Came here for date night! I didn't really film or take pics but it was so beautiful, we got seated right away. The service was amazing and our food came out fast. The drinks and the food was delicious . We ordered the molcajete for 2 "la jefa " asado and it was amazing! I ordered the Yucatan jungle drink and it was perfect not too sweet or too strong. Will def recommend this place and we plan to go back soon! read more

This was my first time visiting Casa Gabriela. I saw the menu and it looked really yummy. The major draw was the Cafe de Olla. I had to order it. It came with a yummy almond galleta dusted with powdered sugar. The coffee was perfect. I dipped my cookie in my coffee and truly it was the perfect bite plus perfect treat as I waited for my food because I was HUNGRY! Our food took a while to arrive it was a Saturday morning at brunch but it wasn't crowded. The wait was the kind of wait you do where you look at the tables around you to see who has food and who doesn't and wonder what was the seating order of the folks around you and if they got their food before you and why. So when my food arrived I was sooooo ready! I ordered the chorizo and crispy potatoes burrito. It looked great when it arrived! I strategically cut my burrito about a quarter of the way in. I knew I would at least eat a quarter but I knew I definitely wouldn't eat the whole thing and I didn't want to waste a perfectly good bite on all tortilla. I cut my burrito and put a bite on my fork and as I put my food in my mouth I looked down and find a long curly hair. To say I was disappointed was an understatement. I was disappointed for several reasons. 1. The bite I took was all egg and tortilla. No cheese no chorizo no potato. 2. I was starving! And 3. I knew I wasn't going to have anything to eat until after the other two people I was with finished eating and I could go somewhere else to get food. I didn't let it damper my mood. I showed the waiter who was very apologetic and took my plate away. When he walked away. It hit me I didn't tell him to not bring me anything else because I was going to eat a remade burrito. So I got his attention because I didn't want them to waste anymore food. Here is what I will say. To replace my food, I was given a pastry platter that was AMAZINGLY good! The concha was legit the best I've ever eaten. The banana bread was delicious with delicious toasted pecans which added a caramelized texture to the banana bread! No joke, it was so good. What I will also say is that I was visited with no less than 3 people including Gabriela herself who was absolutely apologetic about my experience and assured me it wouldn't happen again. What's also nice is that I wasn't charged for the food I ate which believe it or not has happened to me before MANY years ago. My peeps whom I was with absolutely loved their food. One had the Sopes and the other had the huevos rancheros. So while I have to be honest about my review, I really think this was a one off mistake and at the very least I would highly suggest ordering cafecito and pastries from Casa Gabriela! read more

See all

Food was mediocre. Not enough pico di gallo sauce on fish tacos; they were kind of dry. The vegetarian fajitas were average and small. Kale corn Mexican salad has no flavor - not enough dressing- and we had to ask for more, it tasted just like kale and no blending of flavors. Wasn't really impressed with the food. The main thing I liked was their salsa. Ambience is nicely decorated. But, I don't think I would opt to come back. read more

See all

Great ambiance and tequila selection, however I try to avoid this place due to the food. Lots of filler and upscale low budget to produce dishes such as the $28 shrimp quesadillas or throwing fries into the carne asada tacos for filler and less meat. The picture below shows 12.95 overcooked cold beef jerky strips I requested to be added to the steak. I even added another round of 12.95 jerky strips and they came out drier and colder. When all said and done, I could have gone elsewhere and just got a proper steak. read more

Casa Gabriela - Overcooked dry chicken cubes and 3 minuscule pathetic jerky strips. This was $35 salad... - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

Casa Gabriela located in downtown La Mesa where parking can ALWAYS be a challenge, especially on the weekends or when they have their Farmer's Market. Cute restaurant that offers indoor (1st floor or 2nd floor seating) as well as patio seating. Customer service was not good that morning. We were barely checked on for our drinks and had to wave waiters down just to get some service. We ordered: Ceviche Verde - NOT A FAN, a lot of juice and hardly any fish Carnitas chilaquiles (both red and green sauce) - NOT A FAN OF THE RED SAUCE Bistec con huevos - the salsa on the platter was delicious, Bistec was a bit dry and over cooked Abuelita's waffles - THIS WAS THE BEST ON THE TABLE Hot cocoa - NOT A FAN, watered down and lack of chocolate flavor. Unfortunately, I would not return to this location. But, if in the area...give them a try as everyone's tastes varies. read more

See all

Went on Cinco de Mayo with a group of ladies after hearing they had $5 margs all night. We got seated right around our reservation at 7:30. The restaurant was busy when we got there but was pretty quiet by the time we left. Love that right when you get there they drop off chips and salsa and they never hesitate to refill as needed. We got a round of margs and was happy that they could make it spicy at no extra charge. Delicious as always. The reason for the low rating this time was my food. I got the panela a la plancha, super excited to try this grilled cheese in a salad. First, my food came out significantly later than my group. The waiter even made a comment and had to go back and check in. Second, when I got it there was no cheese to be seen. It was pretty much a ton of arugula and a small amt of toppings. Pretty disappointing. read more

Casa Gabriela - Happy hour drinks as of 12/26/25 - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

See all

Fantastic experience. Great customer service, delicious food and drinks. Lovely presentation, great taste and portion sizes. We left happy and full, very well decorated. read more

See all

Keeping the Mexican food theme going today. We checked off another place from our list. Love the atmosphere at Casa Gabriela. Beautiful lighting & the music was a vibe. The hubby and I made it for HH. We shared the Queso Fundido & The Enchiladas Marisco Suiza. We finished it off with an adult beverage. He had the House Margarita & I had the Cantarito. Another wonderful restaurant. So glad we finally tried it. Great customer service. #DiningWithTheAndersons #ComidaMexicana #SundayFunday #TryingNewPlaces read more

See all

Came here with my Chase Sapphire benefits. We had a reservation and got sat right away. The restaurant is beautiful inside and outside. The service was excellent! Our waitress was friendly and really helpful with our baby. We ordered lots of things on the menu but all the dishes always felt like it needed an extra kick of something. The food looks amazing but missing a little extra of seasoning. read more

See all

Oh dear!! What is going on with the service here??? We had a pretty rough brunch here on Sunday. We ordered the waffles and the ceviche at 12:50. At 1:40 after seeing tables that arrived well after get their food we were casually notified by the server that they ran out of waffle mix. Had they told us within 5 minutes after ordering that would have been fine but it was nearly an hour after we ordered. The waitress asked if i wanted anything else. I said no. Then one of three managers came by to tell me that they did get the waffle mix so i went ahead with the order. Then the waitress returns and asked if i was certain i didn't want anything else. She had no clue the waffle mix had arrived. I notified her. Finally at around 2pm my waffles arrived. The waitress brought me a free coffee. Then the full bill arrived. no discount offered. Had to flag down the second of three managers who apologized and comped our meal. The food here is yummy as is the ambiance but they need to get their act together or they will have problems. Surprising for a cohen restaurant. read more

Had a lovely brunch here, and loved that you can make a Rez and they have a big dog friendly patio. Our service from Sam was stellar. We did some cocktails and entrees, and I must say the cocktails were the standout. My Claro Que Si was DELICIOUS. I had the waffle which was good, my husband said the grilled fish tacos were okay and my niece got the Chilaquiles which we all grazed on. The happy hour menu looks great, so I would for sure come back to try. read more

See all

Casa Gabriela is part of the Cohn Restaurant Group (Coasterra, Island Prime). Was craving chips and salsa but jokes on me, they're not free! Ordered the guacamole with chicharon and mini tostadas and frankly, that was the best guacamole I've ever had in my life. No kidding. Ordered the chicken molé chilaquiles and the chorizo breakfast burrito with rice and beans. Burrito was very good with a crema sauce on top and sweet spicy chorizo. The beans were delicious and the rice was moist and tasty with sprinkles of white corn. The chilaquiles were fire. Literally. My mouth was on fire and I couldn't finish because it was so spicy. The shredded chicken sat on top a bed of crispy tortillas then was topped with two fried eggs, the molé sauce and a crema sauce. Very tasty...just way too spicy for me. Hubby enjoyed my leftovers though. Also ordered their basket of baked goods..Chef Gaby's Pan Dulces...yummy mini banana loaf, berry scone and another scones that came with an apple butter and berry preserves. Servers were amazing. Very attentive and checked on us often. Advise you check your bill before paying. 5% added for supplemental costs that you can request be removed from the bill. I always ask because I prefer giving the full tip to the servers. Another tip is to join the CRG Rewards Club. It has come in handy because there are so many Cohn restaurants in the area! read more

See all

We came for mother day breakfast without a reservation and it was a 4+ hour wait. Definitely our fault so please make a reservation. They were really nice about it and offered us the bar area that was first come first serve. It was full service and we enjoyed it! I got the breakfast chorizo burrito and it was probably the most flavorful burrito I've ever had. Everything is decently priced and worth the wait. The ambiance is nice, they have lots of decoration. Outside seating is beautiful with the trees and paintings. Definitely a must stop if you're in downtown la Mesa ! read more

See all

Happy hour here is a must do!!!! Come early, it can get crowded. But my oh my is it amazing!! We love to sit outside, but have sat inside also and it's still perfect!! it can be kinda pricey, but they do have an amazing happy hour special menu I recommend. The Chicken Barbacoa nachos are a must try!! read more

See all

This restaurant is massive! It's part of the Cohn Restaurant Group. The patio is spacious. Upstairs can be an event space. The patio is more laid back and loud. The dining room is like eating in grandma's kitchen. We ordered: Started with complimentary chips and salsa. Salsa had a nice kick, we loved it but the chips had a roasted nutty flavor that we didn't like so much. Horchata ($6) - not too sweet Red sangria ($8) - strong not fruity Guacamole ($14.95) - interesting twist served with chicharrones and pumpkin seed. We used the roasted chips to dip and they were over powering and took away the rich buttery guacamole taste. Corn ($16.95) - grilled corn relish, buttery Flautas ($23.95) - 3 large thin red flour tortillas filled with lobster and black beans chipotle. Honestly, all I tasted was mushy black bean paste. Saw a bit of red lobster meat towards the middle but not enough to taste it. Fish tacos ($19.95) - on flour but we asked for corn tortillas. Nothing special but it was fully loaded with toppings. Birria tacos ($19.95) - comes with corn but we asked for flour tortillas. Amount of birria was generous but taste was bland. La jefa asado ($52.95) - served in a Mexican mortar was my favorite dish out of all. Came out piping hot with slices of flank steak, very tender juicy pieces of chicken breast, shrimp, sausage, nopales (cactus pads). The juices all meshed together into this broth-like liquid that was delicious with chunks of chorizo. The jalapeño gave it a spicy kick and the panela cane sugar balanced all the flavors. This dish was meant for two but it can be eaten with 3 or 4. All the entrees came with rice and beans. Happy hour is M-F 3:30-5:30. Parking meters are along the streets and in the back lot. Fridays are Farmer Market days which becomes harder to find parking. If you want the pretty yummy drinks, I would suggest to sit at the bar or patio. We didn't get offered or have that experience sitting in the dining room and service was lacking. I didn't know how great their bar was until I saw their social media when we left. For a restaurant this big, they have a shortage on restrooms with 2 unisex in the back and another 2 by the waiting area. The one upstairs was locked the entire time we were there. read more

See all

Happy hour is amazing! So many choices and you can get full off of just that. Venue is beautiful, they have misters during the summer. Drinks are yummy. read more

I have to say today exceeded their level of customer service. Everyone was so nice. The server accidentally thought we didn't want our leftovers boxed and it was thrown out. We didn't even complain. Just asked where it was. The manager immediately intervened took care of us and compensated for it without us even asking. It was absolutely no big deal but they were so kind about it. I have never had a bad experience here and will continue to go back. read more

See all

We were there to celebrate my in-laws' wedding anniversary. We were a bit disappointed that we mentioned this when making the reservation, but it was never acknowledged, nor were any congratulatory words offered. We thought the outdoor garden area would be nice and beautiful, but it was actually quite chilly at night, even after they turned the heater on. I would highly recommend reserving an indoor dining area if you're planning to have dinner there. Parking is limited to paid street parking, and the meters turn off after 6 p.m. Be prepared to park farther away and walk a few blocks. The food was pretty good and had great flavor, but we weren't fans of the cactus in one of the dishes. Dessert was the highlight--great portion size and tasted amazing! We had the cheesecake flautas and would love to try out some other dessert if we ever go back. The staff were friendly, but it seemed like they were a bit short-staffed. It sometimes took a while to get our water refilled and to receive all the service we needed. read more

See all

We came to Casa Gabriela for dinner early Sunday evening after a kids ballet showing. We were seated right away. Plenty of free parking since it was Sunday. Love the elevated rustic feel of the restaurant. See my breakdown of the food below. Portion size is generous here. Service is as a little slow. I think our server was just overwhelmed with all the tables she was covering. There was a helper who kept checking on us but didn't really make up for the lack of attention from our server. Overall, I was disappointed in our experience here especially since our friend kept talking it up. Bottom line, dishes were not balanced and service could be improved Queso fundido - refried beans on the bottom took away from the star of the show . . . The cheese! Pozole - husband really like this one, has a good kick Chicken barbacoa - very generous portion of chicken, needs something fresh like avocados and cotija cheese Flank steak tampiquena - steak was good, too much going on with the cheese enchilada and potatoes Ceviche trio - didn't try it myself but was told it had "too much tajin" Cheese quesadilla - "fries were not crispy and cheese was not the stringy kind" exact quote Chocolate bread pudding - good, not overly sweet Churros - legoland is better Red sangria - refreshing, recommend read more

See all

I had been meaning to visit this place for a while and I am so happy I got the chance. We were able to sit in the outdoor area which is just as nice as the pictures on here suggest. Not only was all the food amazing, but the portions were generous and made for some great leftovers. My parents were in town so we were out to dinner together and we all got different dishes and each one was better than the next. The quesadilla was probably the best thing we had. Our server was attentive and quick while still giving time to be friendly. When they were out of a couple items for the drinks we wanted, she was ready with alternatives and always offered to at least double check in case there was something they could do. My dad even got a little preview of a new version of their Old Fashioned since they were in the process of phasing out the old one and were out of one of the ingredients. read more

Casa Gabriela - Free chips and salsa with two cocktails - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

Such a beautiful and clean place. I was exciting to come here because my name is also Gabriela. We ordered the following, I will place our rating next to each dish. 1) Fish Tacos Plate 7/10 2) Enchiladas Suizas 9/10, and Ceviche Verde 8/10. My sister had a mocktail, but I don't remember the name. I had the horchata cocktail 10/10! The decor is unique and beautiful. There's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating area is very cool, has a resort feel. Service was great, our waitress was kind and patient. You can make a reservation through open table to avoid a long wait time. read more

See all

This is the first really good sit down elegant mexican food restaurant in La Mesa and it is amazing. The service is top notch, our servers were so kind and very accommodating. Portions are large and easily shared. Their suiza enchiladas and carnitas are so tasty. Added bonus, there outdoor patio is dog friendly for well behaved pets. We will be back soon. read more

Food is decent, service is absolutely terrible, and atmosphere is good. The happy hour food is pretty good and decent portions. I liked the chicken nachos, the esquites, the queso fundido, and the breaded cauliflower. I also liked the ceviche, however, it was an incredibly small portion with about two small pieces of fish in it. Churros are ok - little too oily which probably means the temperature of the oil it was fried in was too low, allowing the churros to absorb too much oil. They also have a very refreshing and tasty Jamaica juice. The main issues that service is terrible. After being seated, it took 45 minutes for someone to come and take my order. Another issue was that my water was never refilled even once during my meal. My water was empty pretty early on and remained that way throughout the entire meal. At the end of my meal, my waiter never came by, so I started asking other staff walking by if I could get my check and head out. They kept saying they would ask my waiter. It took an additional hour after I was done the meal for the waiter to actually come. The service was so bad, so if you come here, expect to be greatly disappointed. And the restaurant was not even busy! This was around 4 PM on a weekday. read more

See all

We sat in their outdoor patio which was very pretty in the evening with the lights. Our server was great throughout the meal as well. We started with the Queso Fundido which was good and very filling. We got both flour and corn tortillas to enjoy and I this was my favorite dish of the night. I got the Enchiladas Pipan Rojo which was very underwhelming. The flavors weren't all that great and the more disappointing part was the enchilada and chicken both being very dry. My partner got the chile relleno and she thought it too was not very good. They overly dressed the chile with way too much cheese and so it threw off the balance of the dish. I almost always take leftovers home, however I really wasn't too keen on doing so this time. read more

See all

Ambience: The restaurant is beautifully decorated and very inviting. Service: attentive and excellent. Our waitress was knowledgeable about the menu and made sure to point out the spice levels of different dishes. Food: Portions are generous. The La Jefa Asado has a nice kick--the spice lingers in a good way--and pairs perfectly with the rice, beans, and tortillas. The serving size is ideal for 2-3 people. Food is a bit too salty to our taste though. We had an enjoyable meal and look forward to returning to try the weekend brunch. read more

See all

We stopped by Casa Gabriela for the first time to contribute to the fundraising of La Mesa PD's Fallen Officer. We were met by a lovely host, and may I say the decor and music of the restaurant really fit that Spanish background. We were seated and the waiter was prompt with our drink and food orders, as well as providing complimentary chips and salsa. The food was good, just not out of the ballpark I expected with the pricing of the food. The lobster and black bean taquitos were good, just didn't get that wow factor. We also ordered a molcajete for two. It was quite delicious, probably our favorite dish of the night. The Mar y Tierra burrito was also "ok", the shrimp in the burrito were over salted and killed the dish. Overall, service was great and the drinks were amazing. Just wasn't blown away by the food. I'm glad the restaurant was able to contribute to the fallen officer. read more

Casa Gabriela - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

See all

Delicious Mexican restaurant in the heart of downtown La Mesa. This place is definitely vibes. With indoor and outdoor seating it's a great place for gathering with friends and family. The staff is so nice. This is your friendly neighborhood restaurant. read more

See all

​ (3.25 / 5 Stars) ​Walking into this establishment felt like stepping into a pristine Spanish chapel! The space is absolutely beautiful, and the decor is incredibly well thought out. We had a reservation and were greeted with a smile and seated almost instantly. ​For my main course, I ordered the sopes benedictos and was really pleased with both the flavor and presentation. Plus, the portion size was definitely big enough to fill you up! ​So, why the 3.75 instead of a perfect 5? A couple of details held it back: ​The Sticker-Shock Appetizers: If you are planning on getting an appetizer, be prepared for some steep prices. A few of them actually cost more than the entrees themselves. ​The Service Hiccups: Our server was incredibly cheery, but the execution wasn't quite there. I ordered a drink, and despite him confirming my selection, I had to remind him about it 30 minutes into the meal. He was honest and admitted he just forgot to enter it. Additionally, my friend ordered the fish tacos and specifically requested them fried, but he was served grilled fish instead. ​The Verdict: The ambiance and food quality are definitely there, and the staff is super friendly. With just a little more attention to detail in the service department, this place would be worth the trip. read more

Always a pleasure to dine here! Great cocktails, great service beautiful ambiance! Every seat is special and we love to dine outside on the patio! read more

Came in during Oktoberfest. Casual vibes. It's actually bigger inside than it looks. The servers were dressed in the theme with Oktoberfest. The bar has some open windows patio seating too which got cold for me at the end of the night, but I bet that breeze feels good on a cool day with margs! The food took a little while to come out(it did note that on the menu for the La Hefa). But the empanadas came out almost right before the main course. The empanadas were extra cheesy, I would've have liked to taste/see more chicken though. They kinda skimped a bit on that.. But the cream/sauces that came with it, blended well with the overall The La Hefa was bold&spicy! It had a little mix of everything: chicken, steak, sausage, queso, nopales, shrimp& chorizo! Definitely star of the night. The Tres Leche Cake, I for sure disliked the most. The cake was grainy. The flan was kind of bland. Major disappointment. The server kind of got caught up in her convo with another staff member at the end of the night but she was cool otherwise. read more

See all

The service throughout was excellent, with all staff being helpful, respectful, and accommodating to food preferences. The drinks were refreshing and the food filling. Beautiful restaurant with a calm yet colorful ambiance. I loved artwork throughout the place. My friends and I were satisfied with our time here and would come back. read more

Casa Gabriela - Mama Lopez's Huevos Rancheros Baja Fish - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

See all

Great experience here on a warm day. The decor at this place is amazing! The patio had fans and mista available. The service was exceptional. The chips and salsa were YUMMY. We arrived at 3:30pm in time for their happy hour. Their menu is very reasonable. We tried the flautas which had 4 total (2 potato & 2 sweet potato) & also shared an order of nachos. I had their cantarito which I wish wouldve been bigger, and my friends ordered a margarita which was a good size. The chips and salsa are legendary. Looking forward to going back when I'm on town again! read more

See all

Absolutely the best authentic dishes I've had in San Diego! This little resturant was a fun, but not overly loud ( such as, typical Mexican resturant night style) but beautiful and the drinks were delicious. Be ware, they will happily give you and charge you for a whole waterbottle if you tell them you want "flat water" $8 a bottle wasn't expected or clarified. read more

Casa Gabriela - The Mocalete was amazing! HIGHLY RECOMEND - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

Great ambience Great service Great food My friend from out of town wanted a fun place to have dinner. After 3 seconds of thinking I suggested Casa Gabriela. They serve hot and tasty chips to snack on while waiting for your food. Then my mole tacos arrived and I was beside myself. Our server was having fun the whole time and there is no shortage of things to look at. I love how it's in downtown La Mesa as well. Such a cute little area. read more

This was my first time here on the day where Mexico vs South Korea soccer game for World Cup was playing. It was packed but I got reservation so it was easier to get in but I wanted to sit by the bar to see the game but I ended up getting a table and watching it on my phone so it was good.the drinks and food was good and the ambiance was pretty! And the servers and service was so warming Definitely would recommend going! read more

See all

I had such a great experience at Casa Gabriela in La Mesa! The staff truly made my visit special. Carlos, Sam, Alma, Jeremy, bravo, Chef Gabby (the MVP!), Server Gabby, and Bella the host were all amazing. Everyone was welcoming, attentive, and made sure we felt taken care of. The service was excellent, the atmosphere was great, and you can tell the team really cares about their guests. A big thank you to the whole crew for making it such a memorable experience. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

Casa Gabriela - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

See all

This place is brilliant. Perfectly balanced ceviche with sushi quality seafood. Followed by a nacho with barbavoa chicken, it was probably one of the best nacho and barbacoa north of border. The rosita was well balanced, the mocktail was complex and remarkable. The blood orange margarita was excellent. The molcajetes, chef's kiss! The chicken was tender and juicy, steak was perfectly medium with burst of flavor. Our server brie was attentive and sincere. The tres leches, was good any standard, but after the molcajetes and ceviche, it is hard to satisfy any palette. It is a remarkable mexican place, with amazing art works and decor. read more

8-1-2025, Friday. Our first time there. Well we didn't know about the Friday night street fair! Parking was bad. Once we were in it was fine. We have reservations at 5:30pm. Table was ready and service was good. Menu, was ok. We ordered several dishes. Tacos with fries was very odd and wasn't good. We ordered sirloin enchiladas. They came with three. Had more spice than we Expected. Waitress was nice. We asked does the items come with anything else? She told us no. All arrived with side of beans and rice. We would have adjusted our orders if we knew it had sides. 3 stars over all. See the bill and the photos. Over priced for the quality of The food IMO. 3 stars over all. read more

See all

I love this place. The food is great, the servers are wonderful, and its in such a nice little downtown area. No complaints at all, definitely recommend it read more

Last minute dinner with my girls and they picked this location. First and foremost I was surprised to find parking, and then we were directed to a beautifully decorated and lit outside setting. The vibes gave cozy & comfy. It also happened to be happy hour YAY US!! Since we don't play when it comes to food I encouraged us to participate in BIG BACKERY! We ordered one of everything on the happy hour menu! My faves were the cauliflower, aguachile fish, and fundido! Servers were fast and efficient. read more

See all