A Sunny New Taqueria Hits the Redondo Beach Scene Next Week

Two big South Bay hospitality veterans are joining forces to bring a new taqueria to Redondo Beach. Vida Modern Taqueria arrives October 12 to 1723 S. Catalina Avenue inside the Riviera Village development, with the promise of a menu as rich and diverse as the South Bay itself.

The space, built by Vanrooy Design (Tower 12, James Republic), has been flipped from its former life into an airy, casual hangout complete with a small bar and a few televisions. Blonde wood accents crest across a back wall and over the ceiling like a wave, leading to a garage-style roll-up door and small open-air patio, while splashes of color along the painted brick bar wall liven up the rest of the room.

Similarly, Vida’s menu is a mix of casual comfort and bright introductions, from simple queso fundido and nacho starters to tacos like crispy carnitas with cinnamon, Mexican red snapper, and the ever-popular (and very cheesy) birria de res. Craft beer, wine, and sangrias are also on offer.

The incoming Vida is the work of Mickey Mance and Justin Essman. The latter is a longtime Vice President of sales for the popular and long-running Mickey’s Italian Deli family business, while Essman is a former partner in the Baja Sharkeez group that has exploded out of Hermosa Beach to become one of the largest operators in the area, with holdings from Irish bars to Mexican cantinas up and own the coast. Vida is a first-time collaboration for the pair but should sit comfortably within their areas of expertise.

The new Vida Modern Taqueria opens Tuesday, October 12, keeping hours from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, with an extension to midnight Thursday through Saturday.

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