El Sombrero has been in business at this location since 1985, and won the Readers' Choice Award in 1994 from the Daily Breeze newspaper. The manager, Raul Lamas, supports the pupils and teachers at nearby Mira Costa High School, and is generally involved in the community. Lamas is proud of the fact that there is no lard in the food served, only vegetable oil, making this restaurant a healthful choice as well as a tasty one.