San Diego is recognizing one of its best-known entrepreneurs Tuesday with a proclamation of “Ralph Rubio Day” in the city, and the restaurant chain is acknowledging the honor with $1.75 tacos all day.
Ralph Rubio, co-founder of Rubio’s Restaurants, is credited with starting the fish taco phenomenon in America. The San Diego State University alumnus opened his first restaurant — a walk-up taco stand on Mission Bay — 33 years ago following a college trip to Baja California.
The nearly 200 Rubio’s Coast Grill restaurants have since sold more than 200 million of the original fish tacos.
To celebrate the proclamation, and as a nod to the fish taco that started it all, Rubio’s Coastal Grills will sell the tacos for $1.75 all day on April 5 throughout San Diego County.
“San Diego has been my home for over 40 years, so it’s a great honor to receive this distinction from the city,” said Rubio. “It’s remarkable to think how far Rubio’s Coastal Grill has come from where we started as a small taco stand in Mission Bay.
“Our following of loyal fans in San Diego have been an important part of Rubio’s success, and I can’t thank our community enough for their support.”
