Alfonso Madrigal and his family first opened up their Chino outpost, Taqueria Y Mariscos Madrigal, in 2004. Now, Madrigal is continuing the family legacy by opening up Libra Por Libra Mariscos, an all-new concept he plans on passing down to the next generation.
“We have a large family. They all kind of help out, so we were trying to get something going so we can have a place for our kids,” Madrigal told What Now Los Angeles (WNLA). At 644 E. Francis Street in Ontario, Libra Por Libra Mariscos — which translates to “pound for pound” in Spanish — will indeed serve seafood by the pound. “We’re really shooting ourselves in the foot giving ourselves a Spanish title.” The seafood will be prepared and cooked in lemon, cucumbers, and the Madrigal secret sauce. Madrigal is also hoping to serve beer and wine, pending liquor license approval.
The property is currently undergoing a pretty extensive facelift. “We literally had to do everything, from electrical to piping to bathrooms. During a previous tenancy, the building caught on fire, “so when they rebuilt that building, they basically made a big square.” That particular space has been vacant for about 10 years and Madrigal feels grateful since they don’t live too far away.
The Madrigal family is well known throughout the community for hosting movies and free concerts in front of the city hall every Friday night during the Summer. The family’s taco truck — serving free tacos, nachos, quesadillas — catered these events. COVID didn’t just put a halt to these special events, it also severely delayed the opening of Libra Por Libra Mariscos. Madrigal had hoped to open by Cinco De Mayo, but construction at the site was put on long-term hold. “No city workers wanted to help,” he told WNLA. While these delays have pushed things back significantly, work on the space has since continued. Madrigal doesn’t have an exact timeline for opening quite yet.
