In 1941, at a small Redondo Beach cafe, Leo Presiado was introduced to a lovely young widow named Josephine. Little did he know they would soon marry and Josephine would encourage him to open a small Mexican restaurant known as Leo's Mexican Food. The original Leo's was built entirely by Leo himself and was located in Lawndale at 167th and Inglewood Avenue, only seven blocks from the present location. In May 1948, the building was completed and Leo was anxious to share his wife's cooking.
