Our
Story
​Where family tradition and a lifelong love of the sea come together in a modern culinary experience.
Rooted in family. Inspired by the sea.
Sea & Lemon was born from a lifetime of flavor, passion, and heritage.
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In the 1960s, my father, Don Felipe Rivas, opened his first restaurant, La Barca de Oro, in Los Angeles; one of the pioneers of Mexican food and bakery in the area. Years later, our family returned to Guadalajara, Mexico where he continued sharing the same love for cooking.
I grew up in that kitchen; surrounded by aromas, laughter, and the rhythm of a family devoted to food.
Together with my wife, Gloria, we’ve spent more than 20 years exploring the Pacific coast of Mexico: where real food lives in the streets. From Tepic, San Blas, and Puerto Vallarta, to the beaches of Mazatlán, the famous and the hidden gems, to the docks of Culiacán, Guasave, Los Mochis, and the shores of Ensenada. Along the way, we’ve tasted again and again, learning from the best.
Don Felipe Rivas, California 1960.
Those experiences shaped every dish we serve today.
Sea & Lemon is the result of that journey; a tribute to our roots, to the ocean that inspires us, and to the craft of transforming simple ingredients into something extraordinary. It’s our way of bringing a piece of Mexico’s coast to the US, one plate at a time.
Every ceviche, every taco, every dish on our menu tells a story of family, of the sea, of passion.
Mario & Gloria Rivas