Santa Rosa — After more than two decades as a fixture in Roseland, La Texanita has closed its brick-and-mortar location at 1667 Sebastopol Road, and the space has been taken over by Su Casa, which opened its second Santa Rosa location this summer.
End of an era, start of a new chapter
La Texanita, a taqueria that earned national attention when Chef Guy Fieri featured the restaurant on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, closed its sit-down operation in July, owners confirmed. The decision came after mounting financial pressures that made operating both a leased restaurant and owned property untenable for owner Alma Mendez.
Rather than leaving the local scene entirely, La Texanita will return to its roots as a food truck. Mendez said she will operate from a nearby lot at 1410 Sebastopol Road, the site where the taqueria originally began before expanding into the restaurant that served Roseland for 21 years.
“La Texanita has a lot of history,”
— Alma Mendez, owner of La Texanita
Su Casa moves into Roseland
The restaurant moving into the former La Texanita space is Su Casa #2, an expansion of a family-owned operation that has run a flagship location in Rincon Valley for more than 20 years. Ramon Sandoval, co-owner, said the move into Roseland was a natural step even though he recognizes the west side of Santa Rosa has denser competition among Mexican restaurants than the east side.
Sandoval, a native of Michoacan, described the new menu as closely mirroring the Rincon Valley restaurant while adding several items, including molcajetes and a selection of seafood dishes. He and co-owner Vicente Campos aim to serve breakfast favorites that have been popular at the original Su Casa while also appealing to the Roseland neighborhood.
Local context and business realities
Mendez cited the financial challenge of carrying both a lease and a mortgage as a primary reason for the change. She said a rent increase cycle would have continued to strain profitability. Shifting back to a food truck model allows her to maintain ties with the community and continue serving dishes that once made La Texanita a local staple, notably their handmade tortillas, pozole and carne asada tacos.
La Texanita’s profile rose significantly after the 2009 Food Network appearance; the restaurant was also featured again in 2019 and during a remote segment in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Those national spotlights helped cement its reputation in Santa Rosa’s dining scene.
- La Texanita: Operated as a brick-and-mortar for 21 years at 1667 Sebastopol Road; returning as a food truck at 1410 Sebastopol Road.
- Su Casa #2: Second location in Santa Rosa, expanding from Rincon Valley flagship after more than 20 years in business.
- Reasons for change: Financial pressures, lease transfer and desire to avoid recurring rent increases.
What this means for Roseland and Santa Rosa diners
The swap underscores broader pressures on independent restaurants in Santa Rosa, where rising costs and real estate dynamics can push long-running establishments to change formats or close indoor service entirely. For Roseland residents, the transition preserves variety on Sebastopol Road: La Texanita will remain part of the neighborhood’s culinary fabric in mobile form while Su Casa brings its established menu to a new customer base.
For patrons seeking the traditional La Texanita experience, the food truck will keep some of the restaurant’s hallmark offerings alive, including their handmade tortillas. For those looking for a full-service sit-down meal with a broader menu, Su Casa’s addition will offer breakfast favorites alongside new entrées such as molcajetes and seafood plates.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2001 | La Texanita began in Roseland (original lot later purchased by owner) |
| 2009 | Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives |
| 2019 & 2020 | Additional media features, including a 2020 remote segment |
| 2026 | La Texanita closed brick-and-mortar; Su Casa #2 opened at 1667 Sebastopol Road |
As both businesses begin their next chapters, they illustrate the adaptive strategies local restaurateurs are using to stay viable: consolidation, format changes and geographic expansion within the same city. Neighbors and regulars can expect to see both La Texanita’s food truck and Su Casa’s new dining option on Sebastopol Road in coming weeks as the businesses settle into their roles in Santa Rosa’s evolving restaurant scene.
