If you are partial to Mexican chilaquiles, then you owe it to yourself to try Cocina 35 Brunch in Liberty Station, which specializes in traditional breakfast items.

The 12-year-old family-owned and operated restaurant, now run by brother-and-sister team Cesar and Paulina Chaidez, has four locations including 2750 Dewey Road, #104 in Liberty Station. The other three locations are in Downtown San Diego, Otay Mesa, and Barrio Logan.

The sibling’s company website at cocina35.com notes the eatery was “created to bring to San Diego the essence of Mexico, the flavors, aromas, and textures that were given to us, growing up cooking right next to our grandparents.”

“It’s all the recipes of my parents, my brother, and I,” said Paulina Chaidez on a crowded weekday afternoon, noting she and her brother eventually found their niche in the local market. “We started in Otay Mesa as a build-your-own-plate restaurant,” she said adding, “When we opened our second location Downtown, we decided to go for breakfast and our main focus was chilaquiles, our main plate on the menu. We noticed that nobody in San Diego was specializing in Mexican breakfast. So that’s what we did.”

Cocina 35 Brunch’s menu staple includes a number of different chilaquiles dishes all garnished with red onions, cilantro, oaxaqueña cream, cotija cheese, and avocado served over a bed of beans. The lunch menu features tortas, tacos dorados de papa, and sopa de tortilla as well as mini pancakes and cajeta toast for kids.

“This location (Liberty Station) has a full liquor license,” Paulina said adding, “That way you can have mimosas. We also have samplers that customers can build from.”

It’s all about family at Cocina 35 Brunch said Paulina noting her parents started in the food industry 32 years ago, and that she and Cesar are now continuing their legacy.

The family tradition at the restaurant is on full display, with huge family photos gracing the walls of the establishment that everyone sees as they enter.

The retail space Cocina 35 has in Liberty Station is nothing if not spacious, with a huge indoor sit-down restaurant. There are also 27 tables of outside patio seating as well. The restaurant is pet-friendly.

Paulina described their Liberty Station location as “amazing because it’s a family area and we have all the (public) parks right in front of us.”

The restaurateur added their restaurant, especially on weekends, can often have a wait list, so having scenic surroundings means “people can enjoy family gatherings right here and then enjoy our food,” Chaidez said.

Paulina explained how their restaurant came by its name. “Cocina means kitchen,” she noted. “And 35 is our dad’s favorite number. When we opened our first location in Otay Mesa, it had 35 in the address. Two years later when we found our Downtown location, we automatically looked at the address, and it was 1435. So, we’re going to keep it (name). That means it’s three kids and a family of five. It’s our little jewel.”

COCINA 35 BRUNCH

Where: 2750 Dewey Rd., #104.

Hours: Mondays-Fridays 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturdays-Sundays 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

Información: cocina35.com, 619-794-2041.