A platter of ribs. | Papalo City Tacos owner Gerry Torres partners with Papalo chef Drew Bent An acclaimed barbecue restaurant in East County is redefining its operations in preparation for an expansion push into other areas in San Diego. Papalo opened in downtown La Mesa last fall where founding chef Drew Bent established his barbecue outfit’s first stand-alone spot after stints sharing space in North Park and the East Village. Landing on La Mesa Boulevard next to City Tacos, it has since earned high praise from the likes of Texas Monthy. With growth in mind, Bent has partnered with City Tacos owner Gerry Torres, who recently took over ownership of Papalo although the chef will remain on board. In addition to refreshing the brand’s logo and tagline, Torres and Bent have been implementing changes to the restaurant that include extended hours and a steadier supply of smoked meat. The updated menu features favorites such as tri-tip, smoked cherry pecan glazed pork ribs, and mole chicken with new dishes like a wedge salad, mac ‘n cheese, and monthly chef’s specials. City Tacos now has seven locations across San Diego County, and Papalo will piggyback on its infrastructure — sharing distribution channels and purchasing power — to add a catering option and propel its expansion. Papalo All new branding and logo. Torres says they want to open more locations beyond La Mesa in the near future, and tells Eater that they’re currently exploring sites in Little Italy, North Park, Ocean Beach, and Encinitas.