Our Story - Mendocino Farms | Farm Fresh Restaurants

Your neighborhood Mendocino Farms Sandwich Market is so much more than just a place to get a great sandwich. It is a gathering place for coworkers and friends, where each person who walks through the door is treated like family. It is a place where you can learn about new ingredients and trust where the food came from and how it was prepared. It is a place that cares more about its team members, guests, and local vendors than it does about its profits. At Mendocino Farms,we don’t just sell sandwiches. WE SELL HAPPY!

Mendocino Farms started as—and still is—a family business. Co-Founders (and husband-and-wife team) Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen created the concept in 2003, determined to lead through empowerment and build a thriving business from just a good idea and a lot of passion.

With their vision of an elevated dining experience offering much more than just good food, they opened their first unit on Bunker Hill in Downtown Los Angeles in 2005. Since then, Mendocino Farms restaurants have opened in neighborhoods across Southern California, taking their places as some of the best loved eateries in the communities they serve.

As the business has grown, so has the family—our talented and devoted team of culinary and hospitality professionals continues driving the mission forward every day, and our partnerships with some of the best farmers and food artisans in the region continue to ensure that we provide the tastiest food around while supporting our local food economy.