The 47 best spots for queso in San Diego

Las Cuatro Milpas is a popular spot in Logan Heights that many locals rave about. The food is good and definitely has that homemade, traditional feel. It’s a no-frills place with a strong sense of local culture. While I enjoyed the meal, it didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. The flavors were solid, but not as exceptional as I had been led to expect. That said, the flour tortillas are a standout, fresh, soft, and definitely worth trying. Overall, it’s a good spot for a one-time visit to get a taste of local flavor and tradition, especially if you’re in the area. Just manage expectations if you’ve heard it’s the best in town.

Took a ride down to San Diego, for what I expected to be some fantastic tacos. The service was impeccable, as the ladies working the orders counter treated you like family. However, the food itself was less than impressive. Hard shell tacos were not crispy nor hot. Beef inside was dry. Lastly, it feels like you’re dining on top of a tortilla “sweat shop”, as the ladies hustle all around you, trying to quickly bust out fresh tortillas.

Every time I have been here has been absolutely Wonderful! The food, Ambiance, historical setting and service have been outstanding! When you arrive there is usually a line running out of the front entrance. 1-Get in line. 2-Order your food and ask for the food to go or for eating at the restaurant. 3-Wait at the counter for your food. 4-Pay or your food. 5- leave a tip for the hard working individuals employed at this establishment. 6- if you are eating in, it is all open seating. Find an open space which suits your needs Enjoy! Ask for the Chorizo and egg bowl (which is mixed with fresh pinto beans and red rice! So very yummy! Also order the tacos de pollo (chicken tacos). The tacos are filled with shredded chicken with a few diced potatos, shredded iceburg lettuce, crema and cotija cheese. The chicken filling is expertly seasoned by an Abuelita who knows what she is doing!! The Chorizo bowls come with a red salsa and freshly made flour tortillas. Outs no tanding! Oh..also pick up a dozen (or two) of freshly made flour tortillas to take home.

Very underwhelming. Chorizo con huevos had 0 chorizo, but a load of salty beans instead. Tamales only come with pork and lack flavor, I've had better tamales at a Mexican grocery store in Minnesota. Tacos were not bad for the price and had generous amount of meat. Can't eat inside half hour before closing. Cash only.

Been to Las Cuatro Milpas many times over the past 40 years and to hear of it's sale and potential closing is very sad. So I flew back to SD to get perhaps one last taste of the delicious food. Pork Burrito and a side of rice and beans.

I'm a San Diego native, and have never been here before. Since I know it's for sale, I wanted to go. The line is long, but it moves pretty fast. All the food is cooked to order, right in front of you. The fresh corn and flour tortillas are also made while you watch. The rice and beans mixed in a bowl is to die for. They only have a few things on the menu but all of them will blow your mind.

Overall this place had really delicious authentic Mexican food. Coming from a Mexican family I can say it’s pretty spot on. Reminds me a lot of Mexican food from the pueblitos. Great portions and great prices for the quality and quantity. Only thing was the chorizo con huevos could be better. The flavor was good but the ratio of rice and beans to the chorizo and huevos could be improved. It’s more like a rice and beans plate with a sprinkle of eggs and chorizo. A LOT of rice and beans which I didn’t know it came with and barely any actual eggs or chorizo. I ordered a side of rice and beans with it because I didn’t know the huevos and chorizos already came with it and the menu doesn’t state it.

The food is absolutely delicious and the service was so exceptionally outstanding that I wouldn’t mind coming back to visit multiple times in the week. The menudo is full of flavor, the tripe very well washed and not gamey, it could very likely be the best menudo in all of San Diego. The service was quick and very friendly, everyone was happy to help and give suggestions to improve our experience. Try the quesabirria tacos and don’t miss out on their menudo.

I've always passed by this place but for many years I did not stop in because of the long line. But truth be told the line is worth it the food is fantastic and you won't regret standing in line whether it be half an hour or 45 minutes. The day I got there there happened to be no line and I went during the week because I was doing a smog inspection right next door. The food is quality you can tell they take their time cooking the delicious meat it's not made of goat but that's okay beef is also very very good the service was excellent there is one spicy little server there she kind of gets in your business but she means no harm she's a sweetheart period and the girls that are running the show up front are very efficient and kind I definitely want to come back here during the weekend waiting the long line with my family and share with them what a great meal this is.

I had the absolute pleasure of dining at Ed Fernandez Restaurant Birrieria while visiting San Jose, and it was easily one of the highlights of my trip. The portions were huge, definitely come hungry! Every bite was packed with flavor, and you can really taste the quality in the ingredients and preparation. The service was impressively fast and friendly, making the whole experience seamless. The atmosphere had such a welcoming and authentic vibe—it felt both lively and comfortable, perfect for enjoying a meal with friends or family. As someone visiting from Canada, I can confidently say this place is worth the trip all on its own. I would absolutely come back again. Highly recommend to anyone looking for amazing food, generous portions, and great service in San Jose!

Ed Fernandez is simply on another level. Hands down the best birria in San Diego, and honestly even better than our go-to spot in Rosarito. The flavors are rich, authentic, and unforgettable. You can tell right away that this is the real deal. We tried the crispy birria tacos and the flour quesabirria tacos, and both were absolutely phenomenal. The crispy tacos had that perfect crunch with tender, juicy meat inside, while the flour quesabirria was gooey, cheesy, and deeply flavorful. Every bite was packed with bold, savory goodness that keeps you wanting more. On top of the food, the service was quick and efficient, which is impressive given how popular this place is. The back patio seating was shaded and surprisingly comfortable, making it an ideal spot to relax and enjoy your meal even on a hot San Diego afternoon. If you’re a birria lover, this is a must-visit spot. The hype is 100% real, and after one visit, you’ll see why so many people call this the best birria around

I thought I had good Birria in San Diego before coming to this place, but this was the easily the best Birria experience I've had in my life, hands down. I ordered the #1 combo with the banana flavor augua fresca, and I would highly recommend both! And even apart from the food, every single staff member that I interacted with treated us so warmly, like family, and were super considerate, attentive, and super generous! Altogether it made an excellent impression on our friends who were visiting all the way from Chicago too. This is the kind of experience that warms my heart and soul and makes me very proud to be a native San Diegan, and I'm so proud of our city! Thank you Ed Fernandez for cultivating this wholesome restaurant as a local treasure!

I had two quesabirrias, the consomé, and a pumpkin flan. The food was amazing and delicious but the service is what makes me want to keep coming back. Specifically Araceli who knows customer service and how to make customers feel noticed and welcome. Will continue to visit this place every time I’m craving a good birria!

Food is amazing, the service was the best I ever had. It felted like you are dinning in your family house. Try the extreme taco as well, delicious. And thank you Jorge for taking so good care of us and for the best recommendations 🙏🏽

I’m from Michigan, and the first time we visited San Diego, we ended up dining here twice…it was that good! On our next trip back, we made it our birthday lunch spot, and once again, it didn’t disappoint. The service was amazing…our waitress even gave us a free appetizer because we waited (which was only about five minutes!). Super generous and thoughtful. The food was full of flavor, the drinks were great, and it was the perfect way to kick off our trip after getting off the plane. Highly recommend!

We arrived around 3:45pm. There was a conference downtown, so it was busy causing a 30-minute wait for a table for 2. The hostesses were nice and let us know we could order food and/or drinks at these small chairs by the bar. We weren’t able to order because both lines for the bar were so long. However, once our table was ready everything was great. KORDEL was our server and he was attentive, quick, and nice. He asked about food allergies and made great suggestions. The shrimp and filet mignon tacos were our favorites. The rice and beans cost $4 extra, but were worth it. They no longer have happy hour. Instead, they have half-off all tacos from 3pm to close on Taco Tuesday. On Thursday they have another offer that includes half off margaritas. I would only go on a Tuesday because the regular taco prices are wild. ASK FOR KORDEL during your next Taco Tuesday outing.

We had lunch at Puesto at The Headquarters and it was excellent! Our server Adrian was super friendly and attentive, which made the experience even better. We ordered a mix of tacos including Lobster, Filet Mignon, Wagyu Brisket, Ribeye, Baja Fish, and Carnitas, and every single one was packed with flavor. The crispy melted cheese and salsas really take them to the next level. The Puesto Guacamole was fresh and nicely seasoned, a solid starter. We had the Michelada and the Coke slushie, both really refreshing and perfect for a midday meal. The only letdown was the Churro Sundae, which looked great but didn’t really taste like churro. It could use more churro pieces, cinnamon sugar, or sauce to bring it together. Overall, the tacos are absolutely on point. Next time, I’d skip the apps and dessert and just stick with tacos and drinks because that’s where Puesto really shines.

We chose Puesto for a get together given they have a pup friendly patio , was walkable from our hotel and took reservations. Service was great, delicious watermelon margaritas and the food was tasty. I found pricing to be a bit high for what you were getting/portion (specifically the bowls) Also, we were never offered water for pups which is fine but compared to other pup friendly restaurants felt like a miss (we are spoiled?)

Came with a party of 6. Food was perfection and came out hot. Service was delayed a bit but they were busy for a Sunday evening with a big conference in town. Staff very friendly though. Highly recommend. Seating on two floors, try to get a table upstairs overlooking the shops. It’s a cool spot for cocktails too. Delicious mojitos. Got the chicken enchiladas - ate every bite!! My guests loved the short rib and filet tacos as well.

Stopped into Puesto in Seaport Village and had such a great experience. It’s one of those spots that feels both local and fancy, perfect for a casual night out or a quick bite. The atmosphere was lively without being overwhelming, and the bar had that perfect balance of fun energy and good conversation. Reyna and Damian were fantastic behind the bar. Ive seen Reyna a few times. Shes always on the details, genuinely friendly, attentive, and just on it with everything. They made the whole experience even better. And seriously, the steak tacos are an absolute must. Perfectly seasoned, tender, and packed with flavor. Easily one of my favorite neighborhood go-tos now.

I truly appreciate the authenticity of the dishes in this restaurant. While it is not your typical Mexican dishes they are inspired by real Mexican loved recipes. Someone in my party announced that this was The Best Horchata and I have to agree. It was the creamy and sweet, yet refreshing. We had a variety of the menu items and not one dish disappointed the party. The ingredients and taste were authentically Mexican. No preservative taste anywhere. The Nogada Guacamole, obviously inspired by Chiles en Nogada, was delicious. The Esquite, while in not really a fan of esquite in general, i prefer it on the cob, but this was so good every last crumb was eaten. Totally a great experience. Can't wait to go back. The staff was super friendly and amazing as well. Overall a great experience.

Busy busy restaurant. Their specialty is that the tortillas are made fresh from raw dough, not the packaged kind you find at the supermarket. They’re especially fresh with a nice flour aroma. But the other dishes are just so-so, a bit on the salty side. The salsa is decent, with a bit of that fresh tomato flavor. Atmosphere is great, super friendly and lively.

*Go for the homemade tortillas, stay for the table side serenade* I was hesitant to eat at this restaurant as it is clearly located in a touristy area, but it was obvious both locals and tourists frequented this place. The tortillas and carne asada were a definite highlight. My daughter loved her tacos. Service was a little slow. But our server was very kind when he did stop by our table and met our needs, as requested. Overall, a solid choice in Old Town for Mexican food.

I would definitely visit again...even just for the FRESH, handmade on site tortillas! The best I've ever had! From the accommodating hosts to my amazing server Luis S (who was incredible with recommendations and kindness) ... everyone was so nice! Food was good with generous portions and decent pricing! Loved the festive atmosphere and plenty of seating!

**********3 Happy Howls for Cafe Coyote******** I've been coming here for years and Cafe Coyote always satisfies on all levels Service is always the best. Always friendly and efficient but never hovering. Food arrives quickly and extra tortillas---No Problemo! Atmosphere is festive and street side seating always provides for a great vibe in Old Town. *Street side, fresh-made tortillas are the absolute best!!!!!!!!! The food is predictably delicious. Favorites include the queso fundido, the guac ( of course) and salads. I am certain, everything is just as tasty. Prices are reasonable for the quality of the food, service and fun vibe. Handicap doable and recommended. Final Take---- The best and definitely the funnest in the SD area. Highly Recommended-----Vamos!!

Overall, very good food and service, though definitely a bit on the pricey side. Additionally, I was a bit disappointed that, despite a few gentlemen with mariachi equipment wandering around, the music was just generic pop music. I do recommend getting something with their tortillas, as they were some of the best I've ever had.

Great food, awesome ambiance and decor, the server was friendly as well. Free chips and quality salsa. The cucumber margarita was really good

8.9/10 Cheese Enchiladas Honestly the food here is really great. I wasnt sure if the food was gonna be justified by the hype but it definitely was Homemade tortillas, the sauce, cheese, rice, and beans were all flavorful and the flavor really jumps out at you The food came out pretty quick and there is tons of space here I'm sure he gets very crowded. It absolutely is worth it and I'd recommend going and you wont be disappointed

I was recently here for dinner when looking for some halal Mexican food. This came up on a search and was highly recommended and it absolutely did not disappoint. We tried multiple items including the lamb barbacoa, tacos, and quesadillas and were happy with all of them. The meat was very tender and the food in general was very flavourful. Highly recommended!

Traditional Mexican Lamb Barbecue. The flavor is strong. I took the less risky path and chose rib meat (head and tripe were the other two options). The green sauce is incredibly spicy, I made the mistake of putting too much on at first. I could barely swallow my first bite, I’m an amateur! Overall, it was an interesting experience and the lamb was good.

Wow! Some of the best halal Mexican I’ve had in a while. The green sauce with chicken and lamb was to die for. Tried both green and red sauce enchiladas; green had more flavour and was more satisfying but both were delicious. So many menu items, you’ll find something you like. The salsas and pickled onions on the sides are very spicy so be careful. The service is friendly and great and prices are fair. Can’t wait to return!

The food was good, but the service was disappointing. I couldn't help but notice that Mexican families seemed to be served more promptly, while others, including myself, were left waiting. I asked for a to-go box and was completely overlooked, even though the restaurant wasn't busy. It took about 15 minutes to get the check and another 15 minutes for someone to take my payment, despite my card being clearly visible on the table. Staff walked by multiple times without acknowledging it. Although the food was good I would not recommend coming here.

The place was not busy and we were immediately sat. They had the baseball game on which was nice. We had a full order of barbacoa which was really good, it came with a good sized side of consume and enough tortillas. I tried moronga for my first time, it's definitely something different 😅. My boyfriend tried other tacos but it didn't seem as good as the barbacoa.

I was craving authentic Mexican food. I was NOT disappointed.

I came to this place hoping for good Experience and some good food. Upon my arrival the staff were just leaning on counter tops and didn’t even look like they wanted to tend to me. The restaurant was completely empty not one costumer in there. I saw a mother come in with her daughter must have been at least 6 years old begging to use the bathroom and they literally told this 6 year old baby girl she had to buy something. I felt so bad about that little girl crying saying needs to use the bathroom and couldn’t understand why these adults would not allow her to use the bathroom. Made me loose my appetite

Lola 55 nails the craft taco vibe, lively room, polished service, and the Michelin Bib Gourmand nod makes sense.  Our spread hit all the notes, crisp Caesar, juicy chicken tacos, a steak taco, one Baja fish, the kids quesadilla, and the Tres Hermanas. The standouts were the fish and the beans, both among the best I have had, the fish perfectly crisp and flaky, the beans silky, deeply seasoned, and addictive. Shout out to Arlene, warm, knowledgeable, and generous with details about the vibe and the food. She also shared how they evolved from self-serve to full service, and you can feel that in the hospitality. Five stars from me. It is not my everyday go-to, I lean super healthy most days, but when I want excellent tacos with real care behind them, this is where I am coming.

First of all, I know the food is the most important thing in a restaurant, but the service was just INCREDIBLE. I feel bad I don't remember her name, but our waitress was so kind, attentive and just so energetic, me and my gf loved her. Now the food. Carnitas tacos were the best tacos I HAVE EVER HAD. A perfect combination of salty, acidity from what I think were tomatillos, and crunchy. They had a special pozole which was phenomenal too. Their fish taco is really famous. Disclaimer, I don't like fish tacos, but we still ordered and it was the best one I've had ever. Personally I would still stick with the carnitas and steak, but if you do enjoy them, it is indeed very flavorful. Overall 10/10 experience, if we didn't live in Chicago, we would become regulars without a doubt.

The smoked carnitas, beans and rice are great. Every other taco I've tried there is just okay. The staff yesterday had zero tequila knowledge and didn't know what a ramekin lid was.. Also was quoted a certain price for tequila only to realize they charge 3 bucks extra for a neat pour, I get it, usually 2 oz and not 1.5. But then I got charged another 3 bucks for a rocks pour. Not sure if this is how the business wants to do it or if it was an employee mistake. Either way, they need to train their people more. This spot used to be amazing, not so much anymore sadly

Great place for tacos! The tacos were delicious. They have a machine making corn tortillas, and they come ready with sauce, so no need for extra lime or hot sauce. I had steak, pork belly al pastor, and a fish taco, all very filling. The tacos felt elegant but tasted great. I looked them up online are featured in the 2022 Michelin guide which makes sense after trying the food. I will be back soon.

We swing in for the happy hour and got the cauliflower taco and beer. It was nice that they had a few vegiterian/vegan options for tacos that were unique. The cauliflower one had an eggplant bacon that added a nice crisp and smoky flavor. The beer was just okay but they arent a brewery so I wasnt expecting it to be amazing. The staff was pretty quick and friendly and had a few recommendations that were helpful as well. Overall a nice place to grab a bite.

Stumbled upon this unassuming eatery on a sunny Thursday afternoon, and it turned out to be some of the best tacos I’ve ever had. The open, airy ambiance made for a relaxed and inviting setting, and the service was truly top-notch. Our server, Caleb, was fantastic—passionate and deeply knowledgeable. He enthusiastically shared the story behind the restaurant and dove into the thought and technique behind each dish, from preparation to seasoning. They also have an excellent happy hour. I especially loved the spiced Jamaica—a beautifully aromatic drink infused with anise and warming mixed spices. It struck a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and floral notes. As for the food—absolutely unforgettable. The Squashroom and Cauliflower tacos are two of the most inspired vegetarian tacos I’ve ever had. The Squashroom features a delicately battered lion’s mane mushroom paired with a squash blossom, bright verde salsa, and a bold red chili paste. It’s a mesmerizing harmony of textures and flavors. The Cauliflower taco might have been my favorite. Smoky, crispy cauliflower meets a crunchy eggplant “bacon” strip, all topped with a deeply flavorful sweet-and-tangy mole. The fresh corn tortillas elevate every bite—they’re the perfect vehicle for all these bold, creative flavors. I also tried the Baja Fish taco, which was equally impressive. The fish was fried to perfection—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside—accompanied by a spicy salsa, tangy tartar sauce, and a touch of mesclun greens for freshness. An incredible combination. In short: this place is doing something truly special. Innovative, intentional, and absolutely delicious. Someone give them their Michelin star already!

Amazing! They low-key have Michelin stars and they deserve it! Their tacos are amazing, prices very decent. We had 4 drinks, 3 tacos and 2 deserts for $108 before gratuity. Vibe is laid back but service is attentive!

We just landed in San Diego and we were hungry. So we look for a place closer to the hotel and we saw the reviews for this place and decided to try it out. Locked in the hostess was very friendly sat us down. The waiter came up with water, which was perfect cause we were dying of thirst at that point and he told us that we had just walked into the happy hour. All the drinks, no matter what was on the menu or half off which I ordered a Mezcal and pineapple concoction Amazing I had two of them. Then we ordered some potato flutes and shared that together with a side of the hottest sauce I have ever had. And I like hot and this hit me hard, but love every single deposit. My husband ordered the sampler tacos, the pork, the shrimp, and the chicken and he enjoyed all three of them, but like the pork the most. I ordered the chopped salad with the chicken because I’ve had a Serrano vinaigrette, which was mouthwatering. Definitely definitely try this place out. The atmosphere was chill, relaxing. The car is awesome.

Saw an insane amount of reviews here plus walking by, this place is always busy. Also huge portions here as well! We started off ordering a large Cantina Chopped salad which probably should have been a small or medium. This had romaine lettuce, cabbage, corn, cucumber, tomato, carrot, panela & cotija cheese, cilantro lime dressing, chipotle crema, tortilla strips, avocado, serrano-lime vinaigrette. Then I ordered the Viva Mexico Tacos Especial which is 3 Tacos served with Refried Beans, rice, rajas con crema, cotija cheese and limes. As for the Tacos it came with Arrachera steak, melted jack cheese, grilled onion and poblano, avocado, panela cheese, crema. The Panela cheese was an absolute game changer. My partner got the Surf and Turf Burrito (Arranchera steak, shrimp, ranchero sauce, grilled onion and poblano, jack cheese, guacamole, chipotle crema). The food was amazing, I see why there is such good reviews for this restaurant. We also had room for dessert so we got the Churros which were stacked log cabin style and it came with some ice cream and dulce de leche. Amazing dessert. Overall service was insanely good too, always someone to refill water, food came out quick, any requests were taken fast! Definitely recommend!

This spot is absolutely incredible! From the moment we walked in, the staff greeted us with genuine smiles and made us feel right at home. Our server was attentive, upbeat, and made sure everything came out perfectly. I decided to try the three-taco combo, and honestly, it blew me away. Each taco was packed with flavor — juicy, well-seasoned meat, fresh toppings, and warm tortillas that tasted homemade. The salsa had just the right kick, and the sides were equally delicious. The whole experience was so enjoyable that I’m already planning my next visit. Easily one of my new favorite places!

First time at La Puerta restaurant and I will 100% be returning. My wife and I shared the device and it was delicious! Coupled with 2 margaritas on the rocks that were bomb. Definitely recommend going for happy hour from 3-5pm. For dinner we shared the carneasada fries...... AMAZING.... it was really fresh and every bite made us want more! For sure 2 people can share and have plenty.

One of the burritos in SD that lives up to its name. The surf and turf burrito was fantastic. A great combo of flavors and textures. The shrimp was tender. The tortilla was stand out. Added to favorites!

We were there around 3 pm on Sunday and they still had people waiting to get in . Luckily we got a seat right away since it was just two of us. The service was friendly and attentive snd the vibe was fun. We got ceviche and tacos which were all very delicious. The ingredients were super fresh and my 10 years old daughter loved ceviche . Definitely recommend if you want to try good tacos in San Diego !

Amazing food!!! Quite possibly the best quesadillas I’ve had. Ask for them to make it extra crispy. The atmosphere is very simple for what I’ve seen in San Diego restaurants in Gaslamp, but I’m sure it’s what most people expect so it’s good enough. The food is so good it’s almost worth it though.

These tacos at their core are tasty, well constructed, and unique. The atmosphere is remarkable and service is excellent. However, the sauces on the tacos are a tad overbearing and generally not that tasty. There could also be more meat on the tacos for $6 dollar a pop

Food: Tasty! The birria taco had a real kick to it compared to others I have bad before. I really enjoyed all three tacos that I had. Service: Self checkout with minimal interaction with staff, so defaulting to 5. Atmosphere: Awesome. Just see the other photos. Overall, closing remarks: Delicious food, but doesn't come cheap. Somewhere I will likely be eating at infrequently. My chips didn't come with any salsa or dipping sauce. I might have missed these if they were sitting out for self service. Something to dip them in would have been nice. The chips were hot and good even on their own, though!

First time here in San Diego, and first time at Lucha Libre. I saw a YouTube on this place for good eats. This place was just ok. Unfortunately there was nothing to rave about. I had the Birria Cali, my wife had the Surf Cali, and my son had the Champion Fries with steak. The burritos had too many fries in it and it was the thick soggy fries. The birria lacked taste which was unfortunate. My wife liked her burrito, but still, didn't like the fries. My son's Champion fries was lacking the champion in it. The steak wasn't seasoned that great, and again, lots of soggy fries. It's kind of hard to give a good review after going to Taco El Gordo the night before in Gaslamp.

I love how innovatively they keep introdicing new tacos. They are inventive, all the tacos are delicious, well seasoned. Kids love the burritos. And the salsa bar is a bonus with fresh salsas.

Had a recent fantastic visit at this prt-friendly restaurant. Ordered the Poblano Cali as well as Birria Nachos and they were delicious! The restaurant was spacious with a vibrant decor! Will come back!

The food good and you don’t have to wait for too long. A lot of meat with affordable price. Recommend Surf burrito and queso taco. They have free drink for a review but it’s on yelp

It's a nice spot. Most expensive burrito I've ever bought but kinda worth it if you're in the mood. Probably never again but great atmosphere. Decent spot.

Love eating tacos at City Tacos. Such unique combination of tacos that are all wildly delicious. Look forward to eating here anytime I’m in San Diego. The prices are reasonable at around $4 to $5 a taco.

I had an amazing experience at City Tacos today the server who helped me had such great energy, personality and customer service. She honestly made my visit. It’s the kind of experience that makes you want to come back just because of how welcome you feel. The tacos were delicious too but the service really stood out. I usually go to other locations but I might have to make this one my regular spot. Thank you for the amazing experience!

Its nice to have a place with a variety of vegetarian tacos that werent just cactus or beans and cheese. We got the city zuchini and chili relleno. Each had a good mixture of veggies and sauce pairings. The tortias were a nice stretchy which was good considering the amount of filling would have ripped straight through a corn tortia. They had a sauce bar that was pretty good but the mango sauce was more of a syrup than a sauce. On its own it was too much but in the taco it worked. Overall a good spot.

I have craved city tacos since I first had them in 2018!! I was so excited to come back to San Diego primary for the chorizo asado tacos here!

Yummy tacos! Good vegetarian and gluten free options. Big menu and all are very yummy! Parking is not great if you are coming here just for this spot, I recommend going to the big parking garage just down the street.

I stopped by City Tacos today for lunch.. and it turns out it was National Taco Day, such a fun surprise!! They had this spinner wheel game going on and with a little motivation from the team I ended up scoring a free taco 🤗 The energy from the staff was incredible, They were both so enthusiastic, friendly and super thorough and informative with their recommendations and they were right, the grilled shrimp taco was absolutely delicious and I’ll be back soon redeem my free taco voucher for another!! 😂🤤🌮 The food was amazing but it was really the team that made the experience so lively and welcoming. Great vibes and music, delicious tacos, and top tier customer service. I’ll DEFINITELY be back! 👍🏻🔥🤗

Don't even know where to begin with this place. Everything was fantastic! Tunes were awesome, had me dancing and singing in my seat. Service from the team was helpful and kind. Food was magnificent! I tried each of the traditional tacos and all of them are must tries! Guacamole was yummy! Green and red salsa was on point. Spicy creamy dipping sauce is a must try. Loved this place!

A sincerly nice joint for a great bite of seafood. It's lovely food, made with love, with fresh in-house made salsas and agua frescas. I will say due to its popularity and the small size of the actual resteraunt, it *does* get super crowded at peak eating times. But what sets this place apart from other wonderful eateries? Veronica. She's almost always the cashier you speak to at the register to order your meal, and she's a literal angel. She's sweet, kind, and sp patient. She'll call you "sweetie" or "mija/mijo" and she means it. She's happy to tell you all about the menu items, and never skimps on twlling you how *she* likes it (spoiler alert: she's always right, imho). So come to Oscar's for the amazing mariscos (the fisherman's torta is INSANE) but stay for mama Veronica, because she's the heart and soul of this place. ❤️

Oscar’s is easily one of my favorite spots for Mexican seafood in San Diego. The fish tacos are next-level—fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Our favorites are the especial, octopus, battered shrimp, and grilled spicy shrimp taco. Don't forget to use their freshly made sauces in the fridge along with an assortment of other hot sauces. Their fish stew is also surprisingly fresh and savory. Portions are generous, prices are fair, and the casual vibe makes it the perfect stop whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or hanging with friends. This location has inside seating and easier parking since it's located in a strip mall. A must stop it you're in the SD area.

Great service. Was given a cup of their seafood stew while we were deciding on what to order. Very hearty seafood stew with a chicken base. The taco especial was particularly great. Surf n tuf, which is usually my go to at taco shops was a little disappointing. I guess it goes to say that they are a seafood establishment and each and every seafood-based dish was fantastic

Great casual Mexican seafood spot. Authentic. Set up is great for take out, but enough tables for around 20. They offered fish soup samples, which had excellent broth and plenty of meat and vegetables. The grilled octopus taco was balanced and substantial. Others in our party enjoyed fried fish and smoked fish tacos.

Best seafood tacos I ever had outside of Mexico. Staff members were very kind courteous and generous. Go straight for the shrimp or fish or shrimp+fish tacos. Don’t bother with the ceviche, taco was far better. And the horchata drink! That was amazing!

The octopus taco was perfectly cooked and the tuna ceviche was fresh. Update: Revisited and tried the fish/shrimp ceviche. It was zesty and fresh. The only knock is that they didn’t include the extra tostada, but charged me for it

This was the first place I ate at after arriving in San Diego for the first time. The lady behind the counter was so sweet and helpful, as were the other members of the staff. The torta I had didn't hold back in size and taste, and every scoop of the shrimp cerviche was packed with flavour and zest.

Being from Texas, naturally, I am reluctant to write this review. These were some of if not the best tacos I’ve ever had in my life. Price is a bit lofty, nearly $5 a taco but they do pack the tacos with meat so they are very filling.

Always love the quick, friendly service and great food. I usually get the cabeza and lengua tacos but everything is good. They have people dedicated to keeping the place clean so you never have to worry about a dirty table.

We've tried several Mexican food during our trip to California and Tacos El Gordo was one of the best, they don't skimp on the ingredients. We arrived at 5:00 pm on a weekday and it was packed. Ordering was easy and efficient because they had separate lines for the different types of food and everything was labelled clearly. We will definitely visit this place again.

I don’t even know where to start—this taco spot blew me away. I ordered 4 tacos (adobada, lengua, chorizo, and cabeza) and each one was absolutely beautiful. Fresh, flavorful, and just perfect all around. But the real star for me was the Mulas de Adobada… hands down one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. It was magical—fantastic flavor, cooked to perfection, and just unbelievably good. Honestly, this place is next-level amazing.

The softest and juiciest lengua I've had in Cali. Hands down home made! Well run business. Nothing can beat this place, seriously. Parking in the back but most people park near JC Penny and walked over

I really wanted to like this place, but honestly, it was a letdown. The food looked messy and thrown together, the tortilla was soggy and greasy, and the meat was overcooked and dry. The sauce tasted more like watered-down dressing than salsa, and it completely overpowered everything else. On top of that, the presentation was sloppy — my taco looked like it had been sitting out too long before it reached the table. For the price and hype, I expected way better flavor and quality. Sadly, this didn’t taste fresh or authentic. I won’t be coming back.

My go to for tacos in Vegas, but first time trying it in SD. Definitely has the same great tasty food and funky line up system, but this one seemed packed with tourists making the system worse. Thankfully I know from my trips to Vegas that you don’t have to wait in separate lines if you want to try different meats, but they weren’t as happy about it here as they are in Vegas. Asada is the way to go here, but always order an extra taco de Adobada and tripa to round out my meal. Really large parking in back, but tables were pretty packed and had to wait to eat. Suggest ordering to go when really crowded. Seriously felt like a busload of tourists were dropped off there or something. Service was pretty good and they didn’t like it, but led me to the front of the line for my other meats, so cool enough.

Casa Guadalajara – Old Town San Diego ⭐️ Ambiance: ★★★★★ Beautiful outdoor seating with vibrant umbrellas, colorful chairs, and a lovely central fountain. It’s a great spot to soak up the San Diego sunshine in a festive setting. ⭐️ Service: ★★★★★ Friendly and attentive service throughout our visit. Staff were prompt and helpful, which added to the overall experience. Alexandra was an incredibly friendly and attentive server. ⭐️ Food: ★★★★☆ Portions are generous and the pricing is fair. The refried beanswere the standout—. Shrimp fajitas were tasty and plentiful. However, the chips were a letdown. Burned taste and bland, even on the second try. The guacamole also missed the mark, tasting pre-made and lacking fresh flavor. ⭐️ Drinks: ★★☆☆☆ Tried the spicy cucumber margarita, but it was overly sweet and dominated by the mix. Not balanced or refreshing—unfortunately, a miss in the drink department.

My fiancée and I ate here on a recent anniversary trip to San Diego, and found it to be REALLY good! While in the Old Town area, this spot is a bit off the beaten path, more on the outskirts, close to the Old Town Transit Station (easy walking distance). It’s a popular restaurant for sure, and they don’t take reservations, unfortunately. There is a waitlist on their site — but not a standard reservation system. We went to late lunch/early dinner on a Sunday afternoon and there was a short wait — maybe 10-15 minutes (we were told 25-30, but it was much faster). The restaurant is expansive, featuring indoor and patio seating. I definitely recommend the patio, as inside is festive and VERY loud, often with a full house and live music being played. The patio was comfortable, clean, and had heat lamps and table umbrellas offering plenty of warmth and protection from the sun as well. Really nice patio space! Chips and salsa is served right after you’re seated, and it’s good — it’s “traditional” salsa, not too chunky, not too thin. Not too spicy, either, which was nice. The chips were thick and we salted them before eating — too bland, otherwise. My fiancée had Carne Asada Tacos and after adding the accompanying pico and guacamole, they were very tasty. The carne asada chucks were big and the portions were generous — but the meat wasn’t as flavorful as we like (which happens more often than not with carne asada at Mexican restaurants). Again, once everything was combined, the tacos were yummy, so she was very satisfied with her meal. I had the Guadalajara Taco Salad, which was very flavorful and very good! The cilantro lime dressing was fantastic and the chicken was plentiful and perfectly seasoned/cooked. The presentation was beautiful and we were both very happy with our main course choices. Dessert was flan, which I’m not a big fan of — but my fiancée said was very good and ate most of as we relaxed and enjoyed our time on the patio. Service was good here and very friendly. The pricing was fair, considering where this restaurant is — places in Los Angeles charge just as much or more and aren’t nearly as good. So the pricing here is solid and not a rip. If we were San Diego locals, we’d definitely frequent this spot! And we absolutely recommend it to anyone visiting the Old Town area!

Total experience was overall satisfying here for our first time at Casa Guadalajara. I ordered the chili Colorado and wasn’t a big fan of it so I switched it for the breaded shrimp tacos and those were amazing! I’ll definitely come back and try something else on the menu. The waitress was amazing. I forget her name she was the blonde lady and her service was absolutely exceptional when we go back to San Diego will come by and try something else on the menu very lovely restaurant and a nice area in Mission Bay.

I really enjoy this restaurant. It was busy but with such a good vibe. Service was excellent and the food was delicious. I had a grilled fish taco and we had the shredded beef enchiladas (which were outstanding!) the area is filled with history. Love it.

I decided to have lunch here because of the good reviews that I read. I'm sorry; this review will not be among them. I ordered breakfast. Eggs and chorizo. Kind of hard to get wrong, but this restaurant managed to burn the chorizo, scramble it into eggs and serve it to me. It was crunchy 😞. My server, Samuel, had a monotone voice paired with unenthusiasm that had me hesitant to ask for another plate. I don't know how that plate even left the kitchen 😳. I got a to-go box, filled it up, and hope someone will be hungry enough to enjoy it 🤷🏾. The patio was quaint and cozy. Perfect on a cloudy day. Overall, a disappointment. I don't recommend.

Amazing food, vibrant decor, and friendly staff. Everything tastes good and authentic, and the atmosphere is full of energy. It can get quite crowded on weekends or in the evenings, so be prepared to wait a bit.

To me the food was outstanding. I had a two item combination plate...chili relleno and cheese enchilada with the rice & beans. I haven't had chili relleno that good in years. The best! We sat outside...a wonderful patio atmosphere. Priscilla was attentive to needs... thank you!

Overall, this was a great experience. The guacamole was the best I ever had. They make it very smooth. I usually like it spicy but they have a twist to it. I loved everything about this place. Parking can be challenging. I can’t wait to go again.

We had the absolute pleasure of working with Ponce’s Catering for our recent non-profit fundraiser, and they went above and beyond in every way. With only a month’s notice, Karen and her team crafted an exceptional catering plan that not only fit within our budget but far exceeded our expectations in both quality and service. Because food was included in the price of admission, it was important to us that our guests felt they were receiving a full experience—and Ponce’s delivered. The team arrived on time, set up a clean and well-organized service area, and managed an impressive variety of food and condiments with seamless professionalism. The food itself was nothing short of outstanding. Our guests could not stop raving about both the flavor and the generous portions. Ponce’s Catering struck the perfect balance of authenticity, freshness, and abundance—leaving everyone more than satisfied. We wholeheartedly recommend visiting their restaurant in Kensington, San Diego to experience their incredible food firsthand. And if you’re planning an event, trust us—Ponce’s Catering will not just meet your expectations, they will over-deliver.

Perfect dinner at Ponce’s. The friendliest staff ever!!! Everyone seemed happy to work there. Fast great service and food. I wish I lived in San Diego so I can come back. We had the fajitas and they were full of flavor and we did not wait long at all in spite of how busy it was. Nice atmosphere also. Also real close to Stella jeans so u can have great ice cream after ur meal!

We had Ponce's cater a nacho bar for an anniversary party and they absolutely hit it out of the park! From coming up with the ideas of what would be perfect for our group, to keeping us informed of when everything would be ready for pick up, and giving us everything we would need (especially the things we didn't think of) to make the food portion of our event sun smoothly, Ponce's was on top of it all. Of course the food was amazing! Their service was outstanding, and we can't wait to order from them again. Until we have another big event, we'll be stopping in for their great food just to keep ourselves happy. Don't sleep on their catering services! They are outstanding!

Ponces always delivers amazing food and service! We are so grateful to Ponces for helping us organize a birthday celebration for our daughter! They were attentive and crafted a wonderful menu for our group. We were able to have a wonderful party on the patio. Everyone enjoyed the food and the atmosphere! I’d 100% work with Ponces catering again and again!

A staple in the Kensington neighborhood of San Diego, Ponce’s is good old home cooking Mexican at its finest! Friendly staff, great food, full bar and just a very comfortable homey vibe. Parking lot seems to be usually full, but I have never had trouble finding street parking (metered or non-metered)

I don’t live in the area. This is my 2nd visit in the last 15 years. Service, food, and atmosphere are just as great as a first! This is still owned by the original family and they have done one hell of a job at maintaining and quality of service and ingredients used. I believe Jennifer was my waitress, she did an AMAZING job. This is my top pick for Mexican food when in San Diego!

Lolita’s Mexican Food: A Flavor Fiesta!🌮🔥 If you’re craving Mexican flavors，Lolita’s is the spot! This place nails the trifecta: vibrant, fresh, and seriously satisfying.The Highlights: I absolutely love their green onions—grabbing a big whole stalk yourself and munching on it is seriously satisfying

Haven’t been to a Lolita’s in over a decade! They were always my go to taco shop (in Bonita) & their slogan always stuck “patience is the essence of fine Mexican food” they stand by that & let me tell you, over 10 years later they still got it! 👌🏻 Tried this Clairemont location and it was equally as good as the one in Bonita. Took forever but worth the wait !

Always come here for to go or dine in. I’ve going to Lolita’s for a long time but I never knew there was one here! Now that I do, I stop by when I can. The food is always good and their service is fast. They have have two tvs usually having different things on it. Plus there’s a charging ports whether you have just the cable or the the box with the cable it’s there! They have a patio outside so if you want to eat outside you can and it’s very pretty too! Definitely a must go when you have a chance!

Lolita’s used to be a regular part of my rotation and I’ve seen a few posts on social media complaining about the amount of fries they use in their California Burrito to reduce costs on other ingredients. Turns out those complaints are a part of a larger pattern and this is how they’re making their food now. This is what my Cali burrito looked like for lunch today and it’s just embarrassing. It’s one thing to keep prices low and do stuff like this, but when you’re increase prices faster than the competition and on top of that you’re pulling this BS, it’s a slap in the face to your customers. There are way too many other Mexican food options in SD. After 15 years of being a Lolita’s supporter, sad to say I won’t be coming back here anymore.

Lolita’s current rating is far outdated. Their once beloved California burrito has become a cash grab for the business as it’s now 95% french fries with only the scent of carne asada and cheese. Please see photo of this borderline criminal burrito!

Is the wait time a gimmick? On their wall it says “Patience is the essence of fine Mexican food” which leads you to believe everything is made to order. I indeed was patient and waited almost 30 minutes, but my burrito came out cold. Halfway through my meal, the staff dropped off some trash in front of my table. I was also patient with them to remove it, but it kept me company until I finished.

Try this place if you're looking for a French fry burrito. It's a great way to carbo load before bed. They also add a little gristly meat. I ordered a Cali burrito but I guess it's close enough.

The food was very bland I was surprised at not being told about the choices for the platte's being served when I asked for guidance, I was immediately told to pick the most expensive platter. No prices were offered for me to review. There is no table service. This is very much cafeteria style food. The food is very colorful. But that betrays the fact that it is very bland.

Delicious authentic mexican dishes! Super friendly staff and you can try the different dishes before ordering. My favorite mexican restaurant in San Diego. Totally recommend!

Super Cocina is a family owned business and one of the most authentic Mexican restaurants, with dishes from all over Mexico. Every time I go the menu is different but the food is always delicious. Can't recommend it enough.

Wow wow wow wowie wow!!! I stumbled across this place looking for a burrito, but didn’t get any of that cause the other food was so amazing. The woman allowed me to try some of the food to see if I would want any of it wrapped in a burrito, but then I just ended up getting a couple of the dishes because they were so delicious. The staff are amazing and this spot is such a hidden gem at a great price. I’ll definitely be a regular here.

catered my quinceañera, food service and atmosphere was amazing. everyone was so so sweet and on task, guests loved the food and had opportunities to chat with the staff. i would 100% recommend this place for not just catering but to sit down and eat at the restaurant, i thank all the staff and owners for being so on task and helping my family and i with this special event.

It’s the bet place for you and your family!!! If you want to eat the authentic Mexican food ever , the flavor is so good I love Super Cicina that much that I even get catering for my quinceañera and all my family and friends word so happy with the authentic food !!! I simply I love it

Feels like you step into someone home in the best way. Clearly the locals dig it saw mostly older folk but the food is great and nice variety. Had chilaquiles divorciados for my first time here and I really enjoyed the green salsa the red was a little lackluster but nothing some extra sour cream can’t fix. Looking forward to come again

If you’re looking for truly authentic Mexican food, this place is an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with warm hospitality and the rich aromas of freshly made tortillas, sizzling carne asada, and perfectly spiced salsas. The menu is packed with traditional dishes that taste like they came straight from a home kitchen in Mexico. The tacos were outstanding—freshly made corn tortillas, tender, flavorful meats, and vibrant toppings that brought everything together. The birria was unbelievably rich and full of flavor, and the homemade guacamole was some of the best I’ve ever had. Service was fast and friendly, and the atmosphere was lively but comfortable. You can tell the chefs take pride in their food, and it shows in every bite. If you’re craving real Mexican cuisine, this spot is a must-visit. I’ll definitely be coming back for more! I also loved the homemade drinks! Kids loved it too! This experience completes my San Diego visit!

The food was well seasoned and fresh. Not necessarily a must visit destination but if you're in the area they are worth a try. I would eat here again.

We stopped into Tacos Revolución totally at random after spotting it—didn’t even check reviews first—and we’re so glad we did! The food is absolutely amazing. We tried both types of chicken, the birria, and the steak. Everything was top tier, but the steak was by far the standout—fresh, flavorful, and with that perfect homemade taste. They also offer a great spread of extras: spicy peppers, onions, and unlimited hot sauce to kick things up to your liking. The staff is super friendly and clearly cares about cleanliness—we saw them make sure a table was spotless before we sat down, which was much appreciated. Even the bathrooms were clean, which you don’t always find at taco spots. Overall, this place is a gem. I’d eat here a million times over. Definitely recommend to anyone in San Diego looking for next-level tacos!

A little crowded sometimes but the food is good. Also it is a little pricey. I ordered a Adodobada Mulita thinking it was going to be a decent size. For $10 in is just one taco amount of meat in between two corn tortillas. Definitely the amount you get is not worth $10. I’ve gotten um it’s elsewhere that were huge for the same price. I was a little disappointed and would have rather just ordered two tacos for about the same price. Their California burritos are also $21 which to me is kind of insane. I understand food is more expensive now but you’re better off going down to another taco shop to get the same size burrito for cheaper.

I had the birria w/comsume (&quesa birria), carne asada, and adobada tacos. The Birria was the best, carne asada in close second and the adobada right behind. It wasn’t amazing but it wasnt bad by any means. The horchata was good, but overall I’d say too expensive for middle of the line food.

Regular Galbi Boneless and Sesame Balls with Red Bean Paste Inside, 6 Pieces. 😋 맛있는 식사

The tacos are ok, the meat tasted funny. Not having the salsa bar hooked up is already a fail. No rabanos, pepinos limes were dry. The service was good but tacos could be better.

My mom and I were looking for brunch in the downtown San Diego area, and this spot caught my eye. Cocina de Barrio is a cute spot serving hearty food, delicious and aesthetic cocktails, and good vibes all around! They don’t take reservations for brunch, for those trying to reserve beforehand. It’s a huge seating area though, both indoors and outdoors, so you and your group should be ser! My mom and I walked in and got seated immediately. Our servers were super nice, and had a good sense of humor. We ordered the enmoladas (which my mom enjoyed), and I devoured the sopes benny. Both dishes were delicious!! I also got the Tia Chata cocktail, which was a cute cocktail that came with its own popsicle! I could see the girlies having a cute brunch here, especially with their mimosa deal. Definitely come by and check this place out! Drinker or not, this restaurant is a must try!

Just landed in San Diego and stopped at Cocina De Barrio for lunch. Really good authentic Mexican joint with a relaxed outdoor seating area. We had chips, salsa, guacamole, and their house-made salsa macha, which was excellent. I tried a couple of Mezcals and ordered the plant-based mushroom tacos - easily some of the best I’ve had, full of flavor and very satisfying. Great place to unwind after a flight.

My favorite was the pineapple upsidedown pancakes. I will simply go back for those. Green chilaquiles tasted good. Omlette did not have a lot of flavor. Was charged two dollars for a side of green salsa. Went early on a Sunday, so it was crowded and a bit loud. That's expected though, given how many people go. Had to pay for parking. $20 dollars for 3 hours.

Great vibes all around. Went on a Sunday with no reservations and only waited about 15mins for a table. I didn’t like that you couldn’t order drinks at the bar and wait for a table. If you went to the bar you had to stay there to eat and you would not be added to the waitlist. The food was good. The drinks were better! The service from DAVID WAS THE BEST! Have great recommendations, was quick with bottomless mimosa refills, and extremely attentive. Will be back.

Delicious food with beautiful presentation! The chilaquiles were flavorful, fresh, and loaded with toppings—definitely a must-try. The Stuffed French Toast is amazing as well.

Enjoyed visiting this place for brunch with family from out of town. Dog friendly patio. Food presentation is lovely, unfortunately I found a hair in my dish. Everyone else in our party seemed pleased with their choices. Seems that with a little more love and attention to service and other details, this place could deliver higher. Still a good option and would not discourage anyone from visiting.

My favorite brunch spot in San Diego, if not my favorite brunch spot of all time. Most of the time there’s a wait, but it’s worth it in my opinion. The foods never been short of amazing, and they really make sure you never see the bottom of your glass during bottomless brunch. These guys are amazing!

After seeing this place in a YouTube video of places to eat in San Diego, I decided I wanted to take my wife there. I love carnitas and usually have to go into Mexico to get good ones. Since my favorite place for carnitas is in Leon Guanajuato, MX. I wanted to try a place a little closer to home. My wife and I went there on a Thursday afternoon about 2:30pm expecting it to be pretty empty. Top our surprise it was moderately full. Having this many customers at an off time usually means that the food is pretty good! We ordered the Carnitas by the pound, getting just one pound between us. The tortillas were very good and hot. The carnitas, rice, beans, and fixings like onions, pickled jalapeños and carrots, and cilantro were delicious. The food arrived in minutes from the time of order. We loved the carnitas and will return again! We even had some to bring home. I highly recommend this place for the carnitas, they're probably the best in San Diego. Next time we will experiment a little and order some other food too. If you look at my picture you will see I mixed the red and green salsa on my tacos, try it you'll probably love it too.

Picked up to go but Las Michoacanas never fails to deliver. Chilaquiles plate with carnitas and Green Enchiladas with cheese plate we didn’t have to eat dinner this day. Highly recommend. You will not be disappointed. If you dine in you get Michelada. Worth the dine in.

We ordered to go...2lbs of carnitas, it is served with rice, beans, tortillas, salsa Cilantro & onions. Everything you need to enjoy a great meal. They are very friendly and helpful 👍

Service was attentive, and the price for carnitas were fair! CASH ONLY.

This is my go-to spot for carnitas. I’m sure they have other good stuff here, but if you get anything other than carnitas, you’re kinda missing out. Also every time I’ve been here somebody working has referred to me as “boss” which is always a sign of a great spot. It’s also always packed with families enjoying their meals, which is just great for the atmosphere.

Phenomenal. Great prices. Great food. Only reason im giving 4 stars is because today I didn't get my free taco. 5 stars.

Authentic Quiroga michoacan style carnitas. The owners make you feel like family when you come here. Everyone is super friendly very attentive and the food is always fresh quick clean and plentiful. If you have a craving for something and it's not on the menu they will most likely make it for you if you ask. You feel like you're going to your uncle's house. Best carnitas in town.

We went on a Sunday morning.There was no wait. We were fortunate to get parking, sometimes it's pretty crowded. We had excellent service.The food was delicious, the homemade tortillas are soo good and to top it off, we were celebrating a birthday and the mariachi's came and sang at our table. It was beautiful.. this is definitely one of our favorite spots. We never miss going here whenever we head to San Diego.

This place!! So good that we came back twice before going back to LA If you come for breakfast or lunch/dinner you won’t be disappointed! They have so many staff on the floor so you’re always able to chat with someone. Also as soon as you walk in you see in front hand made tortillas and let me tell you i usually do not like tortillas, I’m the person who destroys a burrito or taco because it’s too much tortilla. This tortillas if it was breakfast or dinner I INHALED with no shame too. If you’re visiting please treat yourself!!!

Tasty tacos with flavor! 🌮🔥 Free chips & salsa 🫔💥, and the highlight—watching fresh tortillas made right in front of you 👩‍🍳✨. A fun, authentic Old Town vibe 🎶🍹🌞.

We ordered 2 burritos and the food was decent, but based on the reviews I had higher expectations. The burritos had more potatoes than meat which always feels like a filler to me. I will say the margarita was good and the servers were great! Service overall was slow but it’s a busy place so that’s not surprising.

I love the old school look and feel of the restaurant and is it ever a machine - you will be shoved in and out and through as quickly as possible. Service is just OK, they are clearly only held accountable to turning tables. Food is average and clearly flavored for tourists. I have to imagine there are much better options for Mexican in San Diego.

This charming old town restaurant had decent food. The kitchen seemed busy, so there was a little wait. It was fun to try.

The flour tortillas were the reason we ate here, they did not disappoint. The tortillas are being freshly handmade. There is a long wait time for a table and food. The service was great. The atmosphere was quite noisy and I could not hear my party. The carnitas were okay.

This place had a great atmosphere with live music on weekends. It was a bit crowded, so the service was a bit slow. But the food was really tasty! We only had to wait 10 minutes for a table on a Saturday evening, which was pretty cool. I really enjoyed the music and the vibe of the place. I’d definitely go back again!

This place has such fun ambiance. We ate on the patio and it was all decorated for Dia de Muertos. We went for my mom’s birthday and this is one of her favorite places. The food was good but not over the top delicious. This place is definitely all about the ambiance. We had the fajitas, enchiladas, and a chicken salad. My sister had a peach margarita and ended up ordering two, it was so good.

You will walk up to the largest court area in Old Town. Greeted by some of the most amazingly sweet, kind and beautiful servers. Filled with plenty of shaded umbrella seating. The atmosphere is romantic and comfortable. I was alone and felt like I was the most welcomed person in the place. The food is absolutely fantastic. Delicious and enormous. The chips are fresh baked and served hot to the table with fresh Pico de gallo.

Casa de Reyes is the type of Mexican restaurant with both great atmosphere & service to match. I remember when nearly all Mexican restaurants had this old Mexican/Spanish colonial aesthetic. Located in the courtyard I’m reminded strongly of heritage, & thats something missing from modern Mexican restaurants. I ordered the Steak and Shrimp burrito with rice (Im not crazy about beans). The flavors were phenomenal & satisfied my Mexican pallet. The coffee was also perfect. Simple & good. I was reminded greatly of a Mexican cafe I grew up eating at as a child that no longer exists. To give me that comfort of memory thru food is a wonderful thing. Highly recommend Casa de Reyes.

I've been here a couple of times and tonight we were in Old Town and dropped in. There was live singing and music because of dia los muertos. Food was excellent for a Mexican restaurant. I got the pick 3 and choose chicken tamales, beef enchiladas and tacos. Everything was delicious. My girl got the Mexican Caesar salad with chicken. Give it a try if you like Caesar salads. They have a wide variety of drinks also. We got the paloma.

Amazing every time. Yes it is located in a tourist area, but the food is still fantastic and the ambiance is unbeatable. Tons of great dishes to choose from, and a fantastic place to get a drink. Wonderful for the whole family. They can certainly accommodate large groups. The pozole and molcajetes are top notch.

I've never eaten at Casa de Reyes restaurant, but I visit the courtyard and stores in the center often when I visit the Old Town Plaza. There are always interesting historical displays, some permanent, but others are specific to different culture events. The plaza is always lively and fun, and a great place to take visitors. There are a lot of interesting specialty stores to browse.

I feel betrayed by Google. This place has always been terrible, but I thought I would give it another go since it had a 4.5 rating. I got the surf and turf burrito for about $18. There was a puddle of grease in the burrito, I had to spit out about 1/4 of the meat because it was tough gritle and the worst part, the guacamole was from over ripe avocados, sweet and disgusting. You know what I mean if you have ever had bad guacamole before. I don't understand why there are always people there. There are a LOT of better, cheaper options in San Diego too. So sad.

The El Indio Mexican Restaurant always seems busy whenever we go by it. I had eaten there once before several years ago. I wasn't impressed then. And I'm not very impressed now. Overall, the food was good. I enjoyed the beef machaca plate. I like eggs, the low level of beef in meal was disguised. I dont eat rice so I skipped that part. The beans were tastie. The meal came with steamed tortillas and I selected the corn. They were okay. We ordered a bag of fresh plain chips. All of the precooked chips were seasoned. I'm not a fan of preseason chips. They cooked a small order of the plain chips. And here was the item that I didn't like from our previous visit. Only different. Last time, the chips were heavy, under done, and chewy. This time they were hard. Not crispy. Tough. Hard. Like, becareful you don't crack your crown, hard. We took the leftover chips home, but no one wants to eat them. When we eat at other Mexican restaurants and bring home the chips, they don't last two days. It's been two weeks. The service was adequate. You order at the register and you pick up your order at the register. It's all self serve. The atmosphere! Since the pandemic, El Indio created more tables outside, across India Street. And the restaurant installed loud speakers to call out the name attached to the order that can be heard from across the street. And it can rattle your ears from inside the restaurant's dining room. 2 stars for the interior dining. Will we go back? Skip the chips. The other food was good.

After watch Guy Fiats Diners drive in band Dives I was so excited to come here. I drove 2.5 hours and didn’t eat all day. They have a free parking lot and outside seating. There was no wait and the people working were very friendly and helpful. The food was pricey and cold when we got served. The smell of the enchiladas sauce was so bad. The food was totally inedible. The salsa was ok but even the chips were not good. We got a refund and I woke up the next day with the worst case of food poisoning. The bathroom was dirty and smelled and they had flies in the windows flying around see pictures. Ten out of ten 100% do not recommend. Very sad I was so excited to come here.

I had high hopes for this place. After an over night, this where I wanted to go because of the ratings and reviews. Well, seeing and tasting it for myself, I couldn't get anymore disappointed. My plate looks good, but the asada was tough, it was really dry, the taste is there though. The only thing I really like was my churro it was good, crisp and hot.

This place was cool! Nice atmosphere with some good outdoor seating. I enjoyed my pork tamales and the soft drink selection available at this place. Staff were understanding of our being new to the restaurant and helped us all place orders that suited our tastes. Thanks!

It was taco Tuesday , had carne asada , adobada, chicken . The adobada had the most flavor. The asada and the chicken were also good. The Beef Chimichanga plate was very good also , just the right spice and excellent crispy tortilla wrap. 3 different salsa selections . You can pick up crispy chile flavored chips to go . Great spot to enjoy a tasty Mexican Meal .

The food here is amazing. I've been coming here for over 45 years, and every time I fly back to San Diego I have to make it a stop as I arrive or before I leave. The taquitos are the best, and their tortillas are always fresh. Plus, it's one of the only places I can still find Orange Bang!

This is in one of the best locations in Old Town San Diego. It has an outdoor patio seating area, perfect for people watching. It has really cute old west decor and even an antique wagon in the center of the patio. The complementary chips and salsa come with black bean dip which when served warm is delicious! The service is decent and the menu options and prices are typical for a tourist place. The food is also what you'd expect at a touristy restaurant. What this place has is location! It was a nice day and we enjoyed our lunch.

First time dinning 🍽 at this restaurant in Old Town San Diego. Nice atmosphere and the food is surprisingly 👌 very tasty 😋 The chips and salsa was very good 👍 with just a slight spiciness and also served a side of black beans 🫘 I ordered the 3 combination (no cheese on my plate); beef tamale, chicken enchilada and carnitas taco 🌮 this plate 🍽 had really good taste 😋 the beef tamale 🫔 was good but had just a small 10% amount of beef and about 90% masa. The chicken enchilada was very good 👍 with plenty of chicken. The carnitas taco 🌮 was delicious 😋 with the right ratio of carnitas and veggie toppings. I ordered the flan 🍮 for dessert and was disappointed 😕 they added whipped cream and chocolate syrup to the flan 🍮 and a cherry🍒 on top as if it was an ice-cream sundae... WHY? 🤔 flan 🍮 should be served alone with the caramel syrup only! Now although the staff was professional they lack humor, laughter and interaction with the guest's. The waiter came by a few times to see 👀 if everything was okay 👍 but they never asked if we wanted anything else, more drinks 🍸 or water 💧 and never asked if they could remove our plates 🍽... actually we had to move them to the side so we could finish enjoying our drinks 🍹🍸 That's why I gave only 2 ⭐️⭐️ stars for service. On a side note... Food wise, I recommend this restaurant 👍 over the other busier restaurant next door, Casa de Reyes. The food next door is not so great... they lure their guests with music and friendlier staff but the food is not great and the rice tends to be dry and most of the other dishes lack taste. I should know because I would take guest's there 🤦

I've been to Barra Barra many times and their highlight has always been their overall food quality. I've enjoyed everything I've eaten there. However, my absolute favorite thing they serve is their chips, salsa, and black bean dip. Especially the chips! I had a combo fajita order with chicken and beef. The taste was amazing. The portion was perfect. My nephew got the mole which had amazing flavor as well. The price was reasonable for the service and quality of food we got. The staff was very friendly. It wasn't very busy at the time but for some reason never got our water refilled until we asked for it. Otherwise, no complaints. I do highly recommend Barra Barra as the best place to eat if you're in Old Town!

Sat at the bar and had a cold one. The chips and salsa come with an amazing bean dip. I had the pork pozole and it did not disappoint. Great service from the bartender, I will be returning soon!

We saw this place as we were in Old Town area. What are two nieces.. they had the kids eat free with the purchase of an entry. The chips and salsa were great..Ice tea was good as well. Had the steak burrito and chicken tacos. It was very good. Service is good. Both flour and corn tortillas are made fresh. Service was good as well. This is in a tourist area, so it's good still. But since the prices are bit high we won't be back soon. Other than that it's recommended. 👍

It’s been years since I last visited this restaurant. We came to celebrate my birthday and this restaurant did not disappoint. I can say this restaurant has not lost its favor! Victoria was our server and she was wonderful. She the most upbeat and bubbly personality. She brought out our drinks and the margaritas were just as delicious as I remember. Service is fast here. I enjoy all of the Hispanic decor. You several areas of dining to choose from.

Denise was amazing and made sure we received the best service. Initially, our experience was subpar at best. The food is not authentic Mexican. It is good but it is not spectacular. Our server unfortunately got sat four tables in a row and one of them was a large party so the server brought us the wrong dish and didn’t come back for a while. He was polite and apologetic so we understood he was just overwhelmed but we enjoyed the dish we got so much that we didn’t bother to try and get the original order. We told Denise about our experience and she made it right by bringing us out a complementary basket of churros. I suppose it was just an off day so we were over all happy with the food. The only other downside is how expensive it is. Not worth the money but it wasn’t because it was bad, it just wasn’t spectacular.

This is my FAVORITE Mexican food restaurant ever! The building is beautiful, the service was great, and the drinks are so good! Not to mention that queso and salsa!! My friend and I drove an hour just to eat here! We will definitely be back!

I’ve been to Miguel’s in Coronado a number of times but this was my first time visiting a different location. Their food is always so consistently delicious and the service is great here too! Love the queso and chips to start and none of the entrees I’ve ever had have disappointed me. Highly recommend!

Great spot for happy hour! They have excellent drink and food specials, plus the complimentary chips come with both fresh salsa and queso. The bartenders were all very friendly and provided great service.

Wonderful customer service all around, the hostesses were very welcoming and took care of our large group right away. Gaby our waitress was just wonderful. The atmosphere is so upbeat but family oriented as well. The food was great, I highly recommend the guacamole and fajitas they were delicious.

I recently visited Miguel’s Cocina in Carlsbad for a late lunch with a group of four. The overall experience was decent but there is definitely room for improvement. When we arrived, the host greeted us but the welcome did not feel very warm. The hostess seemed a little nervous even though the restaurant was not very busy. To start, I ordered a spicy Michelada with extra lemon. Unfortunately, it did not meet expectations. It lacked spice and lemon flavor, and tasted more like plain beer than a true Michelada. For a Mexican restaurant, I expected a much better drink. As for the food, the ceviche was the highlight. It was fresh, flavorful, and well made. The guacamole was just okay and lacked seasoning. We also ordered the mixed fajitas with chicken and steak, along with the supreme fajitas with shrimp. The steak and chicken were good but the shrimp was excellent—juicy and packed with flavor. Our server was friendly and polite but the service overall could have been better. I had to ask three times for soda water and there were not enough check-ins during our meal to see if we needed anything. The restroom and dining area were clean, but the atmosphere felt a little unorganized and lacked attention to detail. In summary😊 Food: 🥘 Some great dishes like the ceviche and shrimp fajitas, while others were average Drinks: 🍸 Michelada needs improvement, especially for a Mexican restaurant Service: Friendly but not attentive enough It was not a bad visit but with better service and drink quality, the experience could be much stronger.

Service was phenomenal. Bradley was our server and he was very quick and attentive. Food was great and loved the happy hour margs and tacos. Got chicken and beef enchiladas as well. 10/10

Really good food and very nice service. Kayla was very welcoming and attentive. The enchiladas suizas were great, as were the rolled taquitos. The pollo asado burrito and tostada salad were excellent too. Everyone in my group was happy. Prices were decent and the restaurant was clean and hopping. A bit loud. But not to the point you couldn’t talk. The chips and salsa were delicious too and refilled. They came with queso too which was a nice touch. Easy to work around allergies here as well.

I ordered a lobster taco with street corn and tried two different margaritas. While the street corn was a bit too sour for my taste, and the margaritas, despite being listed as distinct, tasted quite similar, the calamari was excellent. Overall, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was fantastic. I’d happily give this place 4.5 stars!

We found our way into the Blind Burro and really appreciated the food and atmosphere. The place was a zoo because of Comic-Con so we had to expect service would be slower. But our server did well but slow. Food was awesome and we saw a Roper Romp. Woo hoo!

Been twice and had mixed experiences. Overall food is overpriced, good not great. Perfect spot for watching sports and hanging out. Friendly and welcoming service. 2nd visit I got food poisoning very badly, but often times that is not the restaurants fault. Could have just been a bad item. I’d go back if others wanted to for a game or to hang out, but wouldn’t be my top choice for my own event.

During my recent work conference, I was lucky to find The Blind Burro right across the street from my hotel — what a gem! Erika greeted me with genuine warmth and recommended the bacon-wrapped jalapeños, which turned out to be an unforgettable treat. The perfect blend of smoky, spicy, and savory flavors made it a standout dish. If you’re in the area, do yourself a favor and drop by — you won’t regret it!

This spot is like block from the Padres stadium so you can enjoy a meal and drink before you enter or a drink after. The average cost a plate is $23, I would recommend paying the $2 uncharged for the corn, well worth it, definitely better then rice or beans. For a starter I would get the salsa flight, it comes with 4 salsa a flavor and spice level for everyone. They have outdoor seating with shade cover for those nice days, and great for people watching. Good restaurant decor, a lot of seating plus they also have to bars with seating at both. The quality of the is decent, nothing rave about, but a good spot for an outing with friends.

Return customer! I bet this place is amazing on Game Day. Short walk to the main ballpark gate. The convenience and location are amazing

I had the coffee rubbed salmon tacos, black beans, and street corn. It was all really delicious overall. Adding to lime to the street corn enhanced the flavor. House hot sauce was also a great compliment to the tacos. Bit noisy but about what you'd expect for a bar / restaurant in the gaslamp.

El Agave boasts of thousands of tequila bottles, only issue is, they're the owners private collection. This place competes with the Museum of Tequila in Maxico City! The good news is, they do offer over 500 brands to the public and a very well stocked bar, so chances are you still get to have a shot of your favorite with your meal. So make sure you stop by and enjoy yourself.

Parking is a little tight, but very worth it. They had a veranda open for dining when we were there and the view and breeze made for a great atmosphere. We ordered three entrees and an appetizer. Everything was outstanding. Just go, and maybe stop in downstairs for a rare tequila to go.

I was pleasantly surprised by how quiet the restaurant was during my visit—perhaps it was dinner time, or maybe the prices are a bit higher than average. Either way, it worked out perfectly for me. The food and service were truly exceptional, and I can confidently say you won’t be disappointed. The Milo Don Julio was outstanding, and the portions were incredibly generous—I couldn’t even finish my meal! I also tried the quesadilla de flor de calabaza, which had a unique presentation, more like an empanada, but it was absolutely delicious. I would love to come back and try their lunch menu next time. This place is truly a hidden gem worth revisiting.

The service was great, and we went around noon when it wasn’t too busy. Still, it took a little while for the food to come out. The flavors were decent overall, though the grilled octopus was a bit overcooked and slightly bitter. Otherwise, a nice spot for lunch with friendly service.

Oh my. A Chili Relleno that bursted with tender steak, peanuts and seasonings that had me wanting to lick my plate! A perfect Tequila Mojito to wash it down and our attentive and friendly server Alberto made this special girls night out perfect. A very intimate and cool spot. Highly recommend.

This is the best Mexican food Resturant! I love the decor(3000+ tequila bottles), service and food! Everything is the best authentic Mexico City style cuisine. Everything I’ve ever ordered is the best!

I wished I could give El Agave 5 stars, but sadly the host is very rude and condescending and lets down the whole experience. We had a reservation and once there, was told it would be another 15 minutes. Since the host area is small and there was line behind us, we told the host we’d wait downstairs. 5 minutes later the host is calling on my phone and complaining that he cannot see outside the host podium and in aggressive tone, asked we still wanted a table or not. I’m sure that there is a better way to say your table is ready, so would encourage some training on courtesy. Once seated however, our server Sebastian was great and was really helpful on advising us on the type of mole dishes they had. Everyone in our group enjoyed the appetizers and entrees along with the cocktails. For the food it’s worth going again, but would also explore other options in the area first due to the initial experience.

Loved it! Every staff member was super cool and helpful. The food plates are LARGE. The calamari was great. The cornmeal in the batter was interesting but still tasty. The chicken fajitas were delicious. Nd the aguachile has huge slices of shrimp. That dish wasn’t my favorite. Maybe if everything was mixed together it would be more flavorful but it was still good . The sauces were all great and prices you’re decent.

WOW!! WOW WOW WOW!! This place is AMAZING. The tacos are to die for. We were shopping and ran into a local lady and we asked her where we should eat and this is where she told us. Michelle and Ed weren't wrong!! So glad we ran into her. Freds didn't disappoint. The waitress was wonderful. She had great suggestions. The atmosphere was beautiful. Wishing we had Freds in our state because we would visit all the time. We had the mango margarita and it was yummy. Can't wait to return to San Diego so we can visit again!!

You may be waiting a while to be seated, but damn worth the wait, Queso is fantastic, tacos were incredible and the service is out of this world. If you want to stop anywhere near a hotel, stop here and get a taco!

Very good tacos and pet friendly. So friendly to the point that they have a pet menu. Love it!! The hostess was really nice. They DJ had great music! It's an awesome to have a chill time with family and friends.

Absolutely wonderful spot for lunch in the middle of Old Town. Very reasonably priced, generous portions, and both food and drink were delicious. Try the chingadera!! The decor is lovely and welcoming, and the staff were incredibly friendly. We asked to sit on the dog- friendly patio and got to enjoy looking at cuties while having a lovely lunch. We will definitely be back!!

We gave a try yesterday when we were visiting old town San diego.my first option where old town cafe.I ate there before,but it looks like a bar and I had my kids with me.Then we had to coyote they were close like 8:30 PM.So we went ti Fred's. We ordered two burritos one California,the other surf and turf they called it* steak,shrimp*and cheese burger for the kids. Cheese burger were beef and rice beans and tortilla.burritos were really good.i remember there were $20 each.server was good, and we had garlic potato as well. We will visit again and try other food on menus.

We had a great evening at Fred's during the taste of Old Town. We planned on hopping around but we had such a good time we decided stayed. The Elote and carne asada fries were delicious. Margaritas were on point. Highly recommended sitting at the bar, Stephanie Z (can't remember her last name) was a blast, super attentive and she can make a Margaritas like no one's business. Plenty of options on the Happy Hour menu.

This was our first time coming the Gaslamp location and was a little under impressed compared to their other locations. The food was amazing just like the other locations, but the atmosphere and service was not par. Also disappointed that they didn’t have a salsa bar. Overall it was a great experience and would still eat here again.

We visited Rockin’ Baja Lobster during Comic-Con weekend, so we expected it to be busy but unfortunately, the service was disappointing overall. Shoutout to Diana, who was a great server! She was attentive, helped us correct an issue with our order, and really tried to make our experience better. We appreciated her effort. However, another server (the blonde one) who previously took our order, was not as friendly. She gave my friend a bad look when he politely followed up on his food, and when I asked her for a sauce, she said “yeah” but never came back with it. On top of that, my friend never received the extra chips he ordered, even after asking about them. The service felt very slow and disorganized. We understand it was a busy weekend, but it seemed like we were forgotten for long stretches of time. While others got priority. That said, the food was really good. Great flavors, fresh ingredients, and generous portions it definitely lived up to the hype in that department. If the service matched the quality of the food, this would have been a five-star experience.

I got the Shellfish Taco Platter (one of each - shrimp, blue crab, and lobster) and a Cadillac Margarita. Really enjoyed each taco but the lobster was my favorite! I also shared photos of menu items I wanted to try like the Cali Surf & Turf Burrito and just check out the biiiiiig burrito and the 6XXL tacos!!!! Great food, service, and got to watch the Dodgers vs Padres. No complaints! Would definitely visit again next time I am in the area. Our waiter on June 16, Scotty, was so kind and patient as well 🤗

The quality and value of food have dropped significantly since last time I visited before covid. That on top of a 5% surcharge on each bill is just a slap on the face

Flavor was on point, Atmosphere was exciting and wait staff was friendly and efficient. Crab legs were very hard to peel..dry and overcooked.

The wife and I love this restaurant chain, but this is their newest location, and the servers are subpar, and the food is not on par with their other locations. Luke the bartender, who helped us, was actually stellar; the rest were in some sort of daze, leaving 30 minutes between main courses for my guests. In other words, the main course would come for one person, then 30 minutes later for the next person. The place wasn’t empty, but there were only a few of us in there. The steak was like a shoe, the chicken was dry, in the $80 bucket they messed up the corn; it was supposed to be Mexican style, not just grilled. The lobster was super fishy, but maybe it was an off day for them? The other locations are incredible; this one just needs some attention from management to get it on par with the others. Kudos to Luke though, he’s great.

We ordered the Baja bucket which came with two lobster tails crab shrimp chicken carne asada and corn on the cob. It also came with tortillas and rice and beans. LOTS OF FOOD!! It was all amazing however The crab was lacking some serious meat and maybe overcooked. (Maybe it's not crab season?) This meal also comes with fried ice cream. We ordered a beer and a spicy skinny margarita both were delicious. The service was on top of their game lots of TVs for sports and a full wet bar with numerous beers on tap. They also have a full margarita menu. I would definitely come back and give it a try again. Total for two including tip was $150.00

First night in San Diego, we fancied some Mexican food, we tried this little spot based on the positive Google reviews. We weren’t disappointed, the food was really tasty, comforting and just what we wanted. Great selection of drinks, although we just opted for a couple of beers. There was a nice vibe, a good buzz without being too loud. lots of happy diners getting stuck in. The service was really friendly, from front of house to our server and anyone that passed the table. The service was also super speedy, if anything too quick… we did feel like we were in and out in 30 mins. We didn’t ever feel rushed… but didn’t really feel like we’d relaxed into the place before we were heading out. Would still definitely recommend 👍🏻

The tacos and drinks did not disappoint. We came back the next day to try even more tacos. We tried the shrimp, chicken, steak, carnitas, and the Cali tacos. The flavor of the different tacos were so good.

We were in town on vacation for my son’s 4th birthday and looking for a quick bite when we stumbled upon Las Hadas — and I’m so glad we did! The host had amazing hospitality and literally reeled us in from the street… lol. I’m thankful he did! The food was delicious — especially the tacos with mango. Everything was flavorful and fresh. I’ll definitely be back the next time I’m in San Diego!

Food: highly flavorful Service: fast considering how busy the place was Ambience: ok. Nothing special. Standard bar vibe Dishes ordered: chips and salsa trio, baja fish tacos, chicken fajitas # of visits: 1 Would return: yes

Phenomenal! The food hits hard. Drinks are good. we didn’t come out of Peak time… 3 PM. I feel like parking might be an issue at peak times as well as maybe getting in. It’s not a very large restaurant. But it would be worth the wait! I cannot express to you how good the food is! Don’t miss out on the coconut shrimp or guacamole! The coconut shrimp is larger and meater than the picture portrays. The taco in the mahi-mahi taco were great too! We are not local but we WILL be back! Wow!

First time dining based on recommendation. I'm usually a solo diner exploring new places. Elena was totally chill and awesome, pointing out the go-to menu items. Surf and turf burrito was well worth it. Cocktails were great. Immediately forwarded pictures to other friends in isolated states who crave a good burrito when visiting San Diego. $30-50 reflects burrito and 2 drinks.

We stumbled across this place today. I have lived downtown for several years, but however, have never been. Today we went and I am so glad. We sat at the bar. The bartender was very friendly and accommodating. We ordered the tacos. The fish tacos were very good! Will definitely be back again thank you so much for the great service and hospitality!

Kettner Exchange is a fun and vibrant restaurant, a perfect place to start your night or to even have your night. I was taken away by the ambience, the warm lights, dimly lit, and a dj playing house music. I absolutely loved the atmosphere. I felt that we didn’t actually have “service,” it was more of getting your order and quickly dropping it off. I would’ve appreciated if the service was more personal, but nothing was bad. The food was all delicious, but I couldn’t help but feel that something was missing from the food. Still very amazing though! I highly recommend the duck meatball, it melted in your mouth and I’ve never had grits so good! The crispy tuna was delicious, and they accommodated my avocado allergy. The lamb noodles were also yummy, the sauce just tasted warm and the lamb was so tender. Don’t skip on the molten chocolate cake!

Great vibe inside. We were there to dine but the patio was going off and seemed like a great place to hang out with some drinks. Wine and drink list was great. We ordered four dishes, three were good to very good (kale salad, duck meatball, tomato ceviche) and the piquillo pepper/peanut spread was honestly terrible for us. Could have been personal preference.

It's an Experience that's Meant to Be Shared. Top-notch Service Coupled with Great Ambiance and Paired Dishes Creates a Unique Memorable Adventure Worth Coming To. This is a 5 star Restaurant that is Fun and Serious at the Same Time. It takes its culinary delights seriously but after hours/weekends it turns into a fun social experience shared with friends and coworkers. A San Diego Must.

Love this place. Def a great a lot to come to when in San Diego. The food, the vibes, and they even have music at night. Great drinks and bites. Love coming here and Everytime I come here I have a good time. Highly recommend coming here any day of the week and seeing what all the talk is about.

Kettner exchange is a very bougie restaurant which gives you pretentious vibes when you enter, however the food changes your mind and it does so with a slap to your face! The ambience, decor and the service are all to the point. The lamb Sichuan noodles was exceptional and Gioia burrata is a must try. The mapo rice cake and spicy shrimp are great meats based dishes to try! We had a few vegetarians in our group and they were happy to accommodate the options accordingly. Kettner exchange is a must visit place if you are on the lookout for some interesting flavors. I would recommend making a reservation and give yourself enough time to find parking. They do have valet options if you prefer that.

First time in San Diego, and Vibes were super great! I went for an anniversary, and everyone was super accommodating and sweet. Our table had a note waiting for us celebrating our night🥹 We were originally sat outside, as I believe the patio seats are more popular. However we requested to sit inside, and they kindly accommodated for us. We ordered a few plates, as their menu is more set up for sharing- which was nice for some but only made it more difficult for me to choose (this is a good thing because there were so many tempting options)🙂‍↕️ Whenever we wanted to get a servers attention it wasn’t difficult because I believe they were fully staffed. and they made sure our waters were always full (which is a very big deal for me because i drink so much water!!) The food was delicious, (I recommend the chicken!!) and they also gave us a little dessert as an anniversary gift which was very kind. (We didn’t eat it though because it was way too sweet and was lowkey too much caramel😭❤️) They have valet parking which is convenient, but there’s also lots of street parking available as well. Overall great atmosphere and service, which always makes the food taste that much better. Thank you from Tokyo😇

This place is AMAZING! Family-serving style Michelin recognized restaurant with awesome service and divine food. We had a party of 6, so we got to try a large variety of dishes: Cucumber Salad Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice Seared Halloumi (highly recommend) Filet o Fish Bao (nice and fluffy) Mapo Coconut Rice (highly recommend) Pig Mac Gioia Burrata Szechuan Frog Legs (highly recommend) Hot & Spicy Noodles (highly recommend) Szechuan Lamb Noodles Duck Meatball (Michelin Recognized! So tender and delicious) Spicy Shrimp Our favorite drinks were the Osaka Sour and the Dirty Verde. But you honestly can't go wrong with anything on the menu. We also got all three desserts, all were amazing in their own way. Everyone had a different favorite dish. Our server, Zach, was so charming, attentive, and knew the menu very well. 100/10 service. I've GOT to come back for brunch! What a lovely dining experience

such a fun little spot. The bartenders are absolute pros and bring the kind of energy that makes you want to stay for “just one more.” Food-wise, I was honestly impressed the street tacos are bomb.com and hit harder than you’d expect from a bar-forward spot. Drinks are strong, the vibe is high, and the whole place is colorful in that “this is where the party starts” kind of way. Whether you’re a San Diego local or just visiting, Baja Betty’s is worth a stop. The atmosphere is lively without being over the top, service is on point, and it’s the type of place that feels like it doesn’t take itself too seriously, in the best possible way. You’ll come for the margaritas, stay for the tacos, and leave already planning your next visit.

While back in SD visiting friends we all met up at Betty's for happy hour. When we lived here we would frequent Betty's all the time so we are familiar with their good food and service. Happy hour was great , we had tacos, fresh quac, and queso dip with chips. As always everything was good and as always the service was good. Great atmosphere for a great time. If you're in the area stop in.

Came here for happy hours. Great vibes, great friendly staff and food was delicious. There were about 25 of us. The staff was absolutely amazing and able to kept us with us. We had many drinks and happy hours food. Like quesadilla guacamole cheese dips. And stuf. Highly recommended

This was a great find in the Hillcrest area of San Diego. It is a very comfortable and friendly place to grab a bite. The food is fresh and delicious. The staff are friendly and helpful. We had the carnitas burrito and enchiladas which were very tasty. The drinks were nice and strong and the prices are reasonable. I highly recommend this place.

Oh Betty! Absolutely delicious! Babe, just go. Please, just go and see for yourself. I took Heather's word for it with the Carnitas, and fell in love (and not just with Heather 🫶🏼 es un amor)! You know how usually you order carnitas and they're dry? Or they're juicy but have no flavor? These babies are authentic. Riquísimo! The beans, the rice, the salsa, the queso, the fried ice cream, the horchata cold brew, the vibes, the playlist, the decor... Chef's kiss baby 😙👌🏼 all around! Thank you guys for an amazing meal! I'm sorry I completely forgot to take a picture of the food, it was so good!

My son wanted sushi but we decided to stop here instead. Let me tell you, it totally lives up to the hype here. What a wonderful place and I absolutely love the attentiveness of the servers. All sweet and very welcoming. My boyfriend had the al pastor tacos, my son had a quesadilla while I had the keto chicken adobo tacos. Huge portions and absolutely delicious. I loved that they offered a non tortilla option since I'm diabetic. Plus who can't say no to more cheese🧀?! I'll definitely visit again whenever we make it back to the San Diego area. Loved Hillcrest!

Loving the vibe! We had an amazing waiter Saul who made our experience the best! Saul helped us feel special as we celebrated my birthday and our 25th wedding anniversary! I was gifted a birthday crown and Sash to make my day even more special. We ordered the mexican mai tai, Mexican pizza and enchiladas. Food was great not as spicy and very tasty! Thank you Saul for your kindness, being attentive, personable & Efficient! Saul made recommendations as he was knowledgeable with menu options! We definitely recommend you trying out Baja Bettys for yourself. Hope your experience is just as amazing as ours. We appreciate the fun welcoming vibes.

The burritos were enormous and flavorful! I would go again. Their menu is huge with tons of options to choose from. Their staff are so sweet and welcoming too.

Very good food for a great price. The food is cooked to order so do not expect to be in and out. Staff are very friendly and great to talk to. Laid back here, no ac.

California Burrito Hunt – Stop #25 I am on a mission to find the best California Burrito in town. Today’s stop is Pokez Mexican Restaurant. The Burrito: The biggest strength of this burrito is the fresh ingredients, and you can really taste it. The grilled meat is flavorful, and the avocado with the sour cream sauce adds nice variety to each bite. They also add cabbage, which gives the dish and its flavor a unique twist. The potatoes, however, became a bit watery from the heat. If the potatoes had been crispy and the meat slightly more flavorful, this could easily be the best burrito in the city. They also make their own sauces here, which taste great and clearly come from fresh products — nothing old or stale. Price is $15 plus tax, which is slightly above the city average. Score: 7 out of 10 Service: The man who helped me clearly did not want to interact. I would not call it rude, but it was definitely harsh and unwelcoming. Score: 1 out of 10 Atmosphere: You can tell they have put effort into creating a certain atmosphere. The place is old, filled with vintage things, and there is so much to take in. I cannot even describe it all — you have to see the photos. Despite the age of the decor, the place is clean, which works surprisingly well with the antique feel. Score: 7 out of 10

It's good but the serving sizes are massive, more than one could eat in a single sitting. The quesadilla was thiccc, I think it would be better if it was thinner or smaller. The service was good, friendly staff.

Great place to get all kinds of vegetarian and vegan food. We got two potato tacos and Tom’s Deep Plate with corn tortillas along with the tofu mushroom potatoes. Both were fresh and delicious! And HUGE! We love that we can order just about anything, including the rice and beans. This place has a low key fun vibe. But I wasn’t impressed with the cleanliness or physical condition.

Great food and wonderful customer service! I’m from out of town and was recommended this place from one of my friends who grew up here. She talks very highly of this place and I needed to check it out. The food was delicious and had very large portions! If we lived in the area this would definitely be a regular spot. We tried a mahi mahi taco, a shrimp taco, chicken quesadilla and a carne asada torta. Everything was good, I especially enjoyed the mahi mahi taco.

Thanks to the staff recommendation, I ordered the "Toms Deep Plate" with tofu potato mushroom. It was absolutely stellar. Completely vegan. So delicious. Perhaps too much food for a single sitting, but completely fair prices. Having grown up in SoCal, eating authentic "California Mexican" is a must on any visit back to this state. This restaurant hit the spot. I am so grateful! Great plate for vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores alike. Plenty of options for all.

Food was so delicious, happy hour has some really great deals. Drinks were good and strong. Server was AMAZING! so sweet and nice and attentive! Her name is MAR! ㅤᵕ̈

You won’t want to miss the vibrant energy of @kingandqueencantina right in the heart of @littleitalysd . The atmosphere is electric and stylish, with colorful walls that add a bold, beautiful touch, the food is amazingly served and so tasty, My fav was Tinga Taquitos with the 3 different dips, my sis felt in the love with the Mayan Grilled Salmon.

I went to this place twice, back to back. I went to the bar both nights on the second floor. Nice restaurant with neon colors around the place. The drinks are very yummy (I had a strawberry marg the first day and then the marg flight the second day). The food was also very tasty. The first night I had the crispy avocado tacos and the second night I had taco de la Sierra. Both were 🤌🏽 and food was ready fast.

I went during their happy hour and sat at the bar, so there was no wait. I had a mojito and the pork belly nachos. The pork belly brought nachos to a whole new level. The chips were made in house and stayed crispy the entire time I was eating them. The combination of flavours was perfection.

A good place for breakfast. The food was really good even though they got my order a bit wrong (guess they ran out of bacon or I was misheard). No matter, it was still excellent as the meat was sliced thinly, as I like. Service was good as was the atmosphere. Would have been nice to see different sports on the many monitors.

Love this place!! I had never been to San Diego until a work trip the other weekend and I ended up going to this place twice. Strawberry jalapeno margarita was absolutely wonderful, and I ended up having the tastiest omelette I've had probably forever. Along with some great fresh fruit!! I am still waiting for the manager there Maria to give me a call back as I unfortunately left something really important to me there, an award I won for doing well with my workplace. Please reach out to me when possible I am very happy to pay for shipping and extra to get that home! Thank you for the amazing food and experience and I appreciate y'all

Went on a Tuesday, they have a nice balcony upstairs looking down on the street. Tried all three of their offered $3 taco tuesday: Asada, Pastor, and chicken. Paired them with their 3 salsas which are all spicy and delicious. Also got a Michelada Modelo Negro which was really good. Really good vibes. I would return to this place if I lived in the area....

Food was decent, service was friendly but could have been more professional. When we arrived, we were told to sit anywhere. Shortly thereafter they asked us to move because a large party was coming in, who ultimately sat elsewhere because they didn't know how many people were in their party. Entrees came out within 5 minutes of our appetizer which we hadn't finished. First world problems but these are restaurant 101 issues which could be easily avoided and lead to a better experience.

Very pleasant Mexican restaurant and bar that in La Jolla with a nice mix of patrons. The servers are friendly and really hustle. The food is your basic northern Mexico style. Good salsa and nicely flavored enchiladas. Decent margaritas .Classic Eagles, Mellencamp, and Van Morrison on the sound system gave the place a relaxing Southern California vibe. Just a really nice place to hang out.

Wonderful authentic Mexican food! We had the nachos and chile relleno. Margaritas are excellent! The staff was attentive and made us feel right at home!

I had the enchiladas suizas and they were delicious!

The restaurant had a nice vibe inside. I would say the Mexican food is not authentic and has zero fire/heat, so if you prefer American style Mexican food that is not hot/spicy this place is for you. Most of the staff are college age. Pro: I am vegetarian and this restaurant had actual plant based meat options which are hard to find. Overall having plant based products increased my vote as that is harder to find with Mexican food. I prefer spicy when I was eating Chile but this was decent overall. Con: The drinks were much smaller compared to the price of them which was disappointing. My little one was $14 and not worth the price honestly. I went to the bathroom before I left and they took away my to go box which was half my order! I even asked where bathroom was before I went and the place is tiny. I’m going to stick with three stars.

Tacos were delish and the rice and beans are bomb. The chips and salsa are as good as it gets. Definitely recommend this spot again.

Such a great place. Family run like business great food. Great drinks. Just be careful not to get bit by the dog across the street. ;)

Wow, wow, wow!! We went in search of SIPZ (vegan restaurant) and was met at the door by a closed sign. We were pretty disappointed and walked only a few steps when we noticed that the sign outside of this lovely restaurant stated that it had plant based options! We decided to check them out and to our pleasant surprise, they had pretty much all the classic Mexican dishes as a vegan option!! Guys, let me tell youuuuuuuu... You have never had a vegan horchata as good as this place! Trust me, we've tried many and BOY, this place has a very VERY delicious vegan horchata! We got the Vegan Chorizo Quesadilla, the Vegan Ceviche, Vegan Potato Roll Tacos and the Vegan Chicken Tacos, along with the Vegan Horchatas, all to go. We were on our way somewhere and pretty much ate in the car but we were devouring it like we hadn't ate in days! Lol We decided to return and try them again another day, the lady that attended us the first time recognized us and was super nice! We decided to dine in this time, the inside was super cute, really nice Mexican chill music, and the bathrooms were spacey and clean! We had the vegan horchatas again OF COURSE, this time we had the Vegan Chicken Quesadilla, the Vegan trio Enchiladas, the Guac and Chips and the Vegan ceviche. All 10/10! I was surprised that when searching for vegan restaurants, Ranchos Cocina doesn't come up as an option or on any lists, this place deserves a shot out! They know what they're doing and offer EVERYTHING imaginable in a vegan option! My heart felt so much joy to see vegan menudo on the menu!! Parking is available in the back of the restaurant.

We were recommended this place for good vegetarian mexican food and they were definitely right. The variety of different good options was pretty great. The staff was super nice as well. Carmen was great with recommendations, was fast and friendly. We got the soyrizo borito that they made in house with quinua which actually worked well. The homemade sauces they give you are super nice as well. Both were fresh and packed with flavor. They weren't too spicy and the mango one added a nice fruitiness. Overall a great place and we will definitely be back.

We came and enjoyed the delicious food here ! We loved it 😍 The horchata vegan 🌱 was so fresh and delicious 🤤! Definitely 💯 come and enjoy all the delicious food ( we ordered the Vegan an enchiladas wow 🤩 so much flavor ) We enjoyed every bite ! Also the vegan 🥑 Flan 🍮 is a definite must ! We enjoyed our waitress (Sophia ) she was friendly ❤️and Kind ! Park and come and enjoy this beautiful place ! They have seating outside and inside ! Definitely recommend this place !

I can’t say enough good things about this place. It’s honestly probably some of the best Mexican food I’ve ever had— vegan or not. Everything has so much flavor. Service is always fast and friendly. Their two hot sauces (the mango habanero and the mint, I believe) are also probably the best hot sauces I’ve ever had. They also offer complimentary chips and salsa which is rare these days. And they have great happy hour deals!! On top of already decent prices and large portions. Love coming here fr

Excellent Mexican Restaurant. I had a ton of vegan/ veg alternatives to traditional Mexican food options. Anyone who loves plants would fall in love with the ambiance. Would definitely recommend others to try this place.

The ambience was soo pretty. The taste of the salsa was on point and toooo good. Yummy and flavorful food and very very sweet staff. We had ordered Nachos Azules and Veggie Trio Enchiladas. OMG the sauces were classic. We left with our tummy and hearts full. Superb!!

Carmen was fantastic and so was the food. I would dare say best vegan Mexican food I’ve ever had. I am not vegan but my best friend is, I eat with her here and I would never be able to tell the difference. I highly recommend!!

Always a great decision. These days, it makes sense to drive north to TJ Tacos for some delicious food instead of going south of the border. Less traffic and much safer. This location serves up the goods. I've been coming since they first opened. A private lot and some street parking as well as a drive thru. You choose. The food is fresh and tasty. Service is excellent. Their staff are friendly and welcoming. They've added furniture to the patio so there's more dining space. I'll be back for sure.

The Al Pastor tacos here are really good. Tried the cabeza taco as well which were very tender. The setup for ordering tacos is cool too. There are different windows to go up to depending on what tacos you want. It was already crowded at 1030am on a Sunday, but there is plenty of parking.

Great chow. Fast service. I had 2 pork and 1 steak tacos, daughter had the steak fries. It was a bit over $30. A real treat.

I decided to give this place another try, and as always it disappoints and is overpriced. I was craving a burrito, but after seeing the $19 price tag, I went with an adobada and carne asada taco. $9 for two small tacos is insane. You look at that picture and tell me if it looks good to you. The pork was obviously old and a lot of fatty pieces. It seems your prices continue to get sky high but quality gets worse each visit. I really wish y’all would take people’s advice and do better.

THE BEST TACOS! The adobada is amazing every single time. Definitely love the fries that they cover with the adobada and avocado sauce. I wish I could give them 1000 more stars. Plus the drive through is the best thing ever.

Went here for the great tacos and was NOT disappointed. Fabulous tasting steak (carne asada) and pork (adobada) street tacos; I also had a adobada mula which is like a tostado with the soft tortillas. Not far from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Lots a different soda to choose from too. Other family members got pina colada favor soda and mango.

TJ's taco's has a pretty good line management system to handle the high volume times. Ordered the pork burrito which came to around $17 after tax. Meat was nothing spectacular but is usually an upgrade over your average mexican chain resturaunt adobada offering. It's done in the kebab meat style with a rotating spit but I often find the meat tougher than it should be. Their mild tamatillo salsa is quite delightful though and would compliment a wide variety of dishes. My gut feeling tells me there's a wide range of quality due to the randomness of the spit roast cuttings you get on their adobada meat.

The staff here are truly kind and welcoming, which makes for a pleasant dining experience. I really enjoyed the Aztec soup— it’s flavorful and comforting. Overall, I found the food to be just okay and a bit pricey for what you get. I think some of the dishes could use a bit more seasoning. Still, the atmosphere is fun, and the service stands out.

Truly remarkable albeit a smidge pricey, amazingly creative tacos that are far above your usual taco shop fare. Simply amazing flavors and a next level salsa Verde that is good enough to drink.

The food was amazing! Almost the staff was very nice. Portions were great and we went by recommendations from the hostess and she was spot on. The guacamole was the freshest we've had.

The food quality is decent overall, but I’m giving it 3 out of 5 stars for two main reasons. First, the asada tacos are priced at $5.95 each, and for that price, I expected a higher-quality cut of meat. The asada was a bit chewy — more like diez millo — when I was hoping for something closer to skirt steak. Second, they don’t offer fountain drinks; only canned or bottled sodas, and each can is priced at $4. While I understand some places can justify that kind of pricing, in this case, it was just a standard soda can.

Amazing tacos! Got the al pastor (pictured), pescado, carne asada (pictured), and pollo asado (for the kids). We also got the chips and guac (very creamy!) and horchata (tasty!). The tacos were the real stand out. Great seasoning and spice level on everything. I will be dreaming about these tacos after returning home to Seattle, where we have limited Mexican food options.

Best Mexican food in San Diego! Ran by three brothers using their family’s passed down recipes. They were so friendly and welcoming. We tried their tacos and burrito and were blown away! The green salsa at the salsa bar was delicious. The drinks were amazing too! Try their micheladas. Wish we would have found this place sooner.

We have been here several times, and the staff is very nice. The micheladas are amazing, the food is ok. We had always sat in their outside area, but since it’s fall now and it was cold, we went inside. I have a medical alert dog, and they asked us to go outside because they don’t let service dogs inside —which is against the ADA law/act. We had a beer and left because it was too cold and there was an intoxicated person doing strange guttural noises outside the establishment. The server apologized and was nice. We will not be coming back.

California Burrito Ratings (14th Stop): Tacos El Cabron Embarking on a mission to rank SD's iconic California burritos! The Product:
This burrito stands out for its heavy dose of greens and grilled meat—super charred, which I personally vibe with. It’s hefty; couldn’t finish it in one sitting. Price tag? Around $16, which is above SD’s average. Flavor didn’t quite match the cost. 5 out of 10. The Service:
Casual interaction. The girl at the counter seemed glued to her phone most of the time. 3 out of 10. The Vibe:
The decor has cool elements that could set a great atmosphere, but the overall vibe felt a bit neglected. 7 out of 10.

Called Azul now even though it still says tacos el cabron on the outside. Overall, for the price not bad. I got 2 tacos and with tip it came out to be less than $6 Food: decent tacos with all the toppings, the Al pastor was a bit too charred so took away from the flavor. They have a salsa bar with only 2 salsa options Service: quick and efficient

The food here is amazing and tastes very authentic! The service was awesome! The hostess/cashier offered us free drinks because our wait was so long, (only felt about 20 minutes and we did come in with a rush of people) which she did not have to do. We were happy to wait and the wait was worth it! I ordered a carne asada taco and tried to order the elote corn fries because they looked delicious, but was told that they didn't have them, so on the fly, I ordered the shrimp fries and they were the best fries I ever had. The were so good and seasoned perfectly! The carne asada was delicious I didn't want to share half with my wife! 10/10, would recommend

Probably the worst tacos we’ve ever had in San Diego :(. The tacos broke apart when we got home. Did a to go order. They don’t even have the proper to go boxes, it spilled everywhere on the drive home. Wish we were given proper boxes and not just tin foil on top of paper plates. Food was so cold when we got home and the tacos were mushy already just after a 15 min drive. Just picked at the meat nd couldn’t even eat the tortilla.

For a taco shop this place is pretty good. I had a bacon breakfast taco and a fish taco. The breakfast taco was delicious. Solid mix of flavors and cooked well. Fish taco also had a decent mix of flavors, even if the fish wasn't of the highest quality but it's a taco shop not a fine dining restaurant. It was cooked perfectly though and not breaded. The outdoor area on the street was nice if a little rundown but that's typical of the area. Hard to keep patio areas pristine. Prices are just ok, a little high, but not out of the average at all compared to other places in the area. Decent portion size on the tacos. Would definitely recommend. Staff was extremely friendly.

We dined there around 3 PM on a weekday. Two tacos, one beef fries. Everything was tasty! Especially the shrimp taco was incredibly delicious! Just the right level of spiciness. We were almost the only guests and sat outside. Service was okay, not overly enthusiastic but friendly. The staff seemed a bit rushed. The atmosphere was mediocre. The outdoor area was unexciting, plain. Metal tables, no decoration, slightly unkempt. But okay. Cozy, however, is something different.

Went here recently because I’m currently trying all the Al Pastor Burritos in the Neighborhood. I went here on a Saturday afternoon and it was empty. Everywhere else was busy. Two ladies were working and the place was not that clean. I ordered and actually waited a long time for some reason and I was the only customer. The Salsa Bar was not clean. The burrito was actually terrible and basically mostly full of dried rice.. I’ve been going here for years and can tell there has been a drop in the level of food and the service speed. The owner needs to check on this. I’ll be back in a few months.. maybe and hopefully they will step it up. (I’ve always liked their Tacos)

Sorry, I only had lemonade which was very tasty. We had a pear salad w steak, a bowl of vegetables & another of potatoes, happy hour ceviche & carnitas & short rib tacos. I have to say the blue corn tortillas were very rubbery, hard to chew. I ate the meats & veggies which were tasty. All of the dishes had nice presentation & were flavorful but the point of the tortilla is to eat all of it. The ceviche was excellent & spicy. I WILL try a margarita on my next visit.

I had an incredible experience at the restaurant last Friday! The live music added a great vibe to the already lively atmosphere. The new menu items were simply fantastic, and I highly recommend trying them out. First, I had the La Costa Tajin Machine cocktail, which was refreshingly spicy and perfectly balanced. The Shrimp Aguachile was the standout dish for me - the shrimp was incredibly fresh and the flavors were bright and bold. The Lobster Ceviche was another delicious highlight, with the tender chunks of lobster complementing the tangy ceviche perfectly. The Calamari was cooked to perfection and had a wonderful crunch to it. The Whole Roasted Corn was an excellent side dish and the perfect accompaniment to the rest of the meal. The Baja Fish Taco and Gobernador Taco were both amazing - the fish was flaky and flavorful, and the toppings were spot-on. The Mushroom Barbacoa taco was bursting with flavor and had a great texture. The Soft Shell Crab taco was also excellent - the crab was fresh and the taco was perfectly seasoned.

Loved the atmosphere and selection of small plates and unusual cocktails. We ordered tuna aguachile, oysters au gratin, fried shishito peppers, fish and shrimp tacos. Fire roasted salsa is delicious!

Go for happy hour and try the blistered tempura shishitos. The classic margarita & classic Paloma were so good we didn't try any of the flavor enhancers, but you can add charred pineapple, jalapeños, basil, etc. We had the salsa trio that comes with guacamole & chips: high quality. Everyone was happy with their tacos as well.

Just popped in because I heard this place has a coolness factor…. Not disappointed!!! Ordered the Passion Fruit and Hibiscus margaritas. Not only were they served up sexy, they tasted amazing! Got to try (and possibly name) the bartenders newest creation. It’s either the Nothing Fancy, Lori or Snap Dragon. And the ceviche was delicious, however we preferred chips over the crispy tostada. Will definitely come back!!!

Look, if you want to learn about tequila and mezcal this is the spot. I drink tequila for a hobby and stumbled upon this place as I was walking by. Mind blown by the selection of real tequila and the knowledge from the bar. It’s very rare you’ll find a place with such an array of tequilas and mezcals. Don’t worry though if you’re more into mixed drinks. This place is still amazing. My gf got a mixed drink and I got a sampler of the Paloma - excellent. Can’t comment on the food as I was more interested in the drinks !

The tacos here are alright for the most part, even if they lack soul. The best tacos I've eaten have something elemental about them. They taste like they came from somebody’s home kitchen, with meats straight off of somebody’s backyard grill. Great tacos feel like there has been true labor involved, true passion and love put into their construction. Conversely, the tacos that I get at places like Death by Tequila taste like they have been formulaically engineered by a culinary school grad to bomb the mouth with flavor as fast as possible, and then be forgotten almost as quickly. Some of it could be laziness, honestly. For example, Death by Tequila uses small corn tortillas from La Fe in Escondido. I sometimes buy these same tortillas for home-use from Sprouts and Whole Foods. They’re pretty good, but it is inexplicable that a place like this isn’t making their own tortillas. Hell, for what they’re charging (>$5 per taco on average), they should be growing and nixtamalizing their own corn, then grinding their own masa. But I digress. The "Carnitas Taco" is the worst of the group. Rather than what you and I would consider to be carnitas, It is instead flaccid braised Duroc pork with a very sweet pineapple-chipotle salsa. Whatever this is, it bears absolutely zero resemblance to anything that anyone would prepare in a cazo, and it simply did not taste good to boot. The "Barbacoa Taco" is made with braised beef cheek, and is the "spiciest" of the tacos I tried here. It is cinnamon-y and sweet, and I can appreciate what they tried to do, even if it registers as an average taco for San Diego County. Better are the "Market Fish Tacos" and the "Spicy Mole Tacos," the latter being a decent and piquant potato taco, and the former featuring lightly-seasoned, mild grilled opah garnished with dill. Their riff on the Fish Taco is both different and defiant but, again, about on par with others in San Diego. I understand that food isn't the true priority here, and perhaps this review is a wee unfair because I'm reviewing a cocktail bar meant for an early-to-mid-20s crowd as if it were a serious restaurant for grown-ups. But if you want to P.R. your way into Troy Johnson’s “Eat This” list, and convince San Diego Magazine to name you the “Best New Restaurant,” you're painting a target on your back. With great hype comes great scrutiny.