End of an era: Popular San Jose restaurant serves its last ‘Burritozilla’

(KRON) — Iguanas, a beloved San Jose restaurant chain known for its 5-pound “Burritozilla” and signature nacho cheese, is closing its doors after 31 years of service.

The Orozco family, owners of Iguanas, are retiring and moving to Texas, marking the end of an era for the South Bay community.

On the final day of service, fans lined up early on Third Street to be among the last to enjoy Iguanas’ iconic food.

The closure of Iguanas is significant to the community, as it has been a staple since it opened its original location outside San Jose State University.

“It’s just time,” said Jimmy Orozco, owner of Iguanas. “We’ve been doing this a very long time, the family is all moving to Texas and we’ve done our tenure here and serving the community for a very long time.”

“Terrible, like I’m glad for the family they get to retire and be a family but it sucks, it’s such a big part of our community,” said one customer.

“Definitely nostalgia, you know,” said another customer. “It’s always my go-to food late night when you’re drunk and having fun — bittersweet.”

Hundreds of people waited in line, some driving hours to be part of Iguanas’ final day. The restaurant had to cut the line short to ensure all orders were completed.

Customers expressed their sadness and nostalgia, recalling memories from college days and late-night meals. David and Alina drove all the way from Stockton to experience Iguanas one last time.

The Orozco family plans to retire fully, looking forward to new ventures and a well-deserved rest. As Iguanas closes, the community reflects on the memories and impact of the restaurant.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KRON4. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KRON4 staff before being published.