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El Brewjo’s hits five years with burgers, community and a celebration

April 7, 2026

Five years ago, Cesar Cortez was flipping griddle-smashed burgers as a side hustle, a brewery pop-up he built on his culinary prowess and sense of community. Somewhere along the way, when he left a far less soulful job in property management, it turned into something more.

“That’s when it clicked,” he said. “When this became a fulltime job versus just a little fun side gig.”

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El Brewjo turns five this year, a major milestone for a pop-up that has carved out a loyal following across Orange County while holding its own alongside some of Los Angeles’ best (Cortez took second and third at LAist’s Tournament of Cheeseburgers in 2024 and 2025, respectively). The anniversary celebration lands this Saturday, April 11, in Old Towne.

It also arrives at a moment that almost didn’t happen. “2025 was probably the hardest year” for El Brewjo, said Cortez.

Like many independent operators, he pointed to a one-two punch tied to the current presidential administration: rising costs linked to tariffs and a climate of fear that kept customers home.

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“Meat prices nearly tripled for us” when tariffs were imposed, said Cortez. What’s more, “people weren’t going out as much; even at the height of summer we were suffering.”

Then came something more local and immediate, the ICE raids. “The raids had a huge impact, people were genuinely afraid,” he said, describing enforcement activity around everyday places like car washes and big-box stores. “The community that we were used to was just not coming out,” adding that ICE agents were “going anywhere they believed Mexicans were.” For a concept built on gathering, be it in breweries or around shared tables, that absence proved jarring.

“I almost threw in the towel,” he admitted.

Mike Obedoza, owner of Banger Lumpia, left, and Aiden Pulido takes home the "Best Burger" trophy during the Inaugural Old Towne Burger Fest, Sept. 13, 2025, at Chapman Crafted Beer in Orange. Next to them are Cesar Cortez and Jennifer Gonzalez...(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer) — Mike Obedoza, owner of Banger Lumpia, left, and Aiden Pulido takes home the “Best Burger” trophy during the Inaugural Old Towne Burger Fest, Sept. 13, 2025, at Chapman Crafted Beer in Orange. Next to them are Cesar Cortez and Jennifer Gonzalez…(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)

Instead, El Brewjo (a riff off of “brujo,“ a witch doctor in Spanish) tightened up. The menu slimmed down with less clutter and more identity, “focusing on menu items that were top sellers” like the La Bitch Burger featuring a standard patty, pickle, onion and American cheese; a thicker version with three patties and a rotating special burger (e.g., the Los Makin’ Bacon sliders, which made a recent debt).

“I also highlighted more of our Mexican culture by doing more and more Mexican flavors,” he added.

This Saturday, Cortez will celebrate five years in the pop-up arena with an anniversary fete at brewery Chapman Crafted in Orange. He’s planning a day-long celebration with a classic car show and a DJ spinning vinyl and oldies, along with vendors like Groovy Ghost Vintage and D.I.N.C. Video. Guests can also look forward to handmade pies and guest food pop-ups including Hot Grease and Flavio’s Taqueria.

If the past year tested El Brewjo’s resilience, the next one could define its future. Cortez is actively searching for his first brick-and-mortar, with hopes of landing a space within the next year. “My vision is definitely more than just a pop-up,” he said.

He’s also thinking bigger than burgers. From expanding community-focused events like his successful Burger Fest to something Orange County still lacks, a true queer neighborhood. Cortez said he aims to create a neighborhood where LGBTQ+ denizens don’t have to leave the county, either to Los Angeles or San Diego, to find community.

“Why do we always have to leave our own neighborhood?” he wondered.

El Brewjo’s five-year anniversary happens on Saturday, April 11, at Chapman Crafted in Old Towne from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Find it at 123 N. Cypress St., Orange.

El Brewjo’s hits five years with burgers, community and a celebration Orange County Register

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El Brewjo’s hits five years with burgers, community and a celebration

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