San Diego Comfort Food: The Iconic Chicken Soup at Lourdes Mexican Food

“We’ve had people waiting for half an hour outside in the winter, under umbrellas in the rain,” Hector said with a chuckle. He credits word of mouth, media attention,  social media, and his wife’s signature recipe.

The soup is known for its big chunks of white meat, hefty scoop of rice, scattering of onion and cilantro, and topping of thick avocado wedges. The steaming bowls are served with corn or flour tortillas, tortilla chips, salsa, and spicy carrots for a hearty meal.

During flu season, locals have been known to drive the soup to friends who are home in bed. The Parras' son Alex jokes that local doctors recommend it, because the family does catering for the pharmaceutical industry.

A lot of pleasure for their customers, particularly at the original location, comes from the sense of community they find at Lourdes. The big rooster and hens on the front and side of the original building look much the same as when the shop opened, and it has become a gathering place for locals to catch up over lunch.

The newest Lourdes storefronts in San Marcos and in Cardiff are owned and operated by the Parras' children and are decidedly more modern. Though each morning, family members still prepare batches of soup at each location according to Lourdes’ exact recipe, along with scratch-made rice, beans and other menu items like salads, burritos, enchiladas, tacos, and quesadillas.