La Cocina de Sandra Opened in New Haven
Sandra Trigueros has launched a new restaurant featuring traditional cuisine at 25 Temple St.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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La Cocina de Sandra held a soft opening this October at 25 Temple St., filling the space formerly occupied by Havenly Cafe. The restaurant serves a variety of traditional dishes, including pupusas, tamales, and empanadas.
Why it matters
The opening marks a significant transition for owner Sandra Trigueros, who moved from operating as a ghost kitchen and food truck to establishing a permanent storefront. The restaurant serves as a new cultural and culinary addition to the New Haven community.
The restaurant occupies 25 Temple St. and operates daily from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., currently offering 10 distinct flavors of pupusas. The team recently completed a large-scale order of 200 pupusas for Yale.
The players
Sandra Trigueros
She is the owner and founder of La Cocina de Sandra who previously operated a food truck and ghost kitchen.
Elmer Galvez
He serves as the general manager for the restaurant operations.
Havenly Cafe
It is a former tenant at the 25 Temple St. location that closed in July 2026.
The details
Trigueros secured the storefront after being connected to the landlord by the former occupants, Havenly Cafe. The kitchen staff begins daily preparations at 5 a.m. to create menu items such as pepián, mole, and pozole.
Timeline
July 17, 2026: Havenly Cafe closed its Temple Street location.
October 8, 2026: Sandra Trigueros was interviewed regarding the new venture.
October 11, 2026: La Cocina de Sandra hosts its official grand opening.
Market Landscape
The restaurant industry is currently seeing a trend of mobile food operators utilizing established footprints to transition into permanent brick-and-mortar locations. This shift allows former ghost kitchen owners to solidify their presence and market share against local competitors.
Residents can visit the new storefront daily to access a menu of traditional Guatemalan dishes. The establishment is currently adjusting its operational workflow during its first two months of business.
The takeaway
The successful transition from a mobile model to a fixed location highlights the potential for small-scale food entrepreneurs to build community anchors. Patrons visiting in the coming weeks should monitor the establishment for updates to operating hours following the initial launch phase.
What happens next
The restaurant will host its official grand opening on October 11, 2026.
Further reading
For more news on local business changes, visit the New Haven Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New Haven Indy.
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