About

Our Food

Mexican food is synonymous with history, community, and flavor. Jimmy Shaw, Executive Chef and Founder, and Saúl Cruz Nazario, Jefe de Cocina, take pride in offering delicious regional specialties of Mexico. Our slowly prepared guisos and specialties are made with the finest and freshest ingredients and prepared with the same processes used in Mexico. Our selection of top-quality chiles and spices, and our intimate knowledge of Mexican cooking techniques give a delightful richness to dishes like our Cochinita Pibil (Yucatan), Mole Poblano (Puebla), Pozole de Jalisco, and Ceviches de Guerrero, to name just a few. Jimmy and Saúl began working together in the months before the launch of Lotería, in 2002. Collaborating for the past 20 years, they have become culinary brothers, developing Lotería’s Classic Dishes, Specials, and more recently, our Heat-and-Serve Family Kits.

Jimmy Shaw

Founder and Executive Chef

Jimmy’s interest in cooking developed as a child in Mexico City, where his mother, a magnificent cook and entertainer, instilled in Jimmy and his siblings the passion to cook.

As a university student in the US, Jimmy began working in restaurants and, later, as a Personal Chef and caterer. Frequent visits home to Mexico over these many years have given Jimmy a rich and ever-growing collection of delicious recipes, techniques, and ingredients, constantly broadening the offerings from our kitchen.

A few years after moving to Los Angeles, Jimmy opened his first taco stand. His goal was to present the complex and soulful dishes he grew up enjoying in Mexico – a menu much deeper than the standard Carne Asada/Combo-plate, which was so prevalent at the time. Since opening in Summer 2002, Guests have been returning to Lotería Grill, time and again, to enjoy the flavors of our Mexican home cooking. He says. “I love hearing stories from Guests of how they connect with our food. Ruth H, a longtime Guest and friend, said to me one day, ‘You know, 80% of my son’s body mass is your Tinga, Rice and Beans.’ We just love it when we make such meaningful connections with our Guests through our food. We put tons of love into what we do.”

Saúl Cruz Nazario

Jefe de Cocina

Saúl Cruz Nazario grew up in the highlands of the State of Puebla, and has been a lifelong cook. He has been at the heart of the Lotería kitchens since before we opened our first restaurant in 2002, helping create our launch menu, and our specialties, ever since. Saúl has a deep knowledge of Mexico’s cuisine, ingredients, and techniques, with a sazón (seasoning) second to none. His kindness and lightning-fast good humor add to Saúl’s creativity in the kitchen.