April 16, 2026

REMEMBER: Space is limited for your FREE $1,200 package for DINE LATINO RESTAURANT WEEK promotion! SIGN UP EARLY!

This May 12–24, the Latino Restaurant Association is launching the most exciting edition of Dine Latino Restaurant Week yet — and for the first time, your restaurant can be featured on the official Dine Latino Discovery Map, a digital, interactive experience helping thousands of diners across LA find and choose Latino restaurants by Latin American country of cuisine.

That's right: this year, we're organizing participating restaurants by country — and every country gets its own spotlight moment. Whether you're serving the bold moles of Oaxaca, the tangy ceviches of Peru, the hearty stews of Colombia, or the soulful flavors of El Salvador, this is your moment to represent. Don't let your cuisine — and your country — go unrepresented on the map while your neighbors get the spotlight.

Spots are limited. Sign up today and make sure your restaurant is on the map when LA comes hungry.

FIFA 2026 Is Coming: Complete the LRA Survey for a Chance to Win $100!

The Latino Restaurant Association is conducting a special survey and readiness analysis to help our members prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2026 — one of the biggest opportunities for restaurants in Los Angeles and beyond!

This exclusive program is a member-only benefit. All LRA members will receive a separate email with their official FIFA Readiness Package.

As a thank you for participating, members who complete the survey will qualify for a chance to win $100 CASH.

Not yet a member? Don’t miss out — scroll down to join the LRA today and be part of this exciting initiative!

COMPLETE THE SURVEY

Congrats to LRA Member, Thirsty Bastard Water and their recent collab with BMG at SXSW!

Welcome to the LRA familia, Thirsty Bastard Water!

We’re excited to have you as part of our growing community of innovators and industry leaders.

Thirsty Bastard Water is redefining hydration with its premium quality, bold branding, and strong presence across key markets. Known for its crisp taste and standout packaging, the brand has built a loyal following and continues to expand its reach in the beverage space.

For restaurants, this is a great opportunity to elevate your beverage offerings with a product that not only delivers on quality but also resonates with today’s consumers. Adding Thirsty Bastard Water to your menu can enhance your brand image while increasing your beverage sales.

Interested in bringing Thirsty Bastard Water to your restaurant? Contact lilly@latinorestaurantassociation.org for more information and learn how to get started.

MORE INFO

History was made in the desert this weekend: Two LRA members just conquered Coachella!

Coachella 2026 Flea Market ✔

Bichota Records ✔

LRA members repping Latin America ✔✔

Vivi's Colombian Food 🇨🇴 + Fuegos LA 🇦🇷 — you made history this weekend.

Proud doesn't even begin to cover it.

#LatinoRestaurantAssociation #Coachella2026

Join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate Malbec World Day!

We’re bringing together the best vibes for our community with:

🍷 Flights of exceptional Malbec

🎶 Live Music

✨ Great Energy

When: Thursday, April 16th at 8:00 PM

Where: Fuegos

Come raise a glass with us and enjoy a night dedicated to Argentina’s most iconic grape. We can’t wait to see you there!

RSVP

New Date for World Cup Webinar, Panelists Announced

Heads up! The date for our webinar about how Mexican restaurants can take advantage of the World Cup has changed. Now the event will be April 30 at Noon Central (10 a.m. Pacific.).

Also, the panelists will include two bona fide experts in this area: Samona Caldwell, Director, Business Connect of the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission (LASEC), and Oscar Delgado, Director of Fan and Stakeholder Engagement for the LASEC, who leads efforts to connect communities, partners and public agencies to the region’s largest global sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup 2026.

We are excited to have Oscar and Samona on this panel and look forward to what we'll learn from them!

This event is being co-hosted by el Restaurante magazine and the Latino Restaurant Association, and it is sponsored by the California Milk Advisory Board.

The webinar will offer guidance on:

Getting properly licensed to show World Cup games on your screens
Technical advice on becoming a sports-friendly restaurant
Tips for setting up World Cup watch parties in your restaurant
Help on finding and securing sponsorship partnerships
Suggestions for promoting to soccer clubs and other potential viewing groups
Guidance on getting the word out through advertising, public relations and social media
Suggestions for game-day food and drink specials
Information about other World Cup support from the Latino Restaurant Association

Don’t miss this complimentary event that will help you take full advantage of the World Cup this summer! The event is free, but registration is required. Click here to register today.

Spheres of Sustainability Summit - The Power of Mass Transit

The Hispanic Coalition of Small Businesses (HCSB) welcomes Illary Archilla as this year’s Chair of the 2026 Spheres of Sustainability Summit: The Power of Mass Transit in Sustainable Communities. Illary also lends her expertise and passion for community involvement as an HCSB Board Director.

📝 April 22, 2026

🕗 8am-12pm

📍DoubleTree by Hilton Pomona, 3101 W. Temple Ave., Pomona, California 91768

Join us for a dynamic event where transportation, sustainability, innovation, and small business leadership converge to drive the next generation of clean infrastructure.

This summit will spotlight:

✅Strategic partnerships advancing sustainable mass transit

✅ Equitable access to infrastructure investment and procurement

✅ Deployment of cleaner, smarter mobility systems

✅ Innovation accelerating transportation transformation

✅ Clear pathways for small businesses in next-generation infrastructure

Learn more about Illary at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iarchilla/

Stay tuned as we announce more of our distinguished panelistsand speakers.

📢Join us for the 2026 Latino Business Procurement Event!

As Los Angeles prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2027 Super Bowl, and the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, procurement opportunities across multiple industries are growing.

This event welcomes Latino-owned businesses to understand how to access and compete for contracts connected to these historic events. Spanish language interpretation will be provided on site.

📅 Don’t miss your chance to grow with LA!

Applications are now open for the BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program, supporting small businesses committed to the advancement of women.

Apply at bmo.com/grantprogram

Read it Now: The Mar/Apr 2026 issue of el Restaurante magazine is here!

Enjoy articles about how to price your cocktails, succeed with brunch, and grow your own herbs. Plus read how the bartenders at Don Artemio Restaurant in Ft. Worth dress up their cocktails and what Richard Sandoval thinks young chefs will face in the future.\

Click here for the "flipbook" version, which is beautifully designed and looks like a print magazine

Click here for our easy-to-read Web-Optimized version, which works great on your computer, tablet or phone

Pulse aquí para leer el número completo en español

We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we enjoy bringing it to you!