The "Mamá Espinoza" restaurant is one of those unique places that make the small town of El Rosario stand out in San Quintín, making it a landmark for tourists and travelers to enjoy. "Mamá Espinoza" opened her kitchen in 1930, making a name for herself with her internationally famous lobster tacos and burritos.

Before 1973, El Rosario was literally the end of the road. If you drove down Baja, this would be your last destination. After that, you were left with only a dirt road a lot of miles to go until the next town. It wasn't until the Trans peninsular Highway (or Highway 1) was built that the tourism south of Baja flourished and El Rosario became an obligatory stop for travelers.

Later in 1967, the first Baja 100 race was organized and El Rosario was the first checkpoint. When the racers tasted "Mamá Espinoza's" dishes, they were blown away. Between the lobster burritos and tacos, her famous crab soup and shrimp machaca, the word spread all the way up to the U.S. and the rest, as they say, is history.

The restaurant is now a necessary stop in the Baja 1000 race and it has been for 40 years.

Anita Grosse Peña, the real Mamá Espinoza, has distinguished herself for providing excellence to everyone that comes into her restaurant. When it opened for the first time, it was called "Casa Espinoza" ("Espinoza's House" up until the Baja 1000 race began, after which the racers were so delighted with the service that they started to call the owner Mamá Espinoza. Soon after that the establishment's name changed.

To this day, Mamá Espinoza is still open and welcoming all the travelers that come through it's doors, and amazingly, Mrs. Grosse Peña is still there to receive them ("Mamá Espinoza" is still alive and over 100 years old). Check out their official website for directions.

For more news stay on SanDiegoRed.com

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

jorge.guevara@sandiegored.com