If you don’t have plans for Valentine’s Day yet, there’s a brand-new option to consider.
Marco Rocha, the 40-year-old owner of the El Rey Leon food truck in Boulder Creek, is holding the grand opening of his new restaurant, Corazon de Leon, in the former home of Casa Nostra and the short-lived Guild Kitchen: Act III, along Highway 9.
They held a soft opening last Friday, and for Feb. 14, Rocha has organized live mariachi music to run from 5-7pm, with a Mexican buffet to go from 5-9pm.
“When I come from Mexico to here, I started in Italian food,” Rocha said, recalling how he moved from León de Los Aldama to Boulder Creek and was wowed by the redwoods 22 years ago. “I was surprised. I never see these trees like that.”
Now the Watsonville resident is the proud owner of a restaurant that’s famously surrounded by a “redwood fairy ring” in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains. He’ll have the help of his 18-year-old daughter Angelica Rocha, who’s working the front-of-house.
“He’s always succeeded in what he does,” she said on Tuesday night, full of optimism for the days ahead. “I think he was truly meant for this.”
She was there when he started El Rey Leon, five years ago. It’s been pretty cool “witnessing how much people love the food” and how customers “grew to love my dad,” she said.
Their “León-style” Corn Quesadillas are a good example of the sorts of cuisine they’re going to focus on, her dad said.
“It represents my city—León, Guanajuato,” Rocha said. “It’s with jalapeños, and grilled onions and grilled cheese.”
And you can’t forget the green and red salsas, he added.
“I like people, this town: Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek,” said Rocha, adding he’s been thrilled by excitement around his food truck over the past half-decade. “Everybody support me. And now, everybody excited when I opened here, everybody told me this very good opportunity for me.”
Casie Romine, a 53-year-old Ben Lomond resident, said it will be nice to have a good-quality Mexican restaurant in the neighborhood.
“I like that it’s family oriented—and family working together,” Romine said on her first visit to the wooden bar, Tuesday evening. “Everyone’s excited to come in. They’re like, ‘What’s it going to be like?’”
Rocha cut his teeth in the restaurant biz in Santa Cruz County, starting at La Bruschetta in Felton—which employed people he knew already from Mexico.
“A lot of friends from my city is working there,” he remembered, adding he eagerly began to soak up knowledge about culinary techniques. “I say, ‘What is this? What is this?’”
One of the people he’s worked with at several restaurants over the years is Valentina Calvillo, who also emigrated from León.
“He called me on Friday and said, ‘You know what? I don’t have any servers and I need help,’” Calvillo recounted. “I said, “OK Maki!’”
She noted they spent many days side-by-side at now-closed La Bruschetta and Oak Tree, another shuttered Felton eatery.
“We are from the same town and I’m here because we are friends, and if he needs my help, I’m gonna be here,” she said. “I’m really proud that my friend from my town brings this to you guys.”
Rocha also runs Casa Birria in Captola, located inside Grady’s Market at 509 Bay Ave.
The El Rey Leon food truck has an impressive 4.7 stars out of five on Yelp, where people rave about Rocha’s authentic touch and helpful catering abilities. The business also won “Best Food Truck” in the Press Banner’s Best of San Lorenzo Valley 2025 readers’ poll.
Rocha recently did a fundraiser for a local elementary school, where 50% of sales went to the educational institution.
“I like (to) support the Boulder Creek community,” he said. “Every year, I donate food for the community.”
Rocha said Corazon de Leon will be open Monday to Saturday from 11am-3pm for lunch and 3-9pm for dinner service. Sundays, they’ll be open from 11-3pm for lunch.
They have a three-day beer and wine permit in place for this coming weekend, and they’re looking forward to receiving the more permanent ABC license in the days to come.
“I want to try to make happy all these people,” Rocha said.
