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Why We Close on Mondays: The Tijuana Tradition Behind Olamendis

A Tradition That Goes Back to the Beginning

If you have ever pulled up to Olamendis on a Monday, you know — the lights are off, the door is locked, and there is a polite sign reminding you to come back Tuesday. For a restaurant that has been in business for over 50 years, a closed Monday might seem like a lost opportunity. But for the Olamendi family, it is a tradition that goes back to the very beginning.

The Tijuana Ingredient Runs

In the 1970s, when Don Jorge and Maria first started cooking in Orange County, authentic Mexican ingredients were hard to find. The dried chiles, spices, and specialty items that made their recipes taste like home were not sitting on grocery store shelves. So every Monday, Jorge and Maria would drive south to Tijuana to buy ingredients directly from the markets.

Those weekly trips were not just shopping runs. They were a connection to the food culture that Jorge grew up with — the same culture his mother taught him in her kitchen. The markets in Tijuana had the chiles, the chocolate, the spices that made the mole taste right, the carnitas taste authentic, and the salsas taste like they were supposed to.

Why the Tradition Stuck

Today, you can find most Mexican ingredients in Southern California without driving to the border. But the Monday closure stayed. It became part of who Olamendis is — a restaurant that values doing things the right way over doing things the fastest way. A day to rest, regroup, and prepare for the week ahead.

For three generations, the family has kept this rhythm. It is a small thing, but it says something about the kind of restaurant Olamendis is. This is not a place that cuts corners to squeeze out an extra day of revenue. It is a place that has been doing things its own way for half a century — and plans to keep doing it that way.

When to Visit

Olamendis Mission Viejo is open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. We are located in the Trabuco Hills Center in Mission Viejo. Call (949) 768-8991 for takeout, or visit our menu page to see what is on the table this week.

And if you show up on a Monday — we will see you Tuesday.