Delicious and Good Service they friendly comfort and good food for a family and friendsread more

I had dinner here a couple of Saturdays ago and was shocked (and saddened!) that the restaurant…read moreremained nearly empty the entire time. I first found this spot due to it being Oaxacan cuisine. Our party of four had a great time and all of our food was delightful! All of my tablemates even tried grasshoppers (chapulines) for the first time! They were on the side for the guac, which is traditional to Oaxaca. I had a popsicle margarita, which was cute and tasty. For my meal, I split the short rib mole with my boyfriend. We had so many leftovers despite doing our best to eat up! We definitely did not have room for dessert. Prices were reasonable and service was prompt. I hope we just found them on an off night as they definitely deserve crowds!

Great food, fresh and made to order. Recommend the adobada and lengua options. Service is fast,…read moremany tables available for lunch. Ambiance is what you'd expect from a fast food spot. Bathrooms were decent.

Taco El Gordo is hands down worth the hype. The line was…read moreover an hour long. While waiting, I overheard someone next to us say, "We only eat here, otherwise we go back to Mexico." That alone made me feel like the wait wasn't wasted. We tried a variety of tacos, and everything was solid. The spicy pork (which actually isn't that spicy) was super flavorful and easy to eat. I will highly recommend even if you don't handle spice well. The beef tongue was another standout, it is tender, rich, and really well done. Ordering can be a little confusing at first since you line up by meat and then pay separately, but once you figure it out, it's part of the experience. If you're in San Diego, this place is pretty much a must-try. I'd come back again just for these tacos.

Aide!!! Great server!!!! Friendly, professional and attentive. Food was great too!…read moreThe ambiance was fun.

I don't come to San Diego often, but when I do cafe coyote is always on the list of places to go!…read moreOur service was great, Aide was spectacular and such a pleasure to be around! Great music, great drinks and great food!!

Best taco in Carlsbad good service nice bar nice menu fantastic happy hour love the restaurantread more

Matt is amazin waiter @ fresco cocina if you are ever in Carlsbad the whole restaurant is a vibe…read morevery attentive. Matt has the perfect personality to be the waiter. 1st time and i will be back. Oh the food and drinks are great as well

As a south Texan I am very particular about Mexican food being partial to Tex-Mex but damn, this…read moreplace delivered. Nick at the bar was amazing for both drink and food service. The salsa and verde sauce were truly amazing and the street tacos were some of the absolute best I've ever tasted. Can't recommend this place enough.

Amazing cocktails and lively ambiance. The tacos and chips…read morewere fresh and tasty. The chicken fries were not so great though - too much potato, too less chicken.

Lucha Libre Taco Shop is such a fun and unique spot if you're in San Diego. The whole place is…read moredecked out in colorful lucha libre decor, with masks, murals, and a super lively vibe that makes it more than just a taco shop, it feels like an experience. The menu has a great variety of tacos and burritos, with bold flavors and generous portions. Everything feels a little extra (in a good way), from the creative combinations to their famous "Surfin' California" burrito.

Food is wonderful!!!! Really love the tacos. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful, with great…read moreseasoning and perfect textures. The tortillas were soft and authentic, and the fillings were generous. Service was quick and friendly, and the atmosphere was fun. Would definitely recommend!

I've come to Cocina de Barrio on many occassions now, and their service and food has always been…read moreconsistently good, with staff going above and beyond! My favorite meal time at Cocina de Barrio is their brunch. Their dishes range from the classics with a "Mexican twist" (eggs, pancakes, French toast) to the more authentic antojitos. I've tried and really enjoyed their enmoladas made with Oaxacan mole. The cafe de olla is also not-to-be-missed. Everytime I come to Cocina de Barrio, the staff always goes above and beyond. The first time, our server (Alberto) saw me yawn and asked if I wanted to try the cafe de olla to "wake me up" (as a joke haha) and he brought it for free! They also sing and give out a generous slice of tres leches cake to the "cumpleañero" (birthday freebie). I look forward to coming back and trying more of their delicious "antojitos" (even though I'm faithful to these enmoladas).

I've visited this restaurant twice, once for a friend's birthday and another time to for a day trip…read morewith my parents. First and foremost, the overall atmosphere of this restaurant is very festive. There's a full bar, plenty of seating, and there's always music playing in the background. In my most recent visit, we were initially directed to a table close to the bar. But one of the bussers kindly cleaned a larger table by the patio very quickly, then moved my parents and I. So we unexpectedly got a comfortable booth by natural light, how thoughtful! :') Food Highlights: - Grilled Octopus (5/5) - Char + flavor + texture made for a phenomenal appetizer to share - Señorial Non-Alcoholic Sangria (4/5) - this was terrific, but it's a bit pricy to order from here. You're better off buying this bev in bulk from Smart & Final - Chicharrón, Chips, and Guacamole (4.3/5) - Delicious! But I would have liked more chicarrón and guac, less chips. - Lenguado al Ajillo (4.7/5) - Crispy edges, but the flounder itself flakes beautifully. The garlic butter flavor isn't too overpowering and the corn cake that comes with this plate is on the sweeter side - overall, a fantastic dish! The staff is generally accommodating to reasonable requests. I actually asked for extra cilantro lemon rice and less beans. I didn't even mind the black beans lodged into the rice cause this still made for a well-balanced meal. If I'm in the greater San Diego area in the future, I'm determined to try one of their popsicle margaritas!

Had a 5/5 experience celebrating a birthday brunch here! The food is phenomenal- the sopes benny…read morehad the most tender lamb birria and the churro & french toast was heavenly! Not pictured but also delicious were the popsicle margaritas. The mango popsicle was perfect for the hot day. A special shoutout to Theresa for her cheerful and uplifting service. All the staff we encountered were lovely but she went out of her way to make sure we were well taken care of and felt special celebrating. I've visited both Cocina de Barrio locations and loved my experiences at each. Will definitely be back and highly recommend you try them to dive into delicious Mexican dishes with great service!

Fantastic experience. The recipes are elevated and fun, fresh, and delicious…read more We had the cucumber jalepeno margarita, the Paloma, the shrimp tacos, fish tacos, ceviche, guacamole and chips, and churros. Everything was incredible, the standout being the mezcal raisin sauce on the shrimp tacos- trust me when I say you'll be thinking about it. Definitely enjoy their happy hour and unique take on traditional recipes.

This is an upscale restaurant located outside of the UTC mall. The restaurant has a very nice…read moreambiance. They provide valet parking which helps during the peak hours considering the parking structure can be a long walk from the restaurant. There is street parking but, is often hard to get. The staff is very attentive. Don't let the fancy location fool you. This place offers great tasting Mexican food with good flavor. There's plenty to choose from on the food and drinks menu.

Javier's in La Jolla is a high-end Mexican restaurant serving top quality steaks and seafood and…read morecraft cocktails, including an extensive ‍ margarita menu. The ambience at Javier's is just incredibly stunning! From the coastal vibes, to the waterfalls and fire pits, to the show-stopping restroom entrance, every detail was thoughtfully laid out and it's just a total VIBE, and we are here for it! Now to the food, we thought everything was really flavorful and tasty, with high quality meats. The chips and salsa were delicious (we recommend requesting their green and Smokey salsas too). We do think they were a bit overpriced for what you got but it's totally a spot worth at least experiencing once! We ordered the "La Tablita" ($115) which is their signature make-your-own tacos made for two or more people so it was perfect for two adults and a child. We chose the skirt steak and carnitas for our proteins. It also comes with guacamole, cheese, pickled jalapeños and carrots, fresh tortillas (flour/corn), rice, and refried beans. I also tried their Pepino (cucumber ) Margarita that was super light and refreshing ($21). Follow @allthingsfoodinsandiego for more must try San Diego restaurants, date night ideas, food experiences, kid friendly spots, with a sprinkling of home-cooking!

This place named itself "sushi bar," but it also says it's an authentic Mexican seafood restaurant?…read moreThat feels like an identity crisis lol. I was given chips, salsa, and an appetizer soup thing in a cup. The chips were fine. I thought the soup was alright. I didn't like the salsa as I found it too watery and lacking in flavor, more like a hot sauce than a salsa. I ordered two hand rolls, a spicy tuna roll and a salmon skin roll. I thought they were good. I found the salmon skin too crispy and deep fried for my preference, but it was still good. Finally, I realized that not only do I never eat authentic Mexican seafood, I'm not even sure what that entails. So I dug through the menu and saw something called "Don Tono," described as stuffed with seafood, but without much other explanation. I asked the waitress what this Don Tono is exactly, and to my surprise, she wasn't sure either. So, of course I had to order it. It was a big thing of aluminum foil with goodies inside, kinda like a seafood bake. It was good, although I found the flavor to be a undertuned. I would've liked some Cajun seasoning. The best texture and taste was probably the fish itself as it was light and flaky without being mushy, and it absorbed the umami of some of the other seafood. I thought the shrimp and shellfish were just okay, and maybe just a tad overcooked for me. Honestly, I was also not a huge fan of the cheese here; I feel like it doesn't quite fit. I also got some rice and salad with it, which were both fine.

I got a couple rolls to go as well as some edamame. All serviceable, nothing remarkable but an…read moreinexpensive option for some decent sushi! Fun decor in this place! When I came in to pick up my food there was no one at the host stand and it seems like there was one waiter running the whole show during busy lunch time. Little teeny tiny parking lot but it's right across from the shopping centre parking so not a big deal.