Was hungry for some Mexican food and am glad we came here. It was a very nice day so we decided to sit outside. The server came right away to take our order. We started out with the Mexican street corn along with the chips and salsa. I've always had Mexican street corn that was on the cob, but I really liked it this way. Would definitely get it again because it was very good. We both ordered the spicy skinny margarita. Best skinny margarita I've ever had. Yum I ordered the traditional cheese enchilada because that's my go to for Mexican food. So good! The flavor was spot on. Lots of melty cheese. Everything was excellent and I would definitely be back when I'm in town. read more

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Located at Fashion Valley Mall, which has a lot of parking and is conveniently a metro stop, you can find Blanco on the second floor where the "food court" is right by the Lego shop. It's a cool little spot with ample seating indoors, outdoors, and at the bar. Also with really cool decor. I was staying across the street for a conference and a bit of a staycation and decided to come over here with some coworkers to relax and watch some World Cup. The bartenders here are amazing. They are great humans and really helpful in explaining the various drink specials (margarita trees are highly recommended), the local flavor favorites, and just the area itself. My coworker and I got the elote and the chicken tinga cheese crisp to share. The elote was okay. The Cheese Crisp was really satisfying, basically reminded me of a Mexican Pizza with the tortilla base. It's a cool spot to come hangout if you are the area. read more

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This is a nice restaurant for a mall dining experience. Our server was amazing! The queso is okay and our food was good. I had the cheese crisp. I had not tried one before. I would not order it again but I am glad I had the opportunity to taste one. The ambience is lovely with plenty of outdoor dining. read more

Blanco Cocina + Cantina - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

Me and my friend came on a Thursday afternoon and the place was not packed so we were taken in right away. Overall, the place was nice and decor was cute. Very open and lots of windows for natural lighting which I love. Service was okay, everyone was nice but nothing to rave about. The food was not my favorite. I ordered a Avo Caesar salad with chicken and a chicken taco plate, which were okay but I wouldnt order those items ever again. I think for the price point, i am expecting a little more from the quality of food. I don't mind paying for the price listed but I hate dry chicken. I think the protein should be cooked well if I am paying extra for my salad. The salad had chopped chicken and tiny bits of chicken (it was like the chicken was grated) sprinkled all over the dish like Parmesan. This usually happens when the chicken is too dry. The chicken taco plate came with rice and beans but very mid. I honestly wouldn't recommend this place to my friends based on what I ordered but it looks like a nice place for drinks with friends. I'm a little confused as to how the ratings are so high. read more

Another lovely meal at Blanco! We have really started to love coming to this spot when we don't want to cook but also want a spot that has easy parking and since this is in the mall we know we can easily get a spot. We love getting the side of queso to enjoy with the complimentary chips and salsa. My husband went with the combo plate this time which is a good amount of food and I changed it up from my usual and got the chicken enchiladas. Both were really good and their charro beans were super tasty!! We decided to just grab seats at the bar so we could enjoy the Padres game on tv while we ate dinner. Service is pretty quick at the bar but we did sit on the outside part which gets a little chilly so bring a jacket. read more

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Your bubble girl reviewer (peanut, tree nut, and seafood allergy) did not have an allergic reaction here. But always tell the staff about any allergies! This place has been a staple of ours, we've seen the different menu changes over a few years. We've done Cinco De Mayo, date nights, and brought family here. Unfortunately they got rid of our favorite chocolate cake (a few years ago) and we're still holding out hope they'd bring it back. We always get the short rib machaca cheese crisp, it's been a solid choice 6 years and counting. It's very crispy and comes with guacamole on top, but serves almost like a pizza. This time around we tried the birria taco and it was good, we even dipped our cheese crisp in the consumé. We tried the apple empanada, I'll definitely get it again. It's not too sweet and very crispy; a good sharing option where you can have one each! *Not pictured is the carafe of sangria we had. We almost always get it, if we don't get a margarita. They have outdoor seating and indoor seating. The outdoor has some umbrellas and lights. The booths inside aren't high backs, but still nice. Can get a little loud some nights, but nothing too crazy. Of note, if you're watching a movie at AMC they're still doing discount for your meal! read more

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One of mine & my wife's go to spots! Lots of outdoor seating to enjoy the San Diego sunshine. Service is always great, no matter who the server is, they are on top of things and always kind & welcoming. Family friendly and dog friendly if you sit outside! The food is consistently good. We came during happy hour, they have great deals. The Birria taco was huge and very tasty. The short rib machaca cheese crisp is our favorite we order it every time. Highly suggest dipping it in the birria sauce. For dessert the caramel apple empanada was really good, came out warm, wasn't too sweet, and enough to share between my wife and I. We're regulars her and everyone we bring always enjoys it, highly recommend! read more

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I've been here for happy hour and they have great margaritas! My favorite is the jalapeño and pineapple because it has a good heat and makes your lips tingle. We recently went with a large group of over ten people to celebrate a milestone birthday. The restaurant was very accommodating because although they close at 8pm on Sundays, they still allowed us to make a reservation at 7:30pm for our large group since we were at the mall playing the game show studio beforehand. They even let us bring a cake to sing happy birthday which was nice! The service was stellar and we felt bad because we didn't finish until 9pm but we never felt pressured to leave so that the staff could close and go home. They even allowed us to split the check to multiple checks because many restaurants don't allow that. We had leftover cake and left the rest for the staff to enjoy because everyone was so nice! Additionally, the food is delicious. They give you complimentary chips and salsa and the salsa is super fresh and not spicy for everyone to enjoy! I asked for a spicier salsa and they gave me a red salsa which had a nice kick. I ordered the chicken tinga chimichanga and it was tasty and cooked perfectly! I also enjoyed the rice because it wasn't a typical Spanish rice but was more like a risotto and was creamy and very flavorful. Everyone said their food and margaritas were really good and enjoyed their dinner! We had such a lovely time and being present and enjoying the moment that I forgot to take photos of our food. We will definitely come back here again for the food, drinks and excellent customer service!!! read more

Wanting a little something to tide me over, I stopped by here at 2:30 and was surprised that they have a Happy Hour from 2-4. Bar area was not busy so I grabbed one of patio tables connected to the East Bar area. Ordered the carnitas tacos which was perfect before having dinner later on. Note HH is only at the bar and seating on the patio bar area. Service by the lone bartender was off as he forgot to give me a rollup and a straw for my ice tea but not a big deal. Would return as I like the vibe and sunshine. read more

Blanco Cocina + Cantina - Happy Hour Carnitas Tacos - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

1st time here at Blanco Cocina and Cantina. Located up stairs near the movie theater in Fashion Valley mall. Parking was easy. Park on the upper level of garage C and walk over the bridge. My work team met up here on a Friday evening to celebrate a promotion. I believe there were 10 of us. Table was already set up for us since our Lead made reservations. Chips and salsa were already on the table. So I have to say, it's extremely loud in here. To the point I was getting a headache due to us practically screaming at each while talking. It wasn't overly crowded but a steady flow of people coming through. The menu consists of your typical Mexican food restaurant. I ordered the Spicy Tiger Shrimp fajitas, and a El Tesoro tequila-neat. Their fajitas are not served sizzling hot on a skillet like other restaurants. You get you choice of beans and tortilla(3), rice not included. The 5 shrimp were plump, however they were not spicy at all, like zero. They were served with plenty of jalapeños though so I'm assuming that's where the "spicy" comes in??? I also don't understand why leave the tails on the shrimp! As the customer, who wants to sit up there and take the tails off getting your hands all messy... ugh I digress! The beans were ok but lacked any kind of flavor. I would also suggest looking at your bill before you pay. The 1st check they gave me had the incorrect drink, she then brought me another bill but the charge showed $4 more than what was displayed on the menu. I paid it because at this point I was over it and ready to leave. I do not plan on returning. read more

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Ambiance..nice place with plenty of inside and outside seating Service..fast and friendly Food..freah..the starters are small portion and you can get tacos a la carte.. loved the salsa and the hot salsa..also the warm cheese and Mexican corn. I also had the sweet potato and chicken tacos..fresh. read more

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I really liked the place! We first wanted to sit at the bar, but the only seats were backless so we waited in line for a table. We were seated pretty quickly for a Friday night! Our server was quick, helpful for suggestions, and came to check in routinely. The food was delicious! We started with the queso and added beef. Definitely recommend. I ordered the machaca bowl and my husband ordered the steak fajitas. We also had a pitcher of margaritas. I think the margaritas were ok. Very syrupy so I would not order that again. We also weren't a fan of the rice. But other than that, definitely delicious! Sit on the patio to people watch was fun too! read more

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You just try this place if you're a fan of margs and queso. The margs are made with real lime juice. They are so good! We devoured the queso. The chips were light and crunchy. Seating outside is cute. Staff was friendly! read more

Blanco Cocina + Cantina - Margs and queso - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came to Blanco Cocina for Restaurant Week and tried the $35 per person 3-course menu. I have been here before and it's been solid in the past. Overall, it was a good experience. The food tasted flavorful, and while the appetizer portions were on the smaller side (must be due to the Restaurant Week deal, I'd guess), the entrées felt like normal-sized portions (burrito was huge) and were filling. Dessert was a nice way to wrap up the meal as well. The empanada was far better than the chocolate tres leches, in my opinion. The ambiance is great - the restaurant is very well decorated and has a fun, stylish vibe that makes it a nice place for a casual dinner or date night. Service was on the slower side, but we came on a Friday night around 7pm, so the restaurant was pretty busy. Our server was friendly and did his best, but you could tell he was a bit rushed and stretched thin. Water 5+ minutes to hit the table. Food probably took 25+ minutes. Nothing terrible, just something to keep in mind if you're in a hurry. All in all, solid spot for Mexican-inspired food and a good option if you're looking to try Blanco during Restaurant Week or for a casual night out. read more

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We got classic margaritas, the corn dip & the combo plate with cheese enchilada , ground beef taco & bean tostada. Service was good and fast. Now the drinks 10/10 ... the food I'm sorry but it's 4/10. It's def not authentic Mexican food ( I didn't know that) the rice taste like tv dinner, the beans are canned. So if you like " Tex Mex " this would probably work for you. I can't complain on the ambience , service and drinks tho. read more

Blanco Cocina + Cantina - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

Super cute decor. Large tables with comfortable chairs. Inside or outside seating Free salsa & chips. The salsa is sweet which I like. My friend like spicy, was able to get a hotter salsa for her I ordered the chicken tortilla soup. It was a little bland so I added some salt and that was better. But the tortillas became soggy very quick. They use full-size chips in the soup, which made it a little messy to eat. My friend got the machaca & onion cheese crisp. Really good and crispy. Large amount of guacamole in the middle. They have great margaritas with a wide variety, but we did not order. Staff was OK. Not overly friendly or prompt, but also nothing wrong. read more

Blanco Cocina + Cantina - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came for lunch to get my Cinco de Mayo started. The ambience was beautiful, thankfully it was a fantastic San Diego weather day. The company was great, they seated us quickly. The food wasn't as great as I expected being that San Diego hosts some of the best Mexican food around. But the vibes made up for it. I'd go back read more

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Ordered grilled Mahi Tacos and they were delicious.... The ambiance is relaxed and welcoming... Our server was very attentive ... The chips and salsa were also very tasty! read more

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Not sure how to feel about this place.. the first time I went, the food was good but the services sucked... We went back a second time and the Service was great and the food sucked.. So, I will return again to get my final say but until then, this review is all I got. Lol They do have a great location right inside Fashion Valley mall with a beautiful bar and outdoor seating area.. after walking around the mall shopping, its nice to have a spot where you can stop, and have a bite or a couple drinks. Until next time Blanco Cocina.... read more

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A great place to eat if you're shopping! It's super convenient being located right in the mall. The seating is gorgeous with the outdoor area having a great view. They brought out a ton of chips and had free refills on them. I got birria tacos and they were outstanding! The rice was very interesting and not what I was expecting. Overall, great food and ambiance! read more

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Enjoyed for the second time in few months at this nice restaurant inside Fashion Valley Mall! This time, tried the Sangria, the grilled shrimp taco and the crispy sweet potato taco. The Sangria was perfect, the grilled shrimp taco was good and the sweet potato taco was exceptionally delicious. Nice ambiance! The service was very good during both my visits. The waitresses kept checking with us often and making sure we are good with the food and the service. read more

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Food: We ordered most of the appetizers for a hosted client event for about 15 people. Loved the queso with meat and guacamole, actually loved everything but those were my favorite. Loved the skinny spicy margaritas and everyone else enjoyed their drinks. Service: Excellent Ambiance: Casual, modern mexican Noteworthy: Great experience, thank you! read more

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If you're anywhere near Blanco Cocina + Cantina - Fashion Valley inside Fashion Valley Mall, do yourself a favor and stop in -- this place is an absolute win for bold flavors, great vibes, and consistently delicious food. The Queso Fundido is next-level: perfectly melted, rich, and loaded with flavor -- the kind of appetizer you keep "just one more bite"-ing until it's gone. It's warm, indulgent, and pairs perfectly with their fresh tortillas and chips. And the Tucson Chimichanga? Unreal. Crispy on the outside, packed with savory goodness on the inside, and balanced with fresh toppings that keep it from feeling heavy. It's comforting, flavorful, and honestly one of the best chimichangas I've had anywhere. Add in friendly service, a lively atmosphere, and a great location in San Diego, and this spot easily earns five stars. Whether you're shopping, meeting friends, or just craving amazing Mexican-inspired food -- Blanco never disappoints. Highly recommend! read more

Blanco Cocina + Cantina - The Tucson Chimichanga - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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First time here and we had a really delicious lunch. The menu is quite diverse with many items we wanted to try. We chose the birria tacos and enchiladas. The server helped accommodate my dairy intolerance and also made us feel welcome too. The restaurant is light and bright with plenty of seating both in and outside. I made a reservation for us but it didn't seem necessary though it was pretty busy for Sunday lunch. It was an overall wonderful experience. read more

Blanco Cocina + Cantina - Birria tacos - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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Winning combo Course 1 Ceviche Course 2 Chicken Fajitas and the bowl are both excellent Course 3 Flan The chips and salsas were great and service was excellent. Both the Agua Fresca and the cold craft beer (Modern Times Orderville Hazy IPA) were cold and tasty! read more

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Stopped by for restaurant week as Blanco usually has one of the best deals. This year the queso was a smaller portion and didn't come with guac. The chicken tortilla soup is a solid choice. Chicken fajitas were delicious but a little too saucy. The short rib machaca burrito was a generous size but a little too heavy. I really enjoy the apple empanada. It tasted like an elevated apple pie from McDonald's haha. Would've been better with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream though. Overall we had a good experience but the restaurant week menu was a little disappointing compared to prior years but with rising costs we're not surprised. read more

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What happened? I am still giving you a 4-star cuz of the ambiance and the service, but I really can't pass the food. The carne asada was tough! The rice was mushy. I didn't eat my food at all. The fish taco is so-so. We usually eat here... but been awhile. Was there a change of management? or cook? I was disappointed. There's even no presentation. read more

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Better than Javier's, we stopped in for a quick snack. The first time visiting was an awesome experience. I will definitely stop in every opportunity I am at the mall. read more

Blanco Cocina + Cantina - Classic Frozen Margarita, expect less, exceeded expectations! - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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First time visit and I was impressed! The hostess was genuinely friendly and for a 5pm on a Friday we had no problem getting a seat. We were shown to a comfy booth and almost immediately had waters and chips + salsa in front of us. The chips + salsa were so good. Cooked perfectly and just the right amount of salt. The salsa was full of flavor, thick so it sticks to your chip and the spice was just right. We both ordered margaritas in the rocks with salt and they were delicious. My cousin really likes the tacos so she ordered a chicken and pollo asada taco and subbed the elote corn ($2 added cost) for the beans. The presentation was great and there was a hearty portion of meat in each taco. She said they were just as good as last time she'd been there. I was eyeing the mahi & shrimp taco, but the spicy mango ceviche also caught my attention, so I asked our amazing waiter, Matthew. Since im dairy free the tacos would be sans crema & costa, so would they still be super yummy, OR should I do the ceviche? Without hesitation Matthew said "ceviche". He said the crema really makes the shrimp taco, so it would be good, but not as good. I chose the ceviche. The ceviche was INCREDIBLE! The portion was hearty, the shrimp was so fresh and the chunks of avocado were delicious. The sauce was so good, not overwhelming, but just right. My cousin and I hadn't seen one another in a while do we sat for a while and Matthew was so patient. I really enjoyed dining at Blanco and would highly recommend you visit too! read more

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Been here 3 times now and it really is an amazing place. The food is delicious and the drinks are made to perfection. Our service has always been great, but particularly last night, Ernesto really took care of our large group. He timed everything perfectly and was able to accommodate us and went above and beyond for our group. Highly recommend whether it's a solo meal or a large group. read more

We visited Blanca Taco at Fashion Valley for a Mother's Day dinner with my wife and kids, and had a great time overall. The atmosphere was lively yet relaxed, and we were seated right away with no wait--always a plus on a special occasion. The food was solid across the board. We started with queso and chips--great flavor and presentation. The avocado taco was fresh and well-balanced. A highlight was the customized quesadillas they made for us with cheese and fajita veggies--crispy on the outside and packed with flavor. Our kids enjoyed their go-to cheese and bean burritos, and the portion and price were just right for them. Service was friendly, and the menu had enough flexibility to cater to both adults and kids. Definitely a spot we'll come back to! read more

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After a morning of shopping, this place was perfect. We sat at the bar, bartender was very friendly and attentive. We were starving and everything was delicious. Spicy skinny margaritas were read more

we went to go get some Mexican food here. It's located at the upper portion of the mall. There is free parking and I recommend going to the top level so there's a direct walkway there. They have outdoor indoor seating. We made reservations, but they were actually able to seat us a little bit earlier. Beautiful inside. The service is stellar. Our waiter was ahead of the game. I got a Rosa Bonita margarita which was good, not too sweet. The queso was good. The chips were delicious and not super greasy. I also got the fajitas which had amazing flavor. I'm from the East Coast so this had a different Mexican flavor, which I really appreciated and enjoyed. There is also some rice we ordered which was butter rice. The apple empanadas were OK, not bad. The flan was delicious and I don't really like flan. i enjoyed it. lot! read more

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Blanco Cocina & Cantina has remained at Fashion Valley over several years and has kept up since the CPK closed down. It's not authentic by any means but is a pretty restaurant to eat at after doing some shopping! The inside is polished and has a modern look to it. The group is owned by the same owners of The Henry and the interior space gives me the same modern look. It's great for large parties as there were many tables in the restaurant. I got their Carne Asada Burrito. It was a pretty hefty size, and I could do without the added ancho chili sauce on top as I don't like using a fork and knife to eat a burrito. The plate comes with your choices of charro or black beans, and I chose charro. I was unaware that they put beans in the burrito as well and found it a bit of bean overload lol but the portion for their burrito is quite large! Service is great, the food came out very quick, and we love refills on tortilla chips. Their salsa is great too, I would ask if they had anything spicy next time. I'd actually consider doing a celebration of some kind here as I feel like not too many people would reserve here and I love the atmosphere. This is one of the better options if you're looking for some solid food if you're not feeling the food court and don't want something with a big wait like Cheesecake Factory. Didn't have any drinks, but I do think they offer a wide selection of alcohol from cocktails, sangria, beer, margaritas, flights, and beer! read more

Blanco Cocina + Cantina - Grilled Shrimp Tacos - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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You really feel transported when entering this restaurant! The staff is friendly and attentive, and the overall vibes are very chill. The food was great though I had to send an item back because they forgot to take off the cheese which I requested. They fixed the order no problem! read more

I visited twice while in the area for a conference. The food is delicious but asking for no cilantro is a hit or miss depending on your server. The first time I got the Combo platter which was great. My server let me know that the rice had cilantro which was fine. The second time I got the shrimp tacos and asked for no cilantro and no cilantro crema. My server didn't tell me that the avocado were mixed in a cilantro sauce so I had to get it remade. The tacos came out with just pickled cabbage so I asked for some plain avocado and got charged for it read more

Blanco Cocina + Cantina - The Combo Platter - Tacos Near Me - San Diego, California

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Had an hour to kill while the Apple Store adjusted my new IPhone at the Fashion Valley Mall in San Diego, so I decided to try the visually appealing restaurant Blanco Cocina & Cantina adjacent to the AMC theaters. I sat at the bar where I ordered the chopped chicken salad and a beer. $30 with a modest tip. I should have known better. Rent is so obscenely high at malls everywhere that I expected to pay for the privilege of dining there, but what I didn't expect was an $18 chicken chopped salad with almost no chicken in it at all! I doubt that what I received amounted to a single oz of tiny chunks of what appeared to be canned chicken. Come on! You guys are not dispensing gold nuggets! Would providing 4-8 ozs of fresh cooked quality chicken in an $18 menu item labeled as "chopped chicken salad" be so hard to do? I suggest you cut back elsewhere or raise you price just $1 to provide what any reasonable customer would expect. What a bad business practice! When I think of all the times I've seen a movie next door and all the times I'll probably do that again, it's clear that Blanco short circuited what could have been a long term continuing customer relationship. Sorry, but I won't be back. And please, no boilerplate canned response about your disappointment about falling short of your lofty goals. read more

Based on previous reviews, I'm wondering if they had an off day when I went.. The food was just okay. Nothing I'd rave about. The food was a little bland and dry. The Tres Leche cake was super soggy. I went during SDRW, so it was a little wait but it wasn't packed packed. The food did take a long while to come out, but they do give you chips&salsa to munch on as you wait. read more

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Located in 'Fashion Valley Mall' on the 2nd level of the Café Terrace by the AMC. Easy access from and to the parking structures' top level. I wanted a good burrito so I stopped here, but ordered take-out this past Saturday at 7 pm. The 2 hostesses were extremely welcoming and friendly. One of them gladly took my order and kept me updated as I waited by their patio. It's such a beautiful location. Every employee seemed happy to work there which is a sign of good management. The restaurant is clean with a fun, Latin atmosphere and a nice patio. Full-size bar with happy hour from 2 pm-4 pm weekdays & all day Tuesdays (in the bar area). The food and cocktails looked very appetizing with good presentation. I ordered their 'Carne Asada Burrito' and it tasted super good. It had beans and steak inside, covered with jack cheese and chili sauce. On the side, a side of guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, rice, and beans. The steak was so tender. We also ordered their 'Shrimp Fajitas' which were flavorful. Chips and salsa were included with our meal. Overall, we had a good experience here and will definitely return to try other menu items and their good-looking cocktails. read more

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The food here is amazing! My husband and I had their surf & turf burrito, and it hasn't been a miss. The servers are quick & on top of it. Inside and out, the vibe feels like a place we enjoy. The music is good, and it's giving lowkey Mexico vibes. read more