Stopped in for All you can eat taco Tuesday, $20 for all you can eat taco with the purchase of any drink. Start with two taco plate with rice and beans, additional taco plates come with two tacos, no rice and beans. Tacos are good sized, tried the beef, carnitas, chicken, and chili Verde. Tacos were delicious and very filling. Staff is very friendly and attentive. Food came fast and hot. Highly recommend. Price was $32 with tax and tip. read more

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Usually this is a fave place of ours. But they were off their game tonight in so many ways: 1) they never brought our chips and salsa out until 20 minutes later when we asked the hostess to do so; 2) it took 15 minutes to even take our order for water, drinks and food and by the time our food was delivered the drinks had not yet been brought out; 3) the drinks were brought out later but my husband's drink was the wrong one and they forgot a glass for my beer; 4) my pork taco had more fat than meat (ugh); 5) I detest melamine plates - even as an extra plate for sharing a meal. C'mon folks, serve the food in real stoneware or ceramic dishes not plastic! The place is all dolled up for Dia de Los Muertos festivities -- it's a shame they were obviously short staffed today and the service was sub-standard. read more

This spot used to be called Hamburguesa back in the day, and today the tradition of good food and good service continues at Barra Barra. I have made this my new go-to spot with family and make it out for dinner at least 2-3 times a month. The ambiance is fun and decorative while the colors and flare of the place is stylish. Tony has been our server many times and has always taken great care of us. The food is delicious, and the portions are large. Even though Old Town draws plenty of tourists, the staff make sure the locals feel just as welcome and well taken care of. Thank you to everyone at Barra Barra for making our dining experiences memorable. You are a big part of why we keep coming back. See you soon! read more

Celebrated August Cinco de MeeYo with a couple of friends for our August birthdays. We had a great time. Excellent service, excellent food and excellent atmosphere. We were seated quickly and our server was so attentive. Seth came to our table straight away for our order. Chips and salsa came out in a flash. Never had to ask for a refill. Excellent service. I loved the Fajita Parrillada. it was so yummy - mix of steak, chicken, carnitas and sausage. The portion of guacamole and sour cream was perfect. The house made flour tortillas are incredible. One friend had the fish burrito and she said it was so well made and flavorful. She could only eat half. Other friend had tamales which she said were very delicious. She enjoyed the cheese and sauce on top too. read more

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Its Monday, so its a slower day. Stopped in for lunch Plenty of parking close by Restroom inside Great for groups and intimate Patio seating. Services were spot on, very attentive. Free chips and salsa and taster of black beans. Delicious Monday was buy one get one margarita free. Kids eat free. Food was hot and fast Great place to stop in if you're on tour, or local. Enjoy! read more

Barra Barra - Guacamole appetizer - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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We went here in May. It was my wife's and mother in-law's birthdays. Both of their meals were free. My daughter's meal was also free. Kids eat free every day. The chimichanga was ok. The Carne Asada was great, as was the guac. My daughter loved the mac and cheese. The deep fried ice cream was huge. The exterior and interior looked like an authentic, tourist place. It was fun. 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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My family and I stumbled upon this place due to the amazing smell coming from the restaurant. The moment we stepped into the perimeter, all of the staff treated us very well!!! On top of that the food was bomb.com. As you can we we started digging in before I could take a picture. Do not be scared to try this place, you won't be disappointed!! 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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Came to Old Town, looking for food and saw their Taco Tuesday special. Justin explained it to us, joked with us, and made our experience very pleasant. He warned us the tacos were large, but I had no idea. I was only able to eat three, as they were loaded with cabbage and pico. The bean dip was amazing and the chips were nice and light. I had the carnitas- nice, but could be crisped up a little, baja fish- excellent, and asada- didn't have the asada feel like street tacos . It's the kind of place that you could come and relax with your friends. The prices weren't bad, especially for the location. read more

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Our first time dining at barra barra and it did not disappoint, traditional fajitas and crab stuffed salmon were amazing! Our server justin was great, he was on top of everything from start to finish 10/10 reccomend read more

Very disappointing experience at Barra Barra in Old Town San Diego. The Mexican food was poor, especially considering the prices. The nachos were dry, and the carne asada portion was ridiculously small. Honestly, the only thing big here was the prices. To make matters worse, there was no air conditioning, which made the experience even more uncomfortable. Our waitress was also rude and unwelcoming. Old Town has plenty of better Mexican restaurants. Unfortunately, Barra Barra was a huge disappointment, and I would not return. read more

Nice restaurant near the entrance of Old town. Ordered shredded beef enchiladas and they were perfect. Chips and mole were also fresh and tasty. Service was great once I got help. read more

Barra Barra - Beef enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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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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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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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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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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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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The place is excellent perfect to enjoy with your family and the food is amazing , the restaurant it's in a wonderful spot

If I could give this place zero stars, I would. Food was Not good and very low quality.Service was alright. Ambiance was Okay, but it was extremely hot inside. There was no AC and no fan, which made it very uncomfortable. Also, get ready to get ripped off. We were not even a party of eight, and they still charged us an extra 20% on top of our bill, plus another 4% surcharge. Overall, I do NOT recommend this place. read more

The place is magical it's not a restaurant! It's home away from home. It has top quality service like family members who welcome you home. The food has its own way of being cooked like the old way.Fresh and hot from the kitchen to your plate to your table. They have fabulous kids meals that our grandkids love my fiancé and me travel from Orange County almost twice month to enjoy vibe & this place we call home with such beautiful memories. Martin & Jeana read more

Barra Barra - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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

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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We absolutely loved our lunch. Debating where to eat in Old Town was overwhelming when we happened upon Barra Barra and luckily decided to give them a try! From entrance to exit the staff was friendly, considerate, knowledgeable and kind. The chips, salsa and black bean dip were delicious, as was our Chili Relleno burrito, which we added Carne Asada to. YUM! Having the kids eat free was bonus enough but my daughters LOVED the bean burritos they got as well. Add to that the loveliest patio which was breezy and beautifully maintained with lush and mature landscaping. Honestly we couldn't have enjoyed it more. Gracias! read more

We've been coming to Barra Barra for years, and it continues to be one of our absolute favorite places! The service is always incredible, the food is absolutely delicious, and the drinks are amazing. You truly can't beat the atmosphere either! What keeps us coming back year after year is how consistently wonderful our experience is. We always feel welcomed, taken care of, and leave happy. Great food, great drinks, great people, and such a beautiful atmosphere. Barra Barra will always be a favorite for us! read more

First off the food was good. But the big sign out front stated buy a beverage and get 50% off one meal, once it was time to check out it was discovered that deal was only for "locals". Other than it being a little pricey I could go back read more

Barra Barra - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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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As a server myself If I could give 0 stars I would Drove 2 hrs, came in for my brothers birthday and they ruined the whole vibe The worst service everrrr. We only say the waitress about 3 times & the food came out wrong 3x, the waitress said her name was Celeste but the receipt says Guadalupe. They also charge auto gratuity for horrible service(100$ tip to only see our waiter 3 times and for food to be wrong multiple times!) read more

The food, the ambiance and the service was EXCELLENT! YOLANDA WAS OUR SERVER AND SHE WAS AMAZING. She provided fast and excellent service and was very friendly throughout the whole time. We had a great experience and we will come back for sure. read more

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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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

We stopped for a quick break to have a drink. Didn't order food other than a small salad. Our server was great, the chips are great, my Acapulco margarita was great, the ambiance is great. The bean dip that comes with their chips is pretty good but the salsa can use improvement. It's puréed and a bit bland. People around us ordering food seemed to enjoy and the portion sizes are large. I'd come back hungry next time. 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

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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Food is great. Service with a smile. Shout out to Gabriela she's authentic and made my experience real, yumm!

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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Immaculate vibes, delicious food, wonderful music, it was my favorite place to eat out of the 5 nights we were here for comic con. Ask for Yolanda, she is the best! read more

Stopped in for lunch. The place had a truly authentic old town look about it. Our server was real nice. The chips, Salsa and Beans were delicious. The food was prepared quickly and was delicious. I'd highly recommend this restaurant for authentic Mexican food read more

Barra Barra - Carnne Asada and fish tacos w beans and rice - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California