I haven't been able to make here as often as I'd like, but when I do, it's a treat! We had just finished working with freshmen and needed to unwind and why not come here since we knew the margaritas would be perfect! The woman who took care of us, recognized us and commented that it had been a while. I ordered the sirloin street tacos. So tender and everything just works so well together. My colleague got the trio of moles. It looked really good, and he said it has not changed...in all the years he's come here. And that's one of the great things about Cantina, is the consistency in the cooking. We were feeling pretty good when we left. This is one of those San Diego mainstays that everyone should visit once, twice, or three times a month! Great happy hour! read more

Cantina Mayahuel - Did someone say tacos? One of the best HH! - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

I loved the rustic charm. It genuinely felt like I had stepped into a little corner of Mexico. The tequila and mezcal selection!! Wow!!! So many choices. And that art gallery touch made it feel unique and kind of special. Plus, the service! Attentive, friendly, and just on point. Definitely a spot I'd go back to. I had the Jamaica margarita which was awesome! read more

See all

we got chicken mole (tuesday & friday only) - you can pick any combination of red, black, & green so we tried all 3. the mole rojo was my favorite for the cinnamon-y spices, but we also liked the mole negro's deep chocolate, as well as the mole verde's nuttiness from pepitas & the lighter, green tomatillo flavor that balanced out the other two varieties the dish came w 3 chicken tenders, which wasn't a lot but still enough to be filling, & the chicken was well-cooked. (all the sauces were on the same plate so i might ask for them on the side next time.) on the side came 3 tortillas & a small bowl of black beans & rice - i appreciated they were on another plate, which made room for more mole sauce. the beans were well-cooked too, & the savory rice had a hint of lime we went for lunch & were told to seat ourselves. there are just qr codes for the menu but still servers who take your order. water is self-serve. & they didn't have to-go boxes but rather open, unlined paper containers & foil. overall the place seemed minimally staffed & "rustic" but food service was still p fast read more

Cantina Mayahuel - tortillas, black beans & rice (2 orders) - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

An okay spot overall. It's located in Normal Heights with street parking only, and the space itself is actually really charming -- lots of indoor and outdoor seating, different rooms, and beautiful, authentic furniture and art throughout. The ambiance is definitely the highlight. Unfortunately, the food was just average. The tortillas were disappointing, and most of the dishes leaned bland. I ordered the special of the day, and it was overcooked and lacked flavor. Others in our group ordered tacos and felt the same -- just okay. We were a large group with people arriving at different times, and while we were being seated, the staff seemed a bit annoyed and not very welcoming. Not a deal‑breaker, but definitely noticeable. On the positive side, they do have a large selection of liquors and specialty margaritas, which might be the stronger draw here. Overall, a beautiful space with great décor, but the food and service didn't quite match the vibe. read more

Cantina Mayahuel - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Great tequila selection, food, and service! Surprisingly, they had a little art studio as well with beautiful pieces and other wonderful finds. They also offer tequila by the bottle for sale. read more

We love coming here. It is some of the 'cleanest' Mexican food + drinks around. The staff is always friendly, quick, and attentive. We've gotten many different food items over the years. Chips and Salsa, Serranos are always a must. Nice crispy chips with good salsa. The Caesar Salad cant be beat with the excellent dressing, add shrimp. Tacos are great if ordering a la carte, the plates are good if you want a larger dish. The Preuvian beans have great flavor and their rice, is flavorful. The specials are always on point, my favorite is the Mole. I absolutely love their fresh drinks and selection of tequila + mezcal. The Paloma is my go to. If you're looking for a greasy plate of tacos covered in a mountain of cheese this isn't the place. read more

See all

Came in to purchase bottles at the shop and the individual was very short & not friendly. Looking at others people's reviews and it checks out. That was the first and last time walking in there. read more

Had a great early dinner with the wife and kids here. Margaritas are on point and happy hour Monday-Fri is 12-6pm. We went on a Saturday so no luck on happy hour, but the food was good! Kids are ONLY allowed before 7. Larger groups could sit outside but probably not great for groups larger than 5-6. Got the shrimp torta and the steak torta. Both were great. Kids got a carnitas plate that the staff made "kid friendly". Carnitas had great flavor too. Would go again! read more

Cantina Mayahuel - House margs - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Server was great. Tacos were forgettable- shrimp taco was slightly overcooked, pork carnitas under seasoned. Mezcal selection was good! read more

Cantina Mayahuel - Mezcal flight - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Sooo good!!! We have dined here several times now and I'm trying taking the time to give them the recognition deserved My husband loves their chicken mole with 3 different kinds! I wanted something lighter and tried their salad with a side of carne for protein. Chips and guacamole are so legit. We also decided to enjoy a Mezcal shot to complement our lunch. read more

Cantina Mayahuel - Mezcal Blanco - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

I kinda understand why this place has a 3.9 rating. Starting with the downsides, there wasn't really any greeting when I walked in, and they don't have printed menus. They do have QR codes, but weirdly you can't actually order through them, so it felt a little confusing. It also took quite a while for someone to come take my order even though the restaurant wasn't busy. The bar area inside looked nice, but from the outside the place honestly looked closed. The curtains were shut and everything looked a little dusty and old, so at first I genuinely thought they weren't open. Overall, I'd probably give the atmosphere and service around a 3/5. Now for the good part, I happened to come during happy hour which is Tuesday to Friday from 12-6, and they actually have a really good taco selection for great prices. They only serve 1option of canned beer unfortunately, but the vegetarian tacos were absolutely delicious and easily a 5/5 for me. I really think if they improve the service and make the place feel a little more welcoming, their rating would probably go up quite a bit. read more

See all

Meh. I know we're all supposed to fawn all over Mayahuel for some reason, but I just don't get it. It's OK. No better. The service was friendly, so I guess it has that going for it. The margaritas were just OK, the carnitas tacos lacking in flavor, and the chips, salsa, and guacamole plate felt like a disappointing upsale. The first room we entered was an astonishingly drab, depressing all-day dining area, which fortunately led to a more completed-looking bar area further inside. The outdoor "Covid patio" didn't look any more appealing than the first room, so my advice is to mosey all the way into the main room if you go. As for the menu, I really can't recommend anything, as the two things I tried were both pretty forgettable. Not bad, just not worth ordering again. Perhaps I'll find myself there again and try some new items, but until then... meh, three stars. read more

This place is amazing!! I can't believe it only has a 3.9! I would easily give it a 5.0! The inside sitting s small and quaint. The food is amazing! The mezcal, Don Lorenzo, is on point! If you love that smoking flavor, this is it!! Our server and her helpers were outstanding!! If you are in San Diego, this place is a must visit! read more

Cantina Mayahuel - Shrimp cocktail and ceviche! - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Amazing mescal and tequila bar with great food and daily rotating menu items. Cool ambiance with a mix of indoor and outdoor seating and a bar. Staff is amazing and friendly. The carne asada tacos and Mexican shrimp cocktail are my go to. I have had 100s of tequilas here. There is parking in the back but it's often full. Worth a visit. We will be back. They also sell cool shirts. read more

Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots, shots... EVERYBODY!!!!! Ended the birthday beer fest/ pub crawl at this wonderful cantina, and I could not be more happy that we did. A plethora of shots of the beautifully crafted, limited-edition Forteleza Tequila, specially crafted for Cantina Mayahuel, had us all in ecstasy...not on ecstasy, IN ecstasy...lol Alongside our shots/pours ($15 ea.), some delicious chips and salsa, and FANTASTIC guac! I cannot wait to come back here to enjoy more of their hospitality, and especially, their delicious tequila! Thank you to the whole crew at CM!!! read more

Cantina Mayahuel - IYKYK... Specially crafted for Cantina Mayahuel! Smoother than silk... - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Terrible service. I have a service dog and they wouldn't allow us to sit even in the patio because "I have to ask you all these weird questions and I don't have time for that". Very uncool and infuriating behavior. Never going back or recommending this place. read more

Excellent service, great food, street taco's were awesome, fish taco was excellent. will visit again when in San Diego. Tequila choices s were excellent. Good beer selection also. read more

Cantina Mayahuel is such a solid spot in North Park. The vibe is laid-back and lively, perfect for grabbing drinks and tacos with friends. I had the spicy margarita and it was amazing -- just the right kick without being overwhelming. The carnitas taco was hands-down my favorite. Super flavorful and filling. I've also had the chicken and the steak and both were great. The tacos here are huge, so you really don't need to order a ton to get full. If you're looking for good food, strong (but good) drinks, and a fun atmosphere, this place is definitely worth a stop. read more

Cantina Mayahuel - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Cantina Mayahuel is one of those spots that reminds you why San Diego's Mexican food scene is undefeated. The second you walk in, you get hit with warm lighting, good music, and that perfect buzz of people clearly having a great night. It feels cool without trying too hard. The happy hour here is dangerous in the best way possible strong margaritas, great mezcal selection, and prices that make it very easy to stay longer than planned. Every drink tastes fresh and balanced, not overly sweet like most places trying to fake a good margarita. The food absolutely holds its own too. Tacos, enchiladas, chips and salsa everything comes out flavorful and comforting without losing that elevated touch. And the service? Top tier. Friendly, fast, and genuinely welcoming even when the place gets packed. This is the kind of place you bring friends from out of town because you know it'll hit every time. Great drinks, great food, great vibes. Simple. read more

The veggie tacos here were really delicious and I wish I had space for more. I also really enjoyed the margaritas as well. I love that the menu for both food and drinks is super simple, sometimes it's easy to get overwhelmed and indecisive with more options. They have a ton of different seating options both indoor and outdoor which are all very cozy. The staff was very friendly and helpful as well. Definitely worth trying! read more

Cantina Mayahuel - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Drinks were OK. Food was less than OK. This is very much a Tequila bar with food as option. Staff were polite and on top of What your needs are. read more

Definitely not a bad place as in negative experience, but certainly not remarkable. Very much just ok. A good neighborhood bar that teeters on the edge of dive bar status. A little run down in terms of the premises and interior. Bartender might've had his hat on a little too tight, he seemed a little frustrated. They apparently only serve five cocktails here. Mole chicken breast was juicy and flavorful sauce. Small rice and bean portion. Margarita was acceptable. If you're in the area with some friends, and wanna have a quick drink, this place could be worth it read more

Cantina Mayahuel - Chicken mole plate with dark mole sauce. House margarita with tajin rim. - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

The food is always awesome. It's taco Tuesday. My wife had a chicken taco and a mahi-mahi taco and I had a Carnitas torta classics in my eyes. LARRY's tequila is the best my wife had a glass of Chardonnay. She's dying out on the little patio area. The service is classic, always polite, knowledgeable, and friendly. I should've taken pictures, but without hesitation, I gobbled the food down before I could think about pulling my camera out read more

Great happy hour until 6pm. We got there and were seated right away. There are margs, palomas, and beer for drink options on the happy hour menu along with three street taco combos. We got 2 spicy margs as well as two taco plates (one chicken and one steak). The tacos were a good portion. Service was good, but they did forget one taco order but gave us a free drink for the inconvenience. read more

Cantina Mayahuel - Chicken happy hour tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Everything. Great tequila menu, beer & I edited drinks. Awesome tacos, tortas & combo plates with excellent service. read more

It does seem like my experience isn't the norm here but my experience was shockingly poor. Our group of 6 left a pop up show to grab a bite here. We showed up at 9:20, but they are open to 10 and we even asked if the kitchen was cool with it. We ordered right away though since they said they do last call at 930. All of us ordered right away. When the server delivered the food only 2 out of 6 meals came out and she acted like that was it. When we re ordered they kind of made a stink, and then forgot 2 meals again!! And refused to finish the order. Not really apologetic, eventually comped 1 meal, and was just unacceptable service. Food that came was good though. Weirdest thing, the manager Jorge at the end was very defensive about the situation. We were patient with the first mess up, doing it twice and not caring is annoying. The manager said a few times "the food you did get was good though." Unhinged response. Probably won't be back, which is a shame as the food was good, because of the management and service. read more

Came here for drinks with some friends and their house margarita was the perfect mix of tequila and juice! The waitress was super friendly and made us feel so welcomed! read more

Awesome margaritas and tacos. I got the the mahi and shrimp tacos. The shrimp tacos were fantastic. read more

Cantina Mayahuel - Mahi Taco and Shrimp Taco - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Im local and live just down the street for the last 6 years. Ive been here probably a hundred times. Let's me start by saying their food is good and their margaritas are good. So why the bad review? The attitude of the manager/ employees is just absolutely terrible. There is one older Mexican server who is usually serving and she is the one exception. I have been seated and straight up ignored for over 10 minutes while the manager chats with the bartender or his friends. While taking your order they rush you and half the time you don't even get my full order in before manager is back to his side conversation with staff or non restaurant patrons. I brought my young 2 year old daughter once and didn't get served. I brought my service animal once and they refused to serve me. The arrogance and attitude takes me away every time but the happy hour deal is pretty solid so I kept going. lol I truly hope the manager is let go soon or they choose to sell and the next owner changes nothing but the employees. This could be a great spot. Very sad. I officially stopped going after they didn't serve me and my daughter. read more

What a great find! 3 mini asada tacos for $12 and a $7 margarita during happy hour. Margarita and tequila were excellent: not too sweet. Pico is super fresh. Teen 1 ordered two veggie tacos and just about finished them. Teen 2 plowed through a generous carnitas platter. read more

Love this restaurant! Always great service, good food, and great drinks! My husband and I love their micheladas!

We come here for date nights and most recently our anniversary. We love the low key space. It's clean and comfortable with the right mix of lively. We always have quick service and I love that the water is serve yourself as I am a camel. The food and drinks are why we keep coming back though. I love the specials but the tortas and plates are just perfect. I always start with a salsa & guacamole plus margarita. They have an insane selection of different kinds of tequila and mezcal. Definitely a gem! read more

See all

Parked at a 2 hour meter. Sat at bar. Scan bar code for menu. Chicken plate, asked for low spicy chipotle, which comes on the side with pinto or black beans, no sour cream on beans, rice, 3 tortillas, very good, quality and quantity of chicken was excellent. Chips with guacamole good but optional and the salsa was tomatoey but good too. The homemade cacao chocolate bar was very good. Ambiance a-ok. read more

The margarita was not too strong and not too sour! Paired with some steak and carnitas tacos. My favorite was the steak taco. The ambiance is very relaxed. They have outdoor seating as well. The food and wide variety of tequilas and mezcals make this place great! Service is attentive and quick. Ready to go back! read more

See all

Jorge told me I was being offensive and loud and "cut me off" because he said I was too loud and cussing too much" it was past 7pm and no children were present. I was never told to lower my voice or anything of the sort before being "cut off" I was speaking in my normal voice and talking to a friend.which I was told was offensive. I have a loud speaking voice. It would have been nice of the management (Jorge) to actually address me if there was a problem beforehand instead of treating me like I didn't belong there. If I can't come to a bar and vent to friends why do I even want to come to this place?!? Jorge needs to be trained on how to be a manager if he is going to make decisions for the establishment. I've been coming here for over 10 years, I love most of the staff and I have NEVER experienced the disrespect I have tonight. Also not the first time he has been rude to me. I've looked past it because this place is a great staple in the neighborhood, I've been coming here for 10+ years and I never thought I'd say this but... I will not be back. As someone that lives and works in the neighborhood I will not recommend anyone to come here. I can find tacos and tequila at several places in the neighborhood that don't have Jorge judging me for having a higher octave and venting to my friends about my life and day. read more

We decided to stop by while we waited for our table across the street at fortunate son. We were seated immediately. Every single employee we encountered was really friendly and in such a good mood. Our waiter was really attentive and kept checking in on us, even though he knew we were waiting to be seated across the street. We ordered the guac and chips, which had a nice spicy kick and was really good for being something so simple. My Jamaica drink was delicious. This is definitely a place where you can just hang out to kill time or have a full meal. We saw what everyone around us was ordering and they all said their food tasted great. We will definitely be stopping by to have a full meal here. read more

Cantina Mayahuel - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Food is good. This time I ordered the mole which comes with 4 different types and it's available only on Friday. Also had their tacos and mezcal drink. Sucks that indoor seating is limited so we had to eat in the makeshift patio area. read more

Cantina Mayahuel - Mole special - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Rustic Mexican cantina nice and chill spot! Chicken mole was good with three different mole sauces. Also had the shrimp cocktail which was pretty good as well. Really enjoyed the various Mezcals to pick from. Service was top notch! read more

See all

I literally plan road trips for this place There is no better mole than Catina Mayahuel, I have had many come close, but the variety and dimensions of flavor are hard to beat. Most importantly, the limited availability only makes me want it more. Chicken Mole ( Tuesday and Friday) Our house made Moles (red, black and/or green) over chicken breast served with rice, beans and corn tortillas. $18 read more

Down home spot, no tourists here. Food and drinks great. I take out of towners here so they can see real SD Mexican and enjoy great service. Never falters. Real deal. Love the Peruano beans and mahi... read more