Located in downtown Lodi on W. Pine St, across from the F&M Bank, is a restaurant opened by a family from Bakersfield.
El Pazcifico is owned and operated by Juan Gonzalez and Isabel Chavez. The couple had worked in the service industry for decades in Bakersfield, including El Torito, Mauricios, and La Costa Mariscos, before deciding it was time to open their own business.
They opened their doors in January 2018 after years of looking at other locations.
“We came to Lodi, and we loved it…We checked it out, and we knew this was it,” said Gonzalez. They looked around the Bay Area, the Yosemite area and even Oregon before setting their eyes on Lodi.
“We fell in love with it,” said Isabel.
Their children and family have been a big help at the restaurant as well. Their son, Johan Gonzalez, acts as the manager, while his two sisters, Isabella Gonzalez, as a server, and Camila Gonzalez, as a host.
“It’s a beautiful thing to see our family here …There is actual blood family, but our whole team is a family,” said Johan.
Juan’s sisters, Daisy Gonzalez and Maria Gonzalez, work the bar as well.
“It’s honestly the best seeing my family every day, it makes me really grateful to have a restaurant in the first place, knowing I have a lot of connections … and I’m surrounded by love,” Isabella said.
Isabella began helping her parents at the restaurant from the day it opened in 2018, when she was 10, helping to roll silverware and sweeping the floors. She later became a host with Camila for a while before becoming a server.
Johan began working at El Pazcifico four years ago. He helps out with anything needed at the restaurant.
“Officially, I am the manager, but my capabilities can do whatever. I’m also dishwasher, server, bartender, I can fix the floor, I can fix the toilet, anything you need,” said Johan.
As you enter El Pazcifico you are greeted with smiles and treated like a part of the family. Once you are inside, you see multiple rows of booths with colorful artwork displayed on each side as well as chairs that read “El Pazcifico.” To the left of the main entrance, you enter the lounge area with cool blue walls and a fully stocked bar. Along the walls of the entire restaurant, you see multiple artworks of Frida Kahlo, a Mexican painter who has become an icon for the people of Mexico.
The front of the main entrance to El Pazcifico located on W Pine Street across the F&M Bank PHOTO BY URIEL MENDOZA 
The Bar entrance to El Pazcifico that opened February 2024 PHOTO BY URIEL MENDOZA 
A sign promoting El Pazcifico’s salsa is posted outside the entrance PHOTO BY URIEL MENDOZA 
The main dining area of El Pazcifico with 4 rows of booths displaying various artwork. PHOTO BY URIEL MENDOZA 
Two workers behind the counter at the drink station. PHOTO BY URIEL MENDOZA 
Daisy Gonzalez, a server and bartender at El Pazcifico, is preparing tortillas for one of her tables. PHOTO BY URIEL MENDOZA 
Johan Gonzalez, manager at El Pazcifico, chatting with two regulars at the bar top inside the dine-in. PHOTO BY URIEL MENDOZA 
The bar at El Pazcifico that gets packed with regulars on weekends. PHOTO BY URIEL MENDOZA 
A cook at El Pazcifico is getting a pan ready to cook a dish. PHOTO BY URIEL MENDOZA 
Enchiladas al comal, comes with a creamy chipotle sauce on a bed of basil, is one of the signature dishes at El Pazcifico. PHOTO BY URIEL MENDOZA
Like any small business, Juan and Isabel have also had some struggles along the way.
When they first opened in 2018, they had a hard time hiring the right people. During the pandemic, the location closed its doors multiple times.
“Off and on for six months, I would say. It was two years after we opened the restaurant,” said Juan.
“But we hung in there.”
The community also keeps them in high spirits.
“We are very grateful [because] Lodi opened their hearts for us, so we are very grateful and blessed to all the people that support us every day,” said Isabel.
Being outsiders coming to a small town and being welcomed with open arms, they have been appreciative of everything they’ve done for them.
“We have met so many people from, man, all around the world, and it’s amazing how people come and as simple as a meal can bring so many people together,” said Johan.
El Pazcifico is well known for its alcoholic margaritas, as well as the molcajetes and enchiladas al comal.
A TikTok video El Pazcifico had uploaded in January 2025 gained 1.9 million views on the platform, which helped the business get a bigger reach around the world.
“Enchiladas al comal, we have gone viral actually for it a couple times on social media,” said Johan.
Currently, Juan and Isabel have no plans to open another location or expand.
“For now, this is it; we are happy with it. We are just taking great care of our business. We open another one, it will be hard to keep an eye on both, in another location, so we just wanna take great care of this one,” said Juan.
