Food, service, and atmosphere were great. Our server Yolanda was very kind and efficient.

OK at first I thought kids eat free every day of the week was a ploy to get people in to the restaurant and it definitely was but for good reason. The main platters were really good. The Carne Asada was restaurant quality super juicy not dry at all. Food came out really fast and I was a little skeptical of the quality because it came out so fast, but it was really good. My son's chicken tenders was a healthy portion. There was more than enough food to go around plenty of rice and beans to share. Carnitas's platter was good I guess, I didn't try it cause I don't really like pork like that. Salsa and chips and black bean dip were really good. We did order a side of guacamole for dipping. That thing was 15 bucks, wasn't my favorite part of the experience. Besides the food quality, our Server really made the day. She didn't really do too much special, but I will say she is of the boomer generation and in my experiences, they haven't been the most hospitable. She was very sweet, very kind, and not in a rush. Anything we needed she made it happen and most importantly she didn't seem like we were an inconvenience or an imposition. I think that's the biggest thing. Definitely hospitality focused so that's something I can appreciate. Good food, good service my boys eat free and they like the food. You can't go wrong. read more

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I know Old Town is a tourist trap, but it's one of the few that is actually historic, and charming. so we decided to give this place a shot. The Bad: The service was slow. Our server really should have been writing things down, as we had to ask several times just to get a milk for my kid. When the chips came out, they were warm but stale. For my main course, I ordered the chile relleno, but it didn't taste anything like what was described on the menu--there was no pomegranate and no blackened chicken. I ate it anyway just because I was hungry and didn't want to wait around for a remake. To top it off, someone who looked like a manager was walking around doing table touches, and he literally checked on every single table around us except ours. It was just weird. The Good: On the positive side, kids eat free with a paid adult, which is a great perk. The bean dip that came with the chips was actually delicious, and the view is nice. It also seemed like other servers were on top of their game. I think I heard one of them say her name was Claudia, and she was absolutely crushing it. In the time it took us to just flag our guy down for a refill and a box, I watched her check on four tables, grab two refills, and bring out boxes for two other parties. Our server was kind, but he just seemed completely overwhelmed. The home made tortillas were fantastic read more

This was my second time visiting Old Town San Diego in the last few weeks. This time my family decided to try out Barra Barra Saloon. The restaurant itself is beautiful. Beautifully decorated, very similar to what I enjoyed while in Mexico. Service was quick. We were seated. We had to check our stroller at the door which was fine, but they did not have a high chair for my son. I found it odd considering this is a family restaurant. Lucky my son is 3 and is able to sit in a full-size chair with assistance. The food was all great. Plenty of options to choose from. Steak was tender, shredded beef was full of flavor. Loved the homemade tortillas. Tasted just like my mom's. One down side was a soda was 5.50! Wow. That's pretty excessive. I did want to mention that a 4% sur-charge is added on to your bill. This is supposedly to help defray costs. read more

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I fear that people might visit Barra Barra as their one and only Southern California Mexican food experience, and walk away thinking that Mexican food is just alright. San Diego has some of the best Mexican food in the country, and this place ain't it. But it's also in a touristy area (Old Town San Diego), so it's difficult to expect much. First, let's talk about the sangria. No alcohol was harmed in the making of my sangria, I'm sure of it. It was all sweet stuff and no booze, which is a shame because it was almost $20. The choriqueso, I'm pretty sure, did not have any chorizo in it. Instead, it had ground beef. But it does come with homemade tortillas, which you use to eat the queso. We also got a kids' bean, rice and cheese burrito, which my child loved. And the ceviche, which comes with chips. And the carne asada plate, which comes with rice and beans. The one thing that I loved was the complimentary chips and salsa, which is also served with a dish of refried black beans. They are replenished throughout your meal, and they're amazing. Honestly, I should have just gotten a beer and chips. That would have made a great meal. The location is great, if you're visiting Old Town San Diego. The patio seating is beautiful, and you should take advantage of the nice weather and sit outside, if you can. read more

We had been to Barra Barra in the past and decided to return this year for Cinco de Mayo on our vacation. We had two dishes: steak fajitas and carne asada with shrimp. Both were delicious! They were served with homemade tortillas, beans and rice. The meat was tender and seasoned to perfection. The tortillas were fantastic! We can't get these at home in Sacramento. The meal was also served with chips, salsa, and bean dip. The atmosphere is old Mexico. Bougainvillea covered patio, cacti, Mexican folk art all around. My idea of paradise! To top it off, our waitress, Gabriela was amazing! Helpful with suggestions, efficient with refills, made us feel like we were really taken care of. She puts her heart into her work! I highly recommend Barra Barra to others who visit Old Town San Diego! read more

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Barra Barra Saloon is on of overlooked and underrated restaurants in this area. The only drawback is that they don't offer pitchers of margaritas. The service is great, wonderful outdoor seating. The portions are huge! I ended up taking home my leftovers. read more

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Lots of signage indicating specific and special celebrations for you on the 5th day of your birthday month and a free meal on your bday! The menu is huge with lots of customized options to choose. I was in love with the service of our server who was very patient with us, he came back often and made suggestions. We loved the texture of the complimentary tortilla chips tasted like they were made in house. Ambiance was festive with a live band nearby! They served us with the chips with the most delicious warm refried black beans and mild red salsa. We ended up ordering the combo I did two items and my partner chose 3 items which ended up being too much! His tamale was thick masa with strips of green chile and chicken in red sauce. Spanish rice was bomb with peas, carrots, little bit of onion and it was the first thing I ate before devouring the carne asada with crispy strips of steak. My shredded chicken enchilada was so enjoyable with white melted cheese inside and melted creamy orange cheese on top with savory refried pinto beans. The umami flavors were amazing and I ate my whole plate. read more

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Located in old town San Diego. Came on a Friday night wasn't packed, you can either sit inside or outside. They have a bar area with seating as well. The menu is expansive. Be sure to check the menu for daily specials. Upon seating you get complimentary chips, salsa and black beans. Tried the chicken fajitas, comes with sautéed bell peppers, rice, beans with cojita cheese, pico, sour cream, guacamole. Ordered a Jamaica agua Fresca (tasted like sangria and apple juice). Food was okay. The guacamole was quite flavorful everything else kinda lacked something. Service was decent, one waitress was servicing 4 tables alone. Ambiance gives off a touristy vibe. read more

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Went with the Family, including our four month old grandson. Hostess said we could not take stroller in. We had to leave stroller outside. We were seated in outdoor patio, on the way to our table, we passed two people eating, and they had a stroller next to them, with a dog inside. Also service was extremely slow. Server was extremely overwhelmed. Lastly, there was a 24% service charge added to our bill. read more

Extremely disappointing experience. We arrived at 8:10 p.m., and the hostess told us the wait would be approximately 40-45 minutes. After waiting well beyond that time without receiving the text notification we were promised, I went back to ask about our table. Instead of checking on our reservation or apologizing for the delay, the hostess responded with an attitude and told me they were about to close. By that point, it was already 9:50 p.m. I asked why we hadn't been told that from the beginning, especially after waiting for so long. I was there with four hungry children, and the lack of communication was completely unacceptable. When I asked to speak with a manager, the hostess turned her back on me and continued walking past me, making rude comments instead of trying to help. The manager eventually came over and did his best to address the situation, and I appreciate his effort. Unfortunately, the hostess's behavior had already ruined the experience. Good customer service starts with respect and honest communication. This experience fell far below that standard. I will not be returning, and I cannot recommend this restaurant based on the way we were treated. read more

We're locals here in San Diego, and to be honest, we don't come to Old Town very often because... well, tourists.. all the Arizonans, utahans, and nevadens... But every once in a while we like to stroll through, and Bara Bara Saloon makes it feel worth it especially for parents. First off: kids under 10 eat free. LET'S GO That alone deserves a shoutout. Food: We ordered the carne asada and camarón platter and it was more than enough food. My wife got the taco salad, which she enjoyed, and the kids went classic with quesadilla and mac & cheese (plus milk). No complaints from anyone which is a win when you're eating out with kids. The complimentary chips, bean dip, and salsa were a hit too. Always appreciated. Vibe: The atmosphere honestly reminded me of Encanto colorful, lively, and made me feel like I was on a little mini getaway in Mexico. You forget you're in a tourist zone for a bit, which is nice. Service: Overall, service was quick and solid. Our server was amazing super attentive, kept checking on us, and stayed on top of water refills. The only downside was the host. When we asked for a table for four, he didn't say hello or really say anything at all, no eye contact or greeting, just nodded and walked us to our table. We kept saying "thank you," but maybe he was having a rough day. It happens. All that said, Bara Bara Saloon is a solid spot. Good food, family-friendly perks, great server, and a fun vibe. If you're in Old Town and want a place that actually feels welcoming for families, I'd recommend giving it a try. read more

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To the response to the general manager stateton, that they don't use lab grown meat bye, says that it's highly au. Authentic meat used at their restaurant now. I don't know if this gentleman has not sat at a table at his restaurant, but the meat is all the same. It's all prepared from The freezer to the grill and there is nothing authentic about the meat except of the aroma. The smell from the chips and salsa. I thank you.Definitely.Need a sit and eat a plate at your own restaurant and see exactly why my preview stated all these concerns.Thank you again, but this is definitely not authentic mexican food, but poison read more

The service was top notch! We sat outside but it started to rain the staff accommodated us very quickly. The tamales were amazing!! The ambiance was fantastic and all of the small details really made the setting inviting. The fireplace was the highlight for me. I was sad that we had to go inside, but to our surprise we sat right by the fireplace inside. Great atmosphere and great food. read more

We came back again having flown in from Hawaii for a conference. This time we sat in the front and for whatever reason, it was so much better than inside. The food was much better than 2yrs ago, more flavorful and much approved. I remember ordering the tamale 2yrs ago and it just wasnt good (hard). This time wanting to try something different, the veggie burrito did not disappoint. It was flavorful and so much that I took back half for later that night. We were the last patrons to enter with the restaurant empty but they still took care of us without making us feel rushed. read more

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Do not sleep on this dog and kid friendly restaurant in Old Town. We used to come here before having our Little One and knew they were dog friendly but we were pleasantly surprised to find out they also have kids eat free every day with the purchase of an entree. The high chairs were very clean which was unexpected but so appreciated. Our awesome server was super attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. We were sat next to two fire stations to keep up warm and all the food came out so quick. We were even sat near a TV to watch the NFL playoffs. Honestly could not have asked for a better dinner! read more

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We rode The Coaster down to San Diego Old Town and after a short walk from the transit station we wound up here for lunch. Sure glad we did. Finding something to eat for the picky eater can always be fun at a Mexican restaurant but she likes the carnitas from Chipotle so we gave the Pork Carnitas Platter a shot with the request that everything but the pork be on the side. :-) They delivered perfectly and the roast pork was flavorful and not spicy. She loved it and I had all the other "stuff" available to me if I wanted it. I ordered the Tamale, Taco and Enchilada Combination and it was a great choice as well. Pork tamale was tasty. Pollo Guisado Indian Flatbread Taco was tasty and I loved the softness of the Indian Flatbread. Beef Machaca Enchilada was tasty. Sides were good and it was all very filling. We sat outside on a pleasant day and the service was worthy of a generous tip. The only complaint was that the hard wooden chairs were a little hard on this old boy and I was a little stiff standing back up. We enjoyed ourselves enough that I would gladly take The Coaster again just to dine here and order the same things again. read more

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We stopped in while visiting old town. Great outdoor seating to enjoy the beautiful San Diego weather. So delicious and plenty of gluten free options. Our server Yolanda was friendly and knowledgeable about celiac and options. We enjoyed beef enchiladas with a read sauce, it was a nice flavorful enchilada and tender shredded beef. The carne asada tacos were delicious and a corn salad in lieu of beans with a nice level of spice! All of us enjoyed the food, and the kids too! read more

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When visiting Old Town San Diego with my family or when entertaining friends there are plenty of safe options for Mexican food and Bara Bara Saloon is a great option if you want to avoid the other more popular spots. . The restaurant has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating with plenty of seating and shade. Right next to the Reyes Shopping Square next to the stage with daily performances. The restaurant is in a beautiful historic building with great decorative arts. This is a definite tourist treat with friendly staff. While you cannot call the food authentic Mexican, they do have a delicious variety of dishes that will fill your belly and please your taste buds. If you want to enjoy a day of feeling like a tourist this is a great option. read more

Yolanda was amazing, super energetic and easy going. They had an amazing all you can eat taco Tuesday deal with so many varieties. We came on cinco de mayo and they were a well oiled machine which is rare for holidays like these for most restaurants. I would highly recommend you come check it out. read more

Barra Barra - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Stopped by with a friend to try the food here and was disappointed. While the location and seating area is pretty, especially on a warm day the food was sub par. I ordered the Pollo Chile Relleno and was disappointed when I saw a small overcooked piece of chile drowning in cheese with maybe three or four small pieces of chicken inside. The cheese wasn't cooked thru all the way either and a bit cold the further inside the chile I got. The accompanying Spanish rice was ok but the black beans were a bit off as well. I would avoid this place and head next door to Casa de Reyes instead, which I think is managed by the same team, yet has better food. read more

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Came here for lunch and it definitely made me appreciate Mexican cuisine more! Authentic, delicious food just like you'd hope for. It was a hot day, so we sat outside. It has a clean setup and super friendly service. I don't have a ton of experience with Mexican cuisine besides Taco Tuesdays, but everything we ordered was tasty. The flour tortilla that came with the dishes were freshly made, soft, chewy, warm and huge. Could've used a little more spice here and there, but hey .. Tapatío to the rescue! Would definitely come back to try more dishes! read more

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Visited Old Town SD today and we were hungry so decided to come here for dinner. Here's the reason for my overall rating: 2 stars: Delicious barra barra pork carnitas platter with flour tortilla. Enough portion to share for 2 people. Definitely worth getting again. Tender carnitas meat with plenty of guacamole and refried beans and rice. Upon being seated by the manager, he quickly brought out complimentary chips, salsa, and warm black bean dip. This was nice as the black bean dip was delicious. The chips also had this seasoning that was delicious. This manager was friendly and greeted us and even gave us a selection of tables to choose from. 1 more star: Busboy Omar gave us refills on our chips, salsa, and black bean dip without even asking. He even refilled out drinks without even asking. Reason for 2 less stars: Then came our waitress.I didn't get her name but she was totally absent and when she was present she was rude and had attitude. Took her a long time for her to approach our table and get our order. When I asked her for extra napkins she looked at me as if I had asked her to do a lot of work. Then she just plopped them down after waiting for 5 minutes. When my hubby saw her interactions with other guests at other tables, she was actually pleasant and checked in on them often. When we tried to flag her down to get refills of water she completely ignored us. Then when we tried to get her attention, my hubs had to call out loudly to her and she paused before she turned around and slowly came towards us. This was just one table away and I was the one that saw her roll her eyes and sigh before coming to our table. Please note that we didnt trouble her at all because we knew she was unpleasant and absent with us to begin with. We only flagged her down to get the check and leave. Definitely docked her on her portion of her tip. Also there's an automatic 4% surcharge to cover for their operational cost. Whatever that means. I missed getting our waitress's name...otherwise, I would have told the manager directly about her extreme lack of service. It was getting late and we wanted to go back to our hotel to rest. Overall I would say come here to good tasting food and TGTO try their delicious black bean dip. Hopefully other people will get other waiters that actually care about your dining experience. read more

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Excellent food and super cool atmosphere! Vegetarian friendly. The cheese tamales are delicious! Highly recommended! Special props to our server, Yolanda! Thank you! read more

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. read more

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Ate here because it's V-Day and all the other places had long wait times. This place had no wait. The food was okay--mediocre overall. Service wasn't bad, but beware: there's a 4% surcharge fee. read more

Barra Barra - Carne Asada platter - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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I came into Barra Barra Saloon because they advertise "kids eat free with every paying adult," which sounded like a good deal. Turns out, that's not really true. They decided that menudo somehow doesn't count as an entrée, which feels super misleading. If you're going to promote something, at least honor it without weird loopholes. And to make it worse, even the kids' drinks aren't included in the deal. So "kids eat free" ends up having a bunch of hidden catches that make it not much of a deal at all. They even charge extra for spicy salsa, which just adds to the feeling that they nickel-and-dime you for everything. On top of that, the food wasn't even worth the hassle. It was pretty average at best--definitely not something I'd go out of my way for again. Between the confusing "deal," the extra charges, and the underwhelming food, I honestly wouldn't recommend this place. There are way better spots that don't play games with their customers. read more

It was busy but we didnt have any wait, we were seated immediately. The patio table was lovely. Excellent food. We loved the bean dip that came with the chips. Everything tasted authentic. It was the perfect meal after a long day at Sea World. read more

Yolanda was amazing!!! Our waitress was a little behind and Yolanda picked up our table as soon as she'd realized we had been waiting a little while... great service from her. The vibe and the food was AMAZING! read more

Barra Barra - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Stopped in and had an amazing experience. The food was absolutely delicious--fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. Everything came out hot and well-prepared, and you can tell they take pride in what they serve. What really stood out though was the service. The staff was incredibly friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed without ever feeling rushed. It's the kind of place where you feel welcomed the moment you walk in. Great food, great atmosphere, and excellent service. I'll definitely be coming back and recommending this spot to friends and family. read more

Great bang for your buck with quick service. My kids enjoyed themselves so that's enough for me!

Been years since I have been here and just went here a few weeks ago before I went to a tea party. I had some time to kill and dropped by here for a drink. Who knew a Mexican restaurant would have such a great sangria? And I loved their salsa. So much so my husband and I had three bowls. Almost made us too full for the tea event we were going to at Rust. We will be back soon to try out the actual menu. That is if we don't get too full from the chips and awesome salsa. read more

Barra Barra Saloon is the neglected middle child of Old Town San Diego. Next door is the much more beloved first child, Casa De Reyes Restaurant: popular, energetic, people packed, live music, surrounded loving aunts and uncles, I mean cute little touristy shops, fun, beautiful and very successful. Barra Barra Saloon is actually owned by the same people, the menu is nearly identical to Casa De Reyes, and the food is just as good. Since Barra is less busy, there is usually no wait to get a table and the waitstaff are far less busy and therefore give you lots more attention. Ambience isn't as a epic as her older sister Casa De Reyes, but it's still nice enough. $23 3 Item combos are fantastic, no matter what you choose. You'll be stuffed! Give Barra a chance, especially if someone one in your group is "hangry" and must eat immediately. read more

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Aaaah, no thank you Ryan. Food quality wasn't there for us. VERY limited menu! VERY LIMITED! I have a shellfish allergy ... so not much here for me 'cept a burrito or fajita. They are gluten free friendly. Vegan friendly. But don't care about shellfish allergy people . No chips n salsa - everything is fried in the same oil. But that's ok, salsa was/is like water anyway! The rest of the food we ordered- no flavor! Left most of it on our plates! NOT IMPRESSED! WON'T BE BACK! DON'T RECOMMEND! read more

Great service, food was prepared to order and they offer a good variety of Mexican food, the casual atmosphere is full with vibrant decore and Latin music If you are in Old Town San Diego como visit them and try they Barra Barra Sampler read more

Food here is mediocre and the service was pretty lacking, so many other better Mexican food spots in SD that aren't there just to cater to tourists. We were there on a Sunday with a light crowd and still there were no refills, we had to ask. 4 entrees, 2 cocktails, 1 beer, and one soft drink $160+ for Meh food and service, no thanks sorry. Normally I'd round up for a 1/2 star, but the 4.5% "service fee" to offset operational costs, pushed the rating the other way. read more

Awesome customer service by Vicky and her staff. Very attentive and kind. Food was mediocre, a 7 out of 10. It wasn't bad but didn't stand out. I had their barra barra California burrito. It was about $22 and was average. The chips, salsa and black beans were delicious, I don't think I will be coming back with other great restaurants around. read more

Barra Barra - Barra Barra Cali-Burrito- - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Not only was all of our food delicious and came out fast, our server, Vicky was sweet, attentive and took great care with everything! The patio has such a fun and beautiful ambiance, highly recommend. The Barra Barra burrito was seriously delicious, and I loved the rice. read more

Barra Barra - The patio - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Underwhelming experience. They messed up our order. Carne asada tacos were not close to a taco. There was no rush but the service was so bad. Expected a lot more from this place. The ambiance is the only thing that good about this place. read more

Food came out super quick! Kudos for that, portions were generous, service was formidable. Would have liked a little bit more flavor on the fried beans though. Tortilla chips were warm and delicious! So as the salsa to go with them, pretty tasty! read more

Barra Barra - Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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