I finally tried Casa Gabriela last weekend and honestly, I'm still thinking about the food. You get to really enjoy the meal here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The outdoor garden patio is a great vibe. We sat outside, had a couple of drinks, and didn't want to leave.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service was warm and attentive. Our server knew the menu well and steered us toward the right dishes. What really stood out is that this isn't generic Mexican food. You can tell the staff really put care into their dishes. If you haven't been to Casa Gabriela yet, go. Take someone you like and order extra food. You won't regret it! read more

Casa Gabriela's is one of my absolute go to spots. Anytime a friend comes to visit, this is one of the first places I bring them because there's truly something on the menu for everyone. The vibe is great the dining area is decorated super cute with fun pieces on the walls, and even the restrooms are adorable and well kept (which says a lot about a place!). It's perfect for catching up with friends or hosting out of town visitors.The margarita pitcher is always a table favorite, and if you haven't tried brunch with mimosas, you're missing out. Also, huge shout out to Carlos. Even when the restaurant is slammed, he somehow always manages to take care of us and get us seated quickly. He goes above and beyond to make sure our experience is great every time. Great food, great drinks, great service we keep coming back for a reason. Gracias read more

Casa Gabriela - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

We were excited to try this spot after a friend's recommendation. Overall the staff and restaurant were very nice. We had a large party so we got to try a little bit of everything. Unfortunately for me the flavors were a little too mixed on the plates. I felt there was just too much happening. The Flank Steak Tampiquena had amazing flavors for the steak but that got lost next to the enchilada and the roasted peppers just seemed to not have a place on the plate. However, the pozole and the TJ dogs were delicious. They also have a happy hour menu for both food and drinks. As a whole, I would recommend checking them out for an upscale take on Mexican cuisine. read more

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Had the BEST experience! Service by Damond! I even called and left a vm for the management team. Potato taquitos were amazing. So much flavor! The fundido was great! The chips and salsa were great! Let's talk about he pitcher of Margarita! Didn't taste like fake mix. So fresh! The red wine sangria was to die for. You could take the Brandy. The mango cocktail with Chamoy was to die for! Gabriela even came around asking about the food! Such a great experience. Hope this is the case next time we attend! read more

First of all, the service was excellent. Attentive but unobtrusive and accommodating to our large family gathering. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant itself is quite attractive. Festive atmosphere with many beautifully potted plants[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. The food was just okay. I had seafood suiza enchiladas which were tasty after I removed an over abundance of cheese. Excess cheese seemed to be the theme of the meal as several other various entrees featured it. There also seemed to be a scarcity of seasoning (salt) and several comments about how spicy it all was. We passed on dessert. So, it was pricy and don't forget the Covid era surcharge. Too much for not enough. read more

Been wanting to try this place for a long time. Finally did. It was just okay. When my family made the reservation on Open Table they indicated it was for my birthday. Perhaps that information isn't passed along to the restaurant but there was no acknowledgment of it--which was fine for me, but my family was a little disappointed. Ideally we wanted to wait until our Chase Sapphire credit was available, but decided to go without that due to the occasion. Even with a reservation we had to wait quite a few moments to be seated. When we were seated our party of 5 was sat at a table that was inadequate for 5. There was a chair pulled into a small booth--so my wife had the pleasure of staring at the wall all night. The table was crowded--not much elbow room. Drink refill service was slow--and mostly when we asked, not a lot of anticipatory skills demonstrated by our waiter. And it seemed like every time anything was brought to our table it was by a different person--I counted at least six people involved in serving our table. This loses any effect of building any rapport or communication with our assigned server. We sat inside and the music blaring was way too loud. It became a chore to even try to have conversation at the table as unless you were seated directly adjacent to someone it was difficulty to hear anything. Even my teenage kids who hear everything and certainly have no aversion to loud music were annoyed. It's not a concert venue, it should represent as a fine dining establishment, in my opinion. The food was creatively served and was good, but I'd hesitate to say it was unique or fantastic. Anyway, it was a nice place to try and glad we did, but not left with the impression we need to hurry back. I'm excited to explore other restaurants located in this area on La Mesa boulevard. read more

Enjoyed brunch last Saturday here. The service was flawless, everyone was so attentive! I had the birria sopepita benedict. The eggs were perfectly poached, the sopes were crispy on bottom without being dry, birria was well seasoned. The black beans were a nice surprise as well. My Michelada was a little light on the miche but our waiter brought us another shot of the sauce. The restaurant decor was beautiful. read more

Casa Gabriela - Birria benedict - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

I had no idea this place had opened up, so was excited to try out. First impression, staff was very nice and welcoming. I love the decor and the patio area is beautiful. Menu is short and to the point which I appreciate. It was 5 of us, husband and 3 kiddos. I ordered the Chumbera (sp?) which was very sweet and VERY strong. Kids got horchatas (Delicious) For food we had the huevos rancheros, steak and eggs, chilaquiles and waffles. My favorite out of all were the waffles. Overall it's a nice brunch spot. I don't think it was worth what we spent, I'd say is a little pricey for the actual taste of the food, but server was very nice and attentive. I really appreciate that a lot of their food options are gluten free. read more

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Casa Gabriela has absolutely delicious food. I was enjoying brunch with my husband when a woman commented on my jersey. I turned my head and noticed she was wearing an apron. I complimented her on the food and thanked her for how tasty everything was. Then I realized the name on her apron, it was the owner. She spent some time telling us about herself and the history of her being a chef. It was a really nice encounter. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Between the wonderful food, friendly service and comfortable atmosphere I most certainly will be recommending this place to friends and I will be back soon.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Casa Gabriela - I woke up this morning wishing I could eat this again. - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

We are happy returning customers! Servers are always so sweet and we have never had bad service. Julia was our server for our most recent dining and she was wonderful. My husband and I have been coming since it opened and always love the food, drinks, and service. They also have a lot of nice outside seating! Favorite menu items: queso fundido and Enchiladas Marisco Suiza read more

I have to say, favorably impressed with this place. Great ambience, decor, friendly staff, and great looking menu. We started with a couple of margaritas, I opted for a spicy, jalapeño one. The server brought chips and salsa, and we took our time looking over the menu. I opted for the fish tacos, which were delicious, my date chose one of the salads. We sat in the patio and it was moderately attended, so the food was out relatively quickly. I felt like the food was a little pricey, but definitely was good quality. I see this place is being an excellent spot for happy hour, getting together with friends, or a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Will definitely be back read more

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Modern Mexican restaurant Casa Gabriela is serving innovative Mexican dishes for brunch, happy hour, and dinner. AMBIANCE Spacious, bright, and open with a second level for interior dining and an outdoor enclosed patio. There's a touch of culture with Mexican decor, painting, statues in the space and flowers on the menu. SERVICE I found the staff to be very personable and super courteous. FOOD 5/5 Chicken Barbacoa Nachos: flavorful and big portioned with pico de gallo, candied jalapenos, asadero, cotija & oaxaca cheese. The candied jalapeños deserve an award, they're just the right level of sweetness for me and retain the taste of jalapeño without the heat. PARKING By the commercial or residential streets read more

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I've been coming here with my wife since they opened. Food is excellent, ambiance is excellent. Our most recent visit was on a Friday just as the farmers market was wrapping up. We were fortunate to find seats at the bar and I am so glad we did. Julia took our drink and dinner order and could not have been nicer. Service was perfect! We can't wait to visit again! read more

Beautiful and artsy ambience. Delicious menu. The shrimp coconut ceviche was unique and very tasty. Homemade horchata and margaritas were A+. Flank steak tampiqueno (amazing!!!) and the tabla of assorted appetizers (wow!) were our mains and plenty of food with leftovers. A great dessert menu - we had the warm churros with caramel sauce and ice cream (perfection) and the ancho chile bread pudding (decent). read more

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Weekend Brunch. First time visiting. The venue was super cute (modern Mexican aesthetic) but so hot inside. Service was all over the place. We had two people serving us. Our main server was so nice, but I went without coffee for 30 mins before she noticed it was never brought over and my husband went without a refill for the same amount of time. The coffee was luke warm too which was a bummer. I was already getting annoyed but didn't say anything about that. I finally had enough when the runner brought out the food - I ordered the waffles with chocolate and berries, and they brought over caramel sauce and berries. Two completely different flavors. The runner said they ran out of chocolate sauce after I asked what kind of sauce was on the plate. I was more annoyed at the fact that they were just hoping the customer didn't say anything. I did address it right away, and the two servers were on top of it and super apologetic. They corrected everything and made things right. I super appreciated that! Waffles - They were good, but I wouldn't say award-winning as it's claimed on the menu. Overnight oats - Five stars! Absolutely delicious oatmeal with all the goodies including a brulee'd banana slice. Chilaquiles - Five stars! I'm usually not a fan of chilaquiles but these ones changed my mind. We did half red and half green sauce. Both were delicious! Breakfast burrito - Good but not great. It was huge! I would definitely return. I really did enjoy the food and ambiance. read more

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We visited during Restaurant Week and had a mixed experience. Our server, Jeremy, was the highlight of the evening--he was wonderful, attentive, and took his time explaining the menu and our options. His service was thoughtful and genuinely appreciated. Unfortunately, the food did not live up to expectations. With a limited Restaurant Week menu, I expected the dishes to showcase the restaurant at its best, but that wasn't the case. The guacamole was bland, the carnitas were dry, and many of the selections were much spicier than expected--even the Caesar salad had a noticeable kick. The restaurant was not very busy, which, after our experience, was understandable. While the service was excellent, the food itself left much to be desired. read more

I've come here a few times and each time, hands down, is amazing. I try something new each time and every plate I have had is excellent quality and more than enough food to split. The service is always very friendly. I love dining outside because it feels so nice and fresh with all the greenery blocking the surrounding streets. It can be a little pricey but I truly feel the price reflects the quality. This is more of a special occasion place but it is definitely worth it every time. Also, i love the cafe de olla read more

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Such a gem of a restaurant in the heart of La mesa! They have a great happy hour menu that starts at 330 pm-530 pm as well as a brunch and dinner menu! They start you off with their complimentary chips and house salsa. The chips were still warm and super fresh/crunchy and their house salsa tasted fresh and flavorful. We ordered: 1) Pescado à la plancha- adobo glazed white fish with cilantro rice and a grilled nopales salad 2) coctel de Cameron- chilled shrimp with fire roasted cocktail sauce, horseradish crema, and charred lemon 3)) la Reina mariscos molcajete - shrimp, scallops, octopus served in a bubbling hot garlic butter sauce with a side of rice and beans and fresh flour tortillas 4) tres leches dessert. Everything was delicious and fresh and perfectly cooked! Portion sizes were very generous and filling. Chef gabby even came around to all the tables dining that night to check in on her guests, which is such a personal touch to our dining experience! There's metered street parking right out right or free neighborhood parking a couple blocks away. The vibe is relaxed yet lively and bustling with happy patrons. A great place to enjoy date night! read more

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Food was delicious. The tacos were very flavorful. Our server Jeremy was very hospitable. Always checking on us. Loved the restaurant music they had playing. Variety of Spanish rock and cumbias. Must check out if you are in La Mesa, CA. read more

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TL;DR: Come for a chill happy hour in the back patio and enjoy the drinks and fun bites! All the food we got was off the happy hour menu. Our favorites were the cauliflower and the fundido. Love the table chips and salsa, as well! Skip the ceviche - lacking punch in flavor and not worth the value. Of course, you gotta get the michelada to go with it all! Cheers, Casa Gabriela! read more

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Visited over the weekend after seeing friends post about it. The space is beautiful, lots of indoor/outdoor space. Beautiful colors everywhere. Large mural/ painting indoor. They have various seating options for both large and small parties. The service was prompt and our waitress attentive. I would say service is very fast, as we ordered, and food came out almost immediately. The food was subpar. Ordered the poblano omelette and the peppers were under cooked, still crunchy. The "carnitas" chilaquiles were ok. The tortilla's extra crunchy and the pork not crunchy at all. Literally belonged in pozole not chilaquiles. The texture was simply off on this combo. Their bloody Marys were very peppery, and very spicy. Def be aware. All in all a meh experience wouldn't visit for brunch again. Perhaps their dinner options are better. read more

Casa Gabriela - Poblano omelette - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

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We enjoyed a pleasant meal at Casa Gabriela in mid December. Gabriela herself visited our table which was a nice touch. We were hoping for a few more holiday decorations, but overall the restaurant has a beautiful rustic vibe, especially the outdoor seating area. We sat inside because it was a chilly evening. Food was overly salty which was a bit disappointing. And we weren't a fan of the seasoning they put on their chips. Our waiter brought us some chips without as much of the seasoning when we requested which we appreciated. Service was very good. We will give it a go again in the future and try some different menu items. read more

I stopped in Casa Gabriela during happy hour and sat at the bar. I ordered the TJ Dogs at $8.95, the Caesar Salad at $8.95, and the Queso Fundido at $10.95. All the items arrived at the same time. I started on the salad first. It was good and came with "toasted chile de arbol croutons, roasted tomatoes, basil, shaved cotija enchilado, spiced pepitas" (Casa Gabriela, 2024). I enjoyed the shaved cotija enchilado and spiced pepitas. They were very tasty. The salad definitely needed more of the chile de arbol croutons however, and although tasty, the dressing for a Caesar was on the thicker side. A few crispy garnished on top of the salad would have been nice, too. The TJ Dogs were tasty, too. The hot dogs were of good quality and the bacon was terrific. I enjoyed the cilantro aioli. I did not like that they were so small. I was expecting two regular sized hot dogs. They should change the title on the menu to "Two Mini TJ Dogs" for better accuracy. The Queso Fundido sounded great on the menu but its execution was sub par. For example, traditional fundido comes with gooey and stretchy cheese or that wonderful melted goodness, this cheese was over baked hard and on the dry side. There was a little bit of cheese that did not get over cooked inside but most of it was done for the count. I felt the Oaxaca & Asadero cheese deserved more respect. Honestly, they dish was more a casserole if anything. I did like the roasted poblanos inside the fundido, but they should have been swimming in the melted cheese, not set inside the container as a separate component. Also, the pinto beans were the whole beans but refried beans. With a few tweaks here and this queso fundido could have been a winner, but that over cooked cheese made it lose that traditional feeling. Service at the bar was hit and miss. The bar that kept making the beverages was not much of a conversationalist, even though I was sitting right in front of him. I tried to ask him a few questions about the libations he was working on and/or make comments on how well he was doing, but he would not respond. Finally, towards the end of my visit, I raised my voice as he stood right in front of me and said, "hey bar keep, you are doing a great job!" To which he finally responded, "oh, thank you." The other gent who took my order and asked how my food was was on it. In the end, I was not up set, just intrigued. Casa Gabriela is a beautiful restaurant, inside and outside. read more

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absolutely a gem. i love la mesa and the restaurants downtown. they have this charm that you just don't find anywhere else in san diego. HIGHLY recommend the appetizer sampler. it has something everyone will love. everything is priced well and the inside makes you feel like you are in a TJ or Encanto restaurant. a must go! read more

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We stumbled upon this location after church and oh my goodness I am so glad we did. It was absolutely amazing! I came in with my family and I got the chilaquiles they were delicious we also got the pineapple French toast and it was the best French toast I've ever had. AMAZING! Our server was good, the ambiance was it they were playing great music. I can't wait to return and try the drinks they had a great drink menu. I can't recommend this enough place enough! read more

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Went for Saturday brunch with my family for a couple birthday celebrations! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was a great time, we ate on the patio and had Savanna as our waitress, who was the best![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I had a Bloody Mary which quickly became a hit, with my aunt & uncle also ordering one. We got a couple queso fundidos for the table which went down quickly. I had the Panela salad and a side of candied habanero bacon. The bacon is a must try in book, my dad and uncle both said wow! The chilaquiles were ordered by multiple people and everyone said it was delicious. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We definitely enjoyed everything and loved the atmosphere of the patio for brunch.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We definitely will be revisiting in the future! read more

Casa Gabriela - Candied Habanero Bacon & Panela a la Plancha with a BLOODY DE LA CASA - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

The service was great and the ambiance was awesome. We really liked the decor and the open patio space with lots of shade. Very spacious. Most of the food was good, but a bit overpriced. We ordered off the dinner menu as well as the happy hour menu. If I were to go back it would be to order off the happy hour menu only. The esquite has too much cheese (and I can't believe I'm saying that because I love cheese), and you couldn't taste the corn. The tempura cauliflower was amazing. Definitely recommend it. The queso fundido was very disappointing. They should just call it "beans with queso fundido." I've never had beans in my queso fundido and this dish has A LOT of beans. This is where I wanted the cheese not in the esquite. Would not get this again. The Cesar salad was basic. Nothing too great about it. The green chicken pozole was very thick and not enough hominy. The garnish also looked a little sad and not nearly enough cabbage or onion for the dish. It was also a little spicy, which I didn't mind but it was surprising. My husband really enjoyed his barbacoa nachos, large portion. The salsa served with the chips didn't taste homemade, nor did it have much flavor. The horchata and Jamaica (hibiscus) was good and looked pretty fancy, but was expensive. The Reina (seafood) molcajete was good and large portion. The hot dogs were good. Not pictured was the carnitas plate. My nephew liked it and ate most of it. What we didn't like was that they charge a 5% supplemental fee and print it very small on the bottom of the menu. The food is already overpriced, so paying an additional 5% to me seems ridiculous. The menu does say that we can request to have the fee removed, but we didn't see it UNTIL AFTER our card had been run. I get that prices are going up for everyone, but it felt that the way they go about adding this surcharge is a bit deceptive. Most people don't read EVERY SINGLE LINE on a menu, especially once they find what they want to eat. read more

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You guys... I'm not too sure why it took me so long to try this place. It's been on my list since it opened and I've finally had the time to go and let me tell you girl I wasn't disappointed. Came in on the Saturday of Oktoberfest weekend and was seated pretty quickly. Our server was super attentive and quick with our food and drinks even though they were pretty busy with the crowd. Food was delicious, drinks for yummy and service was quick. What more could you ask for in a restaurant. Already trying to make a trip back. Keep up the good work! read more

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Casa Gabriela Fuimos a Casa Gabriela y quedé realmente impresionado. Probé unos tacos de lobster con frijoles negros en chipotle, unos tacos al pastor de coliflor acompañados de frijoles y arroz, y mi pareja pidió unos sopes benedictinos con birria y un huevo encima... todo estaba delicioso. Además, tomamos unas micheladas riquísimas y una bebida para empezar llamada "Chisme", perfecta para abrir el apetito. Me considero una persona muy mexicana y bastante picky con la comida, y honestamente no es fácil sorprender mi paladar. Llevo casi 30 años viviendo en San Diego y he probado muchos restaurantes mexicanos, pero ninguno como este. Algo que me encantó fue el ambiente: tiene muchísima cultura mexicana, pero al mismo tiempo se siente elegante, tranquilo y en paz. Lograr esa combinación no es nada fácil, y aquí lo hacen perfecto. Gracias por la increíble comida y el excelente servicio. Sin duda lo recomiendo y ahora será mi lugar favorito para días especiales. read more

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The FOOD was GREAT! We had the guacamole and chicken empanadas as appetizers! Delish! Our table had the crispy carnitas, birria tacos and steak enchiladas...everyone raved about their meals. Service was very friendly. Love the decor - Gabriela stopped and introduced herself. 10/10 can't wait to return. 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

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We stopped by during brunch hour today, the food was so good the red chilaquiles with chicken barbacoa were delicious the sauce isn't too spicy its well balanced with the right amount of heat, the barbacoa is very flavorful, we also tried the pineapple French toast, best French toast I've had in San Diego they are crunchy on the outside and custardy on the inside topped with a delicious whipped cream, pineapples and toasted pecans, highly recommend both dishes. Our waitress Samantha was very attentive and super helpful she made sure we understood the menu and made a few suggestions, overall a great experience, the place is also beautifully decorated. read more

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While strolling through the farmers market last night, we stumbled upon this hidden gem of a restaurant just as we were wrapping up. From the moment we walked in, we were warmly welcomed and quickly seated at the bar. The bartender was incredibly friendly, answering all of our questions with ease and enthusiasm. Everything from the service to the drinks to the food was spot-on. The atmosphere strikes a perfect balance, bustling and energetic, yet still cozy and intimate. It felt like everyone around us was enjoying themselves, but somehow, we were in our own little world. We started with the queso (a must), then ordered two rounds of tacos, one carne asada and one birria. Every bite was packed with flavor, and the portions were generous; we even had two tacos left to take home. We only wish we had saved room for dessert, the gentleman next to us ordered the churros, and they looked absolutely amazing. (Not pictured: the delicious frozen mango margarita she offered us a sample of, so refreshing!) This place is a total vibe, and we can't wait to come back. read more

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Something went wrong in the kitchen. My friend and I ordered the same dish, the Pescado Veracruz-style. It comes with fingerling potatoes which were inedible, nearly raw on both our plates -- they were so under-cooked it was difficult to get a fork into them. Not even an amateur kitchen chef would make a mistake like that; anyone who has ever cooked a potato knows they need time to actually cook, and any professional chef plating the dish with any attention would know by the feel it was wrong. I didn't try my friend's fish but mine had a leathery, dried out surface on one side, like it had sat out uncovered for a while either before or after cooking. One extra star for service; the servers were professional, personable, and nice, otherwise this would be a one-star review. read more

Have the opportunity to check out this awesome space with my friend. We were fortunate enough to grab a table upstairs which was nice and tucked away. Our server was amazing. The food was delicious and the music was also great. Can't wait to come back here again! read more

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We saw this place on youtube and decided to try it for my Dads birthday. Atmosphere was really nice. We sat in patio. The decorations were very pretty and had dia de los muertos vibes. Clean and had very friendly staff. Everyone was happy with their food which were very good portions. Appetizers were good and they have happy hour everyday. A little pricey in my mind but overall we were happy trying out this new restaurant. read more

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This was my second time here but first for brunch. The Crispy Carnitas plate was good, I'd recommend! However, I was surprised that they don't offer chips and salsa during brunch hours. I also ordered the Azucar De Sandia which was a spicy watermelon margarita. The fresh watermelon made this not too sweet, however, it was way too tart. read more

Casa Gabriela - Crispy Carnitas - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Delicious food, great service, chill ambiance. Will continue to come to try different entrees and drinks read more

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The service was great. Our server was very friendly and took good care of us. The dinner came with chips and salsa which was delicious, and they brought out more. All of the food was great and came with lots of food. Most notable were the chicken rings tacos; the drinks were also pretty strong which was nice! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It also has really pretty outdoor seating area[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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Casa Gabriela is one of those places I keep coming back to. The food is always solid, the space is beautiful without being pretentious, and the service has never let me down. The jalapeño & white corn lasagna is one of my favorite things on the menu. It's rich, flavorful, a little spicy, and super satisfying. Their margaritas are great too. Not too sweet and definitely have tequila. One night they were also super accommodating to my very picky kid, which honestly impressed me more than anything. It's rare to find a place that treats families just as well as date-night tables. Just a genuinely good spot. I've never left disappointed. read more

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