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    Carniceria El Jefe

    4.5 (17 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    4 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Best place to get meat in Escondido, quality product with great prices. Staff is very welcoming and gives great recommendations

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    2 years ago

    Best carne asada! Sad we didnt find this place sooner, our new go to for meat! Everyone was really nice , highly recommend.

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great meat yes it's expensive but your paying for quality cuts not cheap cuts live up north an wish we had them up north

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    3 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Carniceria El Jefe

    Review Highlights - Carniceria El Jefe

    I writing this because not only do they deserve it but they have the best CARNITAS in North County San Diego!

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Old World Meat Company

    Old World Meat Company

    4.9
    (196 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    I can't remember the name of their newest sandwich... but it smells and tastes delicious!…read more Think of a Balkan style Philly Cheesesteak with juicy pork shoulder on a hoagie. Smothered with cheese and their Balkan feta mix, it was absolutely a winner! Once again, just the very nicest family and great customer service!

    How good was my experience at Old World Meat Company? So good, I cried. I grew up eating Balkan…read morefood and my first bite of the cevap (minced meat sausage but there is no casing; just the meat hand-formed and grilled) tasted like "the olden days" and tears started flowing because of the happy memories and flavors it brought back. Bosko and his family own, operate, and create the menu at this restaurant and they are friendly and welcoming and passionate about the food and service they offer, and it felt like coming home. The Food: I had the Mixed Plate, which comes with grilled minced meat sausage, grilled pork shoulder and a side of coleslaw (prepared the Balkan way with oil and vinegar). I chose the Balkan toppings, so the meat was served on a naan type bread topped with the Balkan toppings which consists of white onions, kajmak (feta cheese/cream/butter spread), diced bell peppers, and ajvar (bell pepper and eggplant spread). The sausage is perfectly seasoned, the pork shoulder tender. A friend and I also shared a half-order of Balkan Fries with sausage topped with Balkan toppings. The combination of the fries, sausage and toppings is a tantalizing, mouth-watering marriage of flavors. Bosko brought a sample of the chicken since we hadn't ordered it and it was full of flavor and oh so tender. If you've never had Balkan food, you are in for a very delicious treat. The first time you eat here, I suggest you get the Mixed Plate with Balkan Toppings. Ask them to add a side of chicken to your plate so you can sample that too. I think you'll find you've died and gone to Balkan heaven. If you want to know what every person of Balkan heritage grew up eating, this is what we were eating. The Drink: They offer a good variety of beers on tap, both local brews and name-brand. Soft drinks and iced tea are self-serve. Nice. The Ambiance: The restaurant is located in an older, tiny little shopping mall almost at the end of East Valley Parkway. Bosko's father bought the building back in the 70s so this is a location that is near and dear to Bosko's heart. As you first walk up to the restaurant, the first thing you notice is the wonderful smell of the smoker filling the air with the unmistakable scent of good-meat-things-happening. Taste buds, get ready for a grand ride. There are picnic tables outside but it was a warm day and we wanted to sit inside. Inside you are greeted with a clean, open and welcoming space, newly decorated with bright white tile in the kitchen and service area, and rustic wood boards on the wall. Seating is at either picnic-style tables or taller tables with stools. Two TV sets were airing sports programs, adding to the relaxing atmosphere. The ceiling features open duct work that's shiny and new and there's corrugated metal sheet on the bottom half of the walls, which all together makes the place feel fresh and warm and comfortable. The menu is easy to read and straight-forward. While we were there, a softball team was hosting their end-of-year party. The place was full to the rafters but we never felt like it was too many people or too loud. Value: The prices are extremely reasonable. Let's just say my eyeballs didn't pop out of their sockets like they do at some restaurants. Everyone in my party was pleased with the portion sizes, and we all felt like we got more than what we paid for in terms of the quality of the food and the taste of the food. Catering: Bosko was telling us a little about how he came around to opening the restaurant and we learned that before this he did catering, serving whole roasted pig, lamb, sausages. He shared that they are going to cater for an event that will have 1,200 people!! The softball team I mentioned in "The Ambiance" section had their food catered in-house by Bosko. They had hero sandwiches which looked fresh and delicious and fully loaded with deli ham, turkey and toppings. These were served with fries and a green salad. Old World Meat Co also caters the traditional Balkan foods they serve at the restaurant, which would make any party a hit with guests. Bosko is passionate about his food and culture and is eager to share it with people, so if you have a party coming up, give Bosko a call and see what he can do for you. Take Some Home: You can purchase a package of frozen sausages to take home with you. I forgot to ask if they come pre-cooked or if you grill them yourself. But either way, they would be a great addition to any meal you serve at home. Final Thoughts: Do yourself a favor. Come and partake of this oh so delicious food and I think you will find yourself wanting to come back again and again. The food. The ambiance. The value. The nicest people you'll ever meet. Old World Meat Company is the whole package. A five-star experience for sure.

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    Old World Meat Company
    Balkan Tri Tip Saturday!!!! Yum!!
    Balkan Tri Tip Saturday!!!! Yum!!
    Menu May 2026

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    Menu May 2026
    Mi Rancho Market

    Mi Rancho Market

    4.4
    (265 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $

    The food is great and at a great price as well. Love the rice that comes in the burritos.read more

    I'm giving this place 3 stars for now because my first experience was genuinely great, but my…read moresecond visit was disappointing enough that I almost rated it 2 stars. The first time I visited a few weeks ago, I had a really positive experience. The location was a little hard for me to find, but once I got there, it seemed worth it. I walked in craving a breakfast burrito and was helped by a very nice, slender gentleman at the counter. I asked for a ham, bacon, and sausage breakfast burrito and also requested that it be cut in half. He was friendly, said no problem, and within minutes I had exactly what I ordered. That burrito was delicious. The salsa station was stocked and convenient with self-serve cups readily available, and the atmosphere was nice. The people around me were friendly, and one gentleman even mentioned this was the place that used to be near Peterson's Donuts. Overall, it was a great first impression and I left happy, already planning to come back. Fast forward to today, Saturday, April 25, 2026 around 10:30 AM, and unfortunately, my second experience was the complete opposite. This time there was a young woman working the register, and from the moment I approached, she didn't seem very welcoming. I told her I wanted to order a breakfast burrito but wasn't sure what kind I wanted today. She told me the only options were bacon, egg, cheese and tater tots, or egg and cheese. I politely asked if I could add ham and sausage and pay extra, since that's what I had ordered before. She immediately responded that they "didn't have that type of breakfast burrito." That response confused me because I had literally ordered one there before. I wasn't going to argue, especially because her tone and attitude made me feel like I was bothering her just by asking questions. I then asked if the burrito could be cut in half and never really got a clear response. I also noticed the salsa station no longer had the little self-serve cups available, so I had to ask for those too. The same cashier asked how many I needed, and I said two. A few minutes later, another woman called my name and handed me the burrito. I sat down and realized it wasn't cut in half like I requested. At that point, I had to go back up and ask for a plastic knife and fork just to cut it myself. Which was not a problem or issue for me. I ate half of the burrito, but honestly, it wasn't nearly as good as the first one. The taste was underwhelming, and by the time I left I was just so disappointed. I ended up throwing the other half away after I left. Consistency matters, especially when the first experience set the bar high. The food was great the first time, but the service and quality were lacking the second time around. My honest opinion: if someone is having a bad day, they probably shouldn't be the first face customers interact with at the register. I may update this review depending on how management responds, because I know this place can do better based on my first visit.

    Photos
    Mi Rancho Market
    Carnitas with creamy mild green salsa, Adobado in the middle with no salsa needed, and Asasda with hot chile, which it needed.
    Carnitas with creamy mild green salsa, Adobado in the middle with no salsa needed, and Asasda with hot chile, which it needed.
    Ordering counter

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    Ordering counter
    Mountain Meadow Mushrooms

    Mountain Meadow Mushrooms

    4.6
    (54 reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $

    My friend told me about Mountain Meadow Mushroom Farm and its free mushroom compost. I finally took…read morea long drive deep into Escodido and was rewarded with some really nice, organic mushroom compost. There are mountains of compost, and all you need is a big car (ideally a truck) and some muscle to scoop them up. Mushroom compost is high in salt so you need to be careful not to use too much with fruit trees. On the other hand, vegetables love mushroom compost. They also sell all kinds of mushroom varieties (Portobello, Shiitake, King Oyster, Cremini, etc.) at their front office for a pretty reasonable price (around $12/lb). Overall, a great place to get free compost, buy fresh mushrooms, and enjoy a country scenery ride in Escondido.

    I used to get free compost here for years. This place was on Dirty Jobs years ago and things have…read morechanged. Compost is sourced from EDCO, personally saw trucks unload. It's basically what we the public throw away in the green cans, and its not organic nor safe beside the toxic chemicals they use to kill bugs. Thats from a former employees mouth. Not sure if that has changed but i did question the whole situation after seeing trash truck delivery. After using this in my yard last year i started to question is free really worth it. NOPE SORRY but not sorry. Ive even paid for truck loads prior to the change.

    Photos
    Entrance signage
    Entrance signage
    Mushrooms are happily cooking away.
    Mushrooms are happily cooking away.
    Mountain Meadow Mushrooms

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    Carniceria El Jefe - meats - Updated June 2026

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