First time visiting today, overall I'm leaving feeling unsatisfied. Our group of five were seated quickly in a booth section: The booths were super comfortable but a little cramped for a group of five. After sitting for a what seemed like forever we were finally brought water and our drink order taken. I specifically asked our waiter "Do you have Coke here?". His response "yes we do." Our appetizers came out and everyone's drinks at the table came out except for mine. It took forever for my drink to come out and when it finally did it wasn't Coke but Pepsi. I got the servers attention and asked him if it was Pepsi "yea it is sorry we don't have Coke." I sent it back. A waste of product and time, if he had told me no when I first asked I would have then ordered another drink no problem but because I was lied to and because it took forever for a soda to come out I told him I would be cool sticking with the water. We placed our food order and again waited a while, it wasn't the biggest deal for us because we got to chit chat and catch up with friends. If you are looking for a fast lunch I wouldn't recommend eating here as the are in no hurry about anything. I personally ordered the Chorizo Breakfast Hash with a side of sour cream and a side of tortillas. Everyone at my table was five bites into their meals before my meal finally showed up. The server left and wasn't seen very much of as the serves liked to hang out talking by the kitchen/bar area. My tortillas never came which again wouldn't have been the end of the world if 1. I was given a spoon or 2. The hash was a hash instead of watery stew. The plate itself wasn't a bad base, eggs were cooked to perfection on all purpose plates and my potatoes were cooked perfect, I'm just unsure of why it was so so liquid-y, it also didn't taste like chorizo to me, it lacked flavor. Two friends were discussing over who would pay and the server took my bosses card before giving us a receipt or anything ,he tapped the card and handed the card over along with the handheld POS system so he could be tipped and walked away. We pushed print receipt and a few moments later our server dropped it off at the table. After reviewing it I noticed we were charged for the side of tortillas I never received, meaning it shouldn't have been forgotten as the restaurant only had a couple tables and a ton of workers. I was able to flag down the server and ask him to please refund the tortillas as at this point I was ticked off, for the poor service I received. $3.25 isn't going to kill me but it was about the principal of the matter at that point. He said apologized and said yes he would fix it. After standing a few moments at the cash register he comes back to the table with three dollars in cash. He didn't actually give us a refund. The cost of the tortillas was $3.25 + tax which would have been a refund of $3.50. I don't like little games like this when going to eat. It also could have been the servers not being trained properly on how to give refunds, whichever one it is it's not my job to sit there and have to go back and forth. There's plenty of restaurants I haven't tried yet in Encinitas so I don't think our group will be returning. Best part of the meal for everyone was the salsa and aguachiles. Our actually meals were brought out hot but lacked flavor. The one plus that we thought was the sides of sour cream we ordered were a decent portion for the price. Also parking was easy and plentiful as they are in a shopping center. read more

Cocina de Barrio - Encinitas - Never received the side tortillas, and had very poor service. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Encinitas, California

Worst food in Southern California! It's not Mexican food! It's a weird blend of I don't know what with Mexican food! The chef's don't even know what albondigas are and way over priced! I'll NEVER EAT HERE AGAIN! I suggest you stay away! Even the drinks were nasty! Your business needs to look at your menu and your chef's!!! I give it a big fat 0!! read more

Amazing Food and drinks. Had the tacos and the meat was insane and melted in your mouth. Hibiscus margarita was perfect! Best salsa!

Amazing service, amazing food, amazing aesthetic! I loved it. The food was so delicious and at first I thought it was a bit pricey but after tasting it, I knew it was worth it! Lots of variety of drinks and different types of food! Will definitely come back. Our server Abigail was absolutely amazing and helpful! read more

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Cute place, lots of TVs (for you sports watchers) but not in a terrible way, lots of seating. Unfortunately not for our flavor palette. We found the margaritas to be very sweet and the guac a little less flavorful for our liking. Our server was incredibly kind and accommodating, despite us leaving our intended reservation. Perhaps a great spot for snacky cocktailing, pending how you like to take your marg! read more

10/10 all the way through. Not a single complaint, food way great, portions were large, service was very hospitable. Would absolutely recommend read more

Great food and great portions. The service was very good as well. Overall great place to eat would definitely recommend.

After a small walk down the 101 me and my husband decided to stop by around 3:05 pm on a Sunday to grab a beer and an appetizer. Unfortunately we were turned away by a young male hostesses saying they were closed for the day. I was confused since I double checked on their website and it said they closed at 4pm. It's very unfortunate because he didn't even give us a chance with our business. We ended up across the street for some drinks and food. read more

if i could i would give this place ZERO stars. come here if you wanna get scammed and meet with incompetent staff, i was truly baffled with my experience i never expected grown adults to act with so much stupidity. they nearly stole 200 dollars from us by charging us twice for unwarranted tip and was feigning incompetence for their actions with no apology. we were given a receipt with the total including the 18% gratuity which was used to calculate and split the check. once ready with the organized totals, the server proceed to add additional tip for themselves with no communication or consent on our part during the payment process. where once that was initially complete we saw that we were charged more than we initially calculated then confronted they were pushing the blame on us for not specifying tip was included when we were given a total that included the gratuity and the total without it was crossed off. the cherry on top that was that food was bland at best with the most flavorful item on my plate was the ketchup. best to avoid a over priced mexican restaurant when you can hit your local taco shop with food that you'll actually enjoy and half the price read more

Cocina de Barrio - Encinitas - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Stopped by to check it out. Had a few appetizers since we weren't super hungry. Everything had amazing, subtle flavor profiles. The Memelitas were flavorful and just right in terms of consistency. The plant-based Tetelas were even better- with a cinnamon hint that was simply outstanding. Didn't even have a chance to really try the tludia we ordered- too busy with the other dishes! Cocktails were good, wine selection very appropriate with Guadalupe Valley being a highlight. Only downside was the ambiance. It was a pretty noisy- even when they weren't full. TV screens on several walls made is seem like the former sports bar instead of a higher-end sit down restaurant. That said, the friendly staff looked like they were having fun though- a good sign. Recommend reservations if in doubt. This gem fills a longstanding gap after the closure of El Callejon- high praise indeed. Just needs tweaks to the noise and decor. read more

Excellent service and food. Daniel was our server and went above and beyond to make our experience pleasurable. We ordered guacamole for the table, fish soup, and the traditional mole. EVERYTHING was top notch. They make the guacamole at the table, which serves as a unique experience and we loved customizing our own! The fish soup had rocks in it and was served sizzling hot! The crab and shrimp melted in our mouths. The mole was perfectly spicy and sweet and the short rib was cooked nicely. The ambiance is delightful. Modern decor with a warm/ inviting atmosphere. We will be back! read more

The Ambiance is very fun local cantina with a fun vibe. The food is very delicious, true to the culture and the presentation is great. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. All of our drinks were really good read more

Cocina de Barrio - Encinitas - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Encinitas, California

K rica! El ambiente incluyuendo los muebles y los pisos eran increible. Todos los platos me recordaron de la comida fina de DF! Los meseros deben de ser mejoraos por favor. read more

Yum yum and yum!!! If you love mole and mezcal, this is your new place! Delicious food all around and the cocktails are amazing! Wendy was our server and she was lovely as well! I made a reservation at the wrong location and the hostess was kind and accommodating without batting an eye! I will be back for brunch soon!! read more

Cocina de Barrio - Encinitas - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Encinitas, California

The food was sooo good!! Yes they are short staffed so you will have to wait a bit but it is worth it! I've eaten Oaxacan food in Oaxaca and this is the closest you will get to authentic. It was fresh, flavorful and delicious. The drinks were great! I'd recommend and can't wait to come back. Our favorite was the aguachile read more

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Fantastic addition to the Encinitas food and drink scene. Great Happy hour drinks and food options at a fair price. The tacos are fantastic and go easy with the spicy chili oil they give you. Bartenders Walter and Daniel are super friendly and make some amazing drinks! Keep up the good work amigos!! read more

Phenomenal, tacos were great service was great drinks were great. So much fun. Tacos were so good beef

I was so thrilled when I found out Cocina de Barrio opened in Encinitas. We celebrated my birthday there and it did not disappoint. The food was amazing and our server, Nikki, was warm, attentive, and helpful. We can't wait to come back and try brunch. read more

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Food was great and the atmosphere was nice. The service is outstanding--friendly, attentive, and always ready to recommend the best dishes. And let's not forget about the drinks! Their margaritas are refreshing and perfectly balanced, making them the ideal complement to any meal. read more

Oh my goodness the food and drinks were amazing. I went with 2 of my girlfriends for dinner and we all DEVOURED our plates hahaha to the point where we laughed at the end like wtf I ordered the tacos de birrias (beef) and HIGHLY recommend. They were so juicy/flavorful and 3 was the perfect amount to fill me up. I also got the Jalisco Express cocktail which has jalapeño infused tequila. Let me tell you, this drink single-handedly made me want to try more jalapeño drinks. I typically don't like spice but the flavor and mixture of it was bomb. The service was really nice and the restaurant is super cute. I love Encinitas and I wanna go again read more

Amazing happy hour food. Handmade $5 margaritas with real tequila. Excellent ceviche and three option lime cured sea bass, shrimp or salmon. Another yummy dish is 10 hour braised lamb tacos. Portobello mushroom tacos and coconut aquachile for vegetarian friends. Mexican ipas for $7 really good. read more

Out of all the locations, this one is my favorite! Love the ambiance, decor and the food there is just sooooo good! This place is a go to when I am feeling more upscale mexican. Love bringing people who come into town here to get the experience. read more

I went in for Mother's Day without a reservation but we were greeted quickly and the wait wasn't too long. Our server Nikki and the bartender Oscar were very welcoming and attentive. everything was great and I would definitely recommend. 10/10 read more

Best restaurant ever! The Oaxacan food is delicious! Came here for my birthday and it was wonderful! The salsa de molcajete is full of flavor. The guacamole with chapulines is on point! The red chilaquiles are the best! I love coming here for mimosas. Staff are always super friendly! 100% recommend this place! read more

Cocina de Barrio - Encinitas - Aguachiles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Encinitas, California

Ceviche and chilaquiles plus marg so amazing. The server was so knowledgable on all things and the vibe so great read more

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My girlfriend and I came here a while back and we really enjoyed it. The food was excellent and I thought the drinks were very good. They have a good skinny margarita. read more

Will be back for brunch for sure!! The portions are hefty, lots of brunch options. We sat outside but inside is beautiful also.

Love this place . Super cute drinks and their birria tacos are to die for! Super delicious! Definitely great recommendation read more

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Superb service. Great food. Great crowd! I wish this was next door to my house! I will keep coming back when I swing by Carlsbad -- CHEERS to the staff! Just lessen the checking at my table and cutting all my conversations, then we're all good. Haha! read more

I came here last minute with my family, Christian C was an amazing server! He was very friendly and gave us a great time!

Olivia was super helpful and friendly! the drinks and food were delicious! Olivia made my time there an overall 5 star experience! :) she was so sweet and attentive - something a lot of restaurants are lacking these days. I was a bartender and server for 8 years, so I understand it's a tough job and people can be cruel. However, Olivia gave me hope in receiving good service again! Will definitely be going back and asking for her. :) read more

Cocina de Barrio - Encinitas - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Encinitas, California

we had reservations, seated right away. Our server was attentive and helpful. Atmosphere relaxed. Mango habanero shrimp appetizer delicious with just enough spice. Grouper was perfect. Mole short rib was goo-- mole sauce a little too much but meat was excellent read more

We were visiting Encinitas. Our friends told us that they heard this place was good. But they hadn't tried it yet. So we came for the happy hour to give it a try. We ended up and staying for a light dinner. The food and drinks were a bit more eclectic than a standard Mexican restaurant. They offered table side guac, but then they offered to top with crickets. Luckily we are more adventurous than some. I had the cucumber jalapeño marg. It was beautifully served. But a little sweater than I would have liked. So I followed with a glass of Pinot Grigio also on happy hour. Unfortunately they were all out so I had sauv blanc. We also ordered the oysters, but those also weren't available. They had said they were recalled. So I'm glad I didn't have to find that out the hard way. I instead had the raw salmon with strawberries, pickled onions. It was a different combination but super tasty! My husband had the birria lamb tacos. They said that they had been slow cooked for 10 hours. The decor is fun, it felt like cantina meets gastropub. read more

the manager is such a doll! The food is delicious, and the ambiance is a plus! We absolutely love this place and I would 10/10 recommend this place to anyone in the area or outside the area! read more

Highly recommend this place for Lunch. I'm off work on Wednesdays and decided to give it a try as I had heard good things about their other San Diego locations. Daniel my server, recommended the "La Rosa" Tequila drink and it did not fail. read more

Cocina de Barrio - Encinitas - Pollo en Mole Negro - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Encinitas, California

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The menu relies heavily on use their proprietary mole sauce in various dishes. I really liked it but my date did not. It is not very sweet which is a plus in my book. Mole has an unusual and very intense flavor and it really does vary a lot depending on the recipe used. For me it was a great meal, but not so much for her. I will have to try some other dishes and update the review. read more

Met friends here on a Saturday night.. beautiful restaurant with excellent service. Food comes quickly. Guac made table side was delicious and the other highlights were the tacos de birria, aguachiles and esquites (corn and shrimp). Would come back again read more

The service, food and drinks were wonderful! I definitely recommend the Tiradito de Salmon if you like fish. Our waiter was very kind, professional and knew what he was talking about. I did request to speak with the Manager to give the waiter props, to which the manager Oscar was also very friendly, funny, professional and over all seems like a great manager. 100% recommend! read more

Birria-left (beef) center (lamb) right (beef)! Delicious! Great customer service and atmosphere. Highly recommend read more

Cocina de Barrio - Encinitas - Birria Tacos-Left (Beef) Middle (Lamb) Right (Beef). Delicious! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Encinitas, California

Came here the other day with some friends. Got greeted by the general manager Oscar. We all felt so welcomed, he made sure to check on us if we needed anything. Food and drinks came out quick! Definitely would recommend this place to anyone and I will be going back! Thanks again Oscar! read more