ST. GEORGE — La Cocina Mexican Street Food, a city staple known for its delicious tacos and fare, closed its doors Friday, April 26. The owners said the decision to close was not due to business challenges, but their desire to return to Las Vegas to reunite with family.
As businesses come and go in St. George, La Cocina fans and the hungry have plenty of options on Bluff Street including Pepe’s, Jalapeños, and Alfredo’s A — all within a few blocks. However, you can find some other gems just a short detour west on Sunset Boulevard.
Lamy’s Mexican Grill
Lamy Ortiz made his way to Utah from Berkley, California, in 2013, “When I decided I was going to make healthy Mexican food,” Ortiz said.
He said he started with a restaurant in American Fork, then opened in Huntington, after seeking smaller and better rent options. He eventually found the right fit for population and patronage, in St. George, where he opened Lamy’s Mexican Grill restaurant in 2018.
Ortiz has an extensive resume preparing for the ownership and chef of his own restaurant. Over the years, including time in Las Vegas, Nevada, he has held every role in the industry, from dishwasher, cleaning stove vents, prep cook, eventually working his way up to chef at recognizable establishments.
With his desire to be his own boss and have his own restaurant and years of earnest efforts, he opened Lamy’s Mexican Grill.
“People laugh when I say ‘healthy Mexican food,’” Ortiz said.
The menu at Lamy’s is expansive and while it offers what one might expect at a Mexican restaurant including tacos, nachos and burritos, the execution is unique.
“I make what I like,” Ortiz said. “This is not fast food — it takes a long time to cook.”
The staff prepares everything fresh, meats are slowly prepared and nothing hails from cans.
“I start the birria at 9 p.m. and I take it off the stove the next morning at 8:30,” he said.
When asked what makes his dishes unique, including his notable, Lamy’s Pork, he noted the use of quality ingredients. The meat is specially ordered from Las Vegas and is highly scrutinized. When his supplier is out of the cut, the meat will not be available on the menu.
Ortiz said that nachos topped with one of his slow-cooked stewed meats tend to be a big seller. Lamy’s tacos are also popular. But these are not small street tacos; they are generously stuffed and topped with cheese, beans and lettuce.
Lamy’s Mexican Grill is located at 2235 Santa Clara Drive and is recognizable by its whimsical window art. His 22-year-old daughter, Samantha, is the artist of the family and changes the motif regularly. Lamy is usually there every day to prepare and greet his guests.
Ochoa’s Mexican Grill
Ochoa’s Mexican Grill opened at Sunset Plaza on Dec. 22, 2023, only one month after owners Antonia and Gloria Ochoa arrived in St. George. The Ochoas relocated from Rexburg, Idaho, where they also had a restaurant. They said St. George caught their attention when they drove from their previous home in San Diego, California, to Rexburg, Idaho.
“This is a good area to come back to,” Gloria Ochoa said.
A few years later they made their move, not knowing anyone in the area, and opened their restaurant upon arrival. Their son Benjamin also helps operate the business.
When asked about how the menu came together, Ochoa said her husband is the artist behind the canvas.
“Antonio is very talented and creative,” she said. “He is also very picky. His food he likes a certain way and puts in the effort to make it so.”
The California burrito is one of their most popular items. Contradictory to what one might expect with California in the title, it is far from an earthy vegetable-rich dish. Its creation and name can be attributed to a cult following of hungry San Diego surfers. This burrito is a steak bomb and has the surprising ingredient of French fries.
A little different and not seen on many St. George menus, is the machete, which is a large corn tortilla filled with melted cheese, choice of meat, lettuce and sour cream.
Another specialty of Ochoa’s is their tinga nachos.
“Tinga is a popular dish in Mexico,” Gloria Ochoa said. “People typically eat it on tostadas.”
From their experience in Rexburg, they found that people preferred burritos or tacos, not tostadas. However, the savory tinga chicken is so coveted that the family needed a new vehicle for its delivery.
“This is so good, we needed to sell it somehow,” she said.
They decided to serve it on corn chips, and it has since earned a reputable following among the locals.
The menu options at Ochoa are plentiful as are the servings. If a diner leaves any room for dessert, the Ochoas make a house flan and choco-flan.
Open for just five months, business is growing steadily and has an increasing Facebook following, Gloria Ochoa said.
“The community has been very supportive and great to us. They come try our food and come back with friends and family,” she added.
Photo Gallery
Lamy's Mexican Grill tacos are pictured, St. George, Utah, April 13, 2024 | Photo by Becky Stein, St. George News
Antonio Ochoa and Gloria Ochoa stand in front of their restaurant, St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Gloria Ochoa, St. George News
Ochoa's nachos are pictured, St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Antonio Ochoa and Gloria Ochoa, St. George News
Lamy Ortiz, owner of Lamy's Mexican Grill, St. George, Utah, April 16, 2024 | photo by Becky Stein, St. George News
A blue sky backdrops Lamy's Mexican Grill storefront, St. George, Utah, April 13, 2024 | Photo by Becky Stein, St. George News
Lamy's Mexican Grill features ever-changing window art, St. George, Utah, April 13, 2024 | Photo by Becky Stein, St. George News
Ochoa's machete is pitured, St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Antonio Ochoa and Gloria Ochoa, St. George News
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