Since opening as a small coffeehouse in 1997, The Mission has grown into one of San Diego's most recognized breakfast and brunch destinations, and the Mission Beach location at 3795 Mission Blvd in 92109 is where that story began. Co-founders Fay Nakanishi, Deborah Helm, and Thomas Fitzpatrick built the original restaurant on a philosophy of simple, healthy, and artful food at an affordable price. In April 2021 the trio sold all three Mission locations—Mission Beach, North Park, and East Village—to a multi-concept restaurant group that retained existing management and most of the crew. Nakanishi's Chino-Latino-influenced menu remains the draw, anchored by dishes like the Papas Loco with rosemary potatoes, grilled jalapeños, black beans, avocado, and two eggs, and the Indo Chine Happiness Bowl. All breads are baked fresh daily in-house and delivered across the three restaurants; the rosemary and cinnamon loaves show up in multiple dishes and are a point of pride. Local artists rotate original works on the restaurant walls, with all proceeds going directly to the creators. The Mission also donates regularly to organizations including Mama's Kitchen, the San Diego Zoo's Critters Event, and City of San Diego literacy programs, and participates annually in Dining Out for Life to benefit HIV/AIDS prevention through The Center. Spanish-cuisine fans heading up Mission Boulevard can continue to Costa Brava for a European-leaning dinner later in the day. Walk-ins only—no reservations—and weekend waits of 20 to 40 minutes are common, so arriving early is well worth it. Cocktail enthusiasts nearby should also explore Flamingo Deck for evening drinks after an early Mission brunch. The restaurant holds a 4.6-star Google average across more than 2,000 reviews and closes by early afternoon.