College Station residents once again have the opportunity to enjoy La Bodega Baja Taco Bar’s Mexican martini shakers, homemade strawberry tart and habanero shrimp tacos as the restaurant made its grand reopening Aug. 24. 

The restaurant originally opened on Northgate in 2000, where it remained until the property was sold in 2014. 

It wasn’t until eight months ago that the original owners of the beloved west coast Mexican cuisine restaurant decided to reopen a new location, co-owner and president Costa Dallis said. 

“We always felt like we wanted to reopen it, but we just didn’t really pursue it aggressively, and then an opportunity came with this space down here in south College Station,” Dallis said. “We knew that La Bodega would be a perfect fit for that space.”

The original La Bodega was in a small, old and funky building with low ceilings that was mostly college oriented. Dallis described the new restaurant as a grown-up version of the first location with high ceilings and a space double in size.  

“These were the people that were in A&M 10 to 15 years ago that are now parents and have their own families,” Dallis said. “It’s people who are familiar with La Bodega, but they’re in their mid 30s or 40s now, so we made the concept a little more grown up.”

Users on TexAgs shared their thoughts on La Bodega’s reopening, with one saying they are looking forward to eating at their cherished restaurant again. 

“When my wife and I were newly married and broke, [La] Bodega was our special ‘eat out’ place,” the post said. “It was unique and flavorful enough to make it a treat, without spending $100 on dinner, and now, 20-plus years later, we are so excited to go back.” 

Another TexAgs user said they used to eat frequently at the original La Bodega and shared the new restaurant with their wife. 

“One of my old roommates in 2012 used to work at [La] Bodega, so we went a lot,” the post said. “I took my wife Monday evening, and everything was great.”

The TexAgs user also said La Bodega’s food tastes just like it did 12 years ago.

“The mango habanero sauce is just how I remembered it, and we’ll be back a hundred times,” the user said. 

Dallis said there are big plans for La Bodega in the near future, including brunch and a functioning drive-thru, within the next couple of months. Dallis also hopes to have live music and DJs entertain at the restaurant. 

“It won’t just be what it is right now,” Dallis said. “It will keep evolving until we get it where we want it to be.”