Mona Lisa Italian Foods

Mona Lisa Italian Foods features a hand-painted mural of the Mona Lisa on its front wall, staring out toward India Street. The shop began in nineteen fifty-five as a small deli for local residents to buy imported cheeses and cured meats. It grew over the decades into an Italian institution, anchored by the scent of fresh garlic and long lines for meatball sandwiches. Joe Buono, the original owner, established the market to keep the flavors of his family heritage alive in San Diego.