grew up in Mendocino county, where his father owned a century-old meat company; he decided to start his own food concept.
Del Pero first started working at a restaurant founded by a family-friend, and then he opened Skew’s, a teriyaki restaurant. After growing it to three locations, Del Pero and his wife sold it in 2001 and used the money to start Mendocino Farms.
The first restaurant was opened in 2005 near the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. Their vision was not only to offer great food but also build a welcoming place for community members.
Since then, Mendocino Farms has opened 63 other locations. In California, the chain mainly centers around the population centers of Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Sacramento and San Francisco. As of 2023, its locations in Texas are found in Houston and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, and Washington eateries are only in Seattle.
In 2010, the company made a deal with a firm to help with expansion, which later became an investor. Whole Foods Market made an investment in the restaurant, and the first Mendocino Farms inside a Whole Foods opened in 2016. TPG Inc. bought a majority stake in the chain and the former CEO of Yard House was appointed as CEO after this exchange.
Menu items include chicken, steak, pork belly and vegan sandwiches, salads and even soups. The restaurant also serves side dishes such as potato salad, noodles and couscous.
Mendocino Farms also offers housemade beverages such as passion fruit black tea, rose lemonade and variations of green juices, which are only available in-store.
The project has been in discussion for months, but building began during summertime. The grand opening is on Nov. 14 at 11 a.m.
Alongside the new restaurant is Cava, a Mediterranean fast casual restaurant chain that just opened on Nov. 3.
Mendocino Farms constantly changes its menu every six to eight weeks, but popular menu items include the “Not So Fried” Chicken, which is chicken breast topped with herb aioli, mustard pickle slaw and other veggies, as well as the Chimichurri Steak & Bacon sandwich, which is carved steak and applewood smoked bacon topped with red peppers, caramelized onion jam and herb aioli.
The company was included in Nation’s Restaurant News’ 2013 50 Hottest Emerging Concepts. The founders, Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen-Del Pero were also featured in the website’s Power List in 2016.
The restaurant offers more variety to the Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel communities, and presents flavor combinations many may be unfamiliar or inexperienced with. One of the restaurant’s main goals is to have something on the menu for everyone, and show people how tasty different foods can be!
