EXHIBIT 99.1

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Ralph Rubio, Chief Executive Officer of Rubio's Restaurants, Inc. (the
"Company"), do hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my
knowledge:

         (a) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter
ended March 30, 2003, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Report"), fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

         (b) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.

Dated: May 13, 2003

/s/  Ralph Rubio
- -----------------------------
Ralph Rubio
Chief Executive Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been
provided to Rubio's Restaurants, Inc. and will be retained by Rubio's
Restaurants, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its
staff upon request.