Went here for a birthday dinner of a friend and everything was great. Food was good! Great flavor, portions maybe a tiny bit small for the price, but it was delicious nonetheless. Having come with a group of about 9, the service was very quick and organized. Drinks were delicious and had an amazing variety of flavors, sizes, and alcohol types. Food wise, there are lots of options. Chicken, beef, vegan and much more. The appetizers were a good size and easily shareable. Entree options were awesome and authentic. As it was a birthday, they provided a complimentary dessert(flan we assumed),however, being delicious it wasn't exactly flan just in case anyone was wondering. The ambiance feels family like and welcoming. Not an overly large seating area which adds to this. Service was very good and everyone we interacted with was as kind funny and attentive. Parking was a little difficult but opens up relatively quickly after a few tries. Will definitely come back as i hear the other location does mimosas and a brunch i believe! read more

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Food was good but service was seriously lacking. Treated like a 2nd class citizen because I was dining alone. Put me at a table where I was blinded by the sun because it was a "small" table and I was completely ignored. Too bad for them. I'm a generous tipper when well deserved. Patio area is also extremely dirty. Black greasy floors -so gross. read more

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Great food and service! 23 lived the mix drinks with popsicles and tacos. Vegan food was excellent too!!!

Great service to begin with. Excellent drink and food recommendations. Mix of indoor and outdoor ambiance. Every dish I had was excellent. Highly recommend this place. read more

I visited the Encinitas Cocina de Barrio location both Saturday and Sunday (I know). The food is delicious, I personally recommend their chilaquiles rojos, enmoladas, and chicken tinga quesadillas; they are all very flavorful and filling. I also really like the drinks; so yummy! I want to love this location, however, service falls short from the Hillcrest area (SD) location. On both days the service was slow and it felt like we were an inconvenience to our server (both times). We didn't get water refills, we wanted to order more drinks but our server rarely checked on us and so we did not have the opportunity to order more. To pay, we had to go to the front desk to pay since our server was nowhere to be seen. Overall; food is great, drinks are yummy, but the service definitely slacks compared to their Hillcrest location. read more

Our brunch at Cocina de Barrio was very enjoyable. We ordered the mango popsicle margarita, the churro French toast, and the sopes benny, and everything was delicious. The margarita was refreshing and creative. The churro French toast was hands-down one of the best I've ever had: crispy on the outside, soft inside, and topped with fresh fruit. The sopes benny was rich, flavorful, and beautifully plated. To top it off, the service was outstanding, our waiter was friendly, attentive, and welcoming from start to finish. The ambiance was vibrant yet relaxed, perfect for a weekend outing. Definitely one of our new favorite spots in North County. read more

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Everything here was great. The ambience, the service and the food. We tried the churro French toast, with the caramel on the side and it was perfectly sweetened. Our server was really nice and the food came out pretty quickly. The tlayuda and eggs Benedict with chorizo were so unique but all the flavors were great. read more

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I'll start off with the Ambiance. It's a very pretty restaurant. It's clean and the decor is tasteful. The service was good, the guy at the front asked if we had a reservation and we said no so he said "I guess we can sit out outside" which is fine but the restaurant wasn't busy at all. It was weird. The guy who made our guacamole was nice and our waitress was really attentive and nice. The reason I give this restaurant a 3 star is because of the food. Unfortunately the only good thing out of our dinner was the drinks. The appetizers were alright. Our taquitos dorados came out cold. I'm sure if it was fresh it would have tasted better. Our salads were ok but not $24 worth. read more

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Came here with a girlfriend and made an 8pm reservation. We both arrived early at 7:40 ish and I was happy to sit at the bar at the hostess' suggestion to wait for our table. I was excited to try a cocktail while we waited. The hostess let us know it's best to close out before we get to go to our table. No problem I got my card out and we were ready to order drinks and close out immediately. Except--- no one ever came to take our drink over. We got the head nod from a bartender and then nothing. At all. No one came for 15 minutes and it was table time. Our hostess checked to see if we closed out and I told her no one came so we are good. Not starting off great. We get seated at a booth and peruse the menu since we've had some time now and conservatively would say another 15-20 minutes before a waiter showed up. Once she did we were well taken care of but damn it was a lot of waiting. We had some ceviche to start - delish and a couple of drinks. The food was alright behind the ceviche. I got a pescado dish and my friend a vegetarian quesadilla. I would come back for ceviche and beers but I wouldn't want to wait 30 minutes to order some. I could skip coming back here. Incredibly loud in here as well. Decor is cute though. If I could give 3.5 stars I would. read more

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

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As soon as you walk in you're attention is pulled to the nice decor inside. The chips and salsa is great, as is the guacamole! Trio of fish tacos is very good, as is the grilled steak plate, however the Birria tacos really need some work and the rices really leaves a lot to the imagination (not a fan). Was expecting one thing, but got delivered something else, but you can't knock it out of the park with every dish. Service was good, and food was hot and tasty and definitely worth a return. read more

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Ordered a non spicy Bloody Mary. It came SO spicy because it was pre-mixed. Ordered chicken tortilla soup and after removing all the tortilla strips I could not find a single piece of chicken in the soup. Will not be back. read more

Nikki was awesome the best service I've had,her attentiveness,attitude was the very best she is awesome! My favorite place even though I live 25 min away it's worth the drive. read more

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Stopped by for brunch with my girls on a Sunday morning. It wasn't too busy. The music and vibes were on point. I really enjoyed the jams. The drinks are amazing! La tia Chata horchata drink is my favorite. The serving sizes are generous and the service was excellent. Would definitely recommend. I will be back to try their happy hour during the week. read more

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Tried this place out for the 1st time! The staff were really great! I sat outside, and they lowered the shade to block the sun,as well as offered to put the heaters on if I got too cold, which was super sweet. Disappointed they done offer chips and salsa, only if you ordered their made to order guacamole....which based on couple sitting behind me was amazing. I had their La Rosa hibiscus and it was the perfect drink on a warm day. I also ordered the portobello mushroom tacos and the blackened salmon tacos. The portobello tacos were fantastic and also vegan which was a plus. The blackened salmon however, was rather disappointing. It lacked flavor and next time I'd just stick to the portobello ones. Overall, great spot for yummy drinks, awesome service and decent food. read more

Cocina de Barrio - Encinitas - La Rosa hibisco!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Encinitas, California

Delicious food. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful. Very clean. Service is always great. 5 stars well deserved! Will definitely be back :) read more

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

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I had dinner here a couple weeks ago with a group of girlfriends, most of whom had never been here before at all (myself included), and a couple of them had visited for brunch and had only glowing reviews to share. A couple of us arrived early and sat at the bar, because we had to wait until at least half of our party arrived before they would seat us. The bartender was friendly and attentive. The ambiance was classy and chic but warm and inviting. Once our party arrived and we were seated, we realized the booth wasn't going to be large enough to fit all of us and asked to be moved elsewhere, which the staff accommodated without issue. Our server (I wish I remembered her name, but she was a sweetheart) took drink orders quickly, and explained any menu offerings we had questions about, also providing her personal preferences when asked. Now I know Gordon Ramsay feels differently about this topic, but I feel Cocina de Barrio would be wise to include some photos of the food on their menu to help give a visual for those of us who A) don't speak Spanish or B) can't see very well because the font is so tiny and the color scheme makes it incredibly difficult to read! We were a group of young(ish) ladies in our mid-late 20's to mid-late 30's and we were all struggling to read the small type and font, never mind trying to decipher it from Spanish to English. I tried two of the margaritas, both of which were light and refreshing, but not boozy at all (booooo). They were definitely beautiful however, and I was able to capture some great shots during the golden hour. When it came time to place our food orders I settled on the Tacos de Birria (beef, although our server had recommended the lamb) and a side of rice and beans. Normally that would all come on one plate so I was very surprised when I was served one plate with tacos, another with rice, and a third plate with beans. I think presentation wouldn't have been sacrificed if they would just plate everything together, or at least consolidate the rice and beans, as my three plates quickly took up a huge chunk of the table. The birria was plentiful but it was incredibly salty - even more so than I (a sodium loving gal) enjoy. The beans and rice were really subpar, and they tasted a bit like tap water. The consensus of the whole table was that across the board the food was quite underwhelming. Overall the space and the vibe is really nice here, and I would visit again for a happy hour or possibly to try out the brunch I've heard good things about. But with about 1,000 other killer restaurants nearby and all over North County to enjoy I don't think I'd return here for another dinner experience. read more

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

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GO FOR HAPPY HOUR!! Happens Monday - Friday from 3-5 and the $5 barrio margarita is DELICIOUS! They have multiple flavors at the $5 price too. I always get the guacamole and salsa and it's a HUGE bowl of salsa. The ceviche pictured here was good, but a little sweet for me. I love regular aquachiles. Their brisket tacos are amazing though! Also on the happy hour menu read more

Great spot in Encinitas. Huge cocktail menu and lots of great food. Parking available. read more

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

Really wonderful place! Not like your normal Mexican food around here. Mexican food elevated. Superb Margaritas, upscale amazing food, and a great place to just hang out at the bar! read more

Great food, great service and atmosphere. The mole is spectacular, the table side guacamole is off the hook. My sons tried the grouper and the shank and they were both wonderful. This is a go to spot for me- for sure!!! read more

Cocina de Barrio - Encinitas - Guacamole and chips. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Encinitas, California

Service: fantastic! Oscar was our waiter. Ambiance: comfortable chairs, loved the murals, lighting is not overwhelming and very comforting Drinks: fun, absolutely delicious and thoughtful presentation Salmon tacos: light, needed a tiny bit more sauce but superb Chilaquiles verdes: excellent Churros: I'd good back for just these! Tasty, filled, served warm but not scalding, dulce de leche ice cream was caramelly without being fake and had a slight crunch I'd definitely go back again. read more

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Brilliant gorgeous cuisine and staff and ambiance! 500,000 to the infinite power recommend.

This restaurant is located on the far south end of The Lumberyard ion 101. Pretty cool setting inside and out. My server Abby was super knowledgeable when describing the the food and beverage menus which made it hard t choose. Sooooo delish. I'm not usually a foofoolala Mexican food lover but, although it's not served like you'd find in a home kitchen the flavor is!!! And the cocktails !!!!!! I had the tacos de birria I chose beef but they also offer lamb. I would've liked a little more flavor but I was able to personalize them with this amazing salsa macha. Also had taquitos dorados which were good but I would probably adventure for something else on the menu next time. Everything is topped with super fresh micro greens and pickled onions. They do a table side guac where you can custom select the ingredients including FRIED CRICKETS!!!! Yesss girrrrlll you read that correctly. And to wash it all down with....the delectable Agua Santa, a pineapple, coconut infused tequila margarita with a Tajin rim was gonna have a Paloma for the 2nd round but it was too good not to have another. Cheers PS some pretty decent vegan options. See photos of menu. read more

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Great Tacos and Margaritas! Service is very good. Dining is very good either indoors or on the patio. Happy hour before 5:00 pm!

Came for Brunch! Food was delicious! Service was great and dog patio friendly! And the place was very nice! Gotta try their happy hour margaritas and drinks! read more

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

I was walking my dog and noticed that they had a special for a churro martini. What? I had to go home and get me husband. I needs this martini. Fortunately the martini is not all they had to offer. They have fresh guacamole that they make in front of you. And they give you like a gallon of salsa for the table when you order chips and salsa. I was thrilled with the atmosphere and service. I had the best Caesar salad I've ever had in my life here. And the portion was substantial. Definitely going.back for the martini and the salad. My husband had the tacos and really enjoyed them. They were a tad too spicy for me. But love.this place. They are in the old Lumberyard Tavern building. read more

Very quick service, made it just in time for the happy hour margs. They got a range of 3 different types super spacious but a little hot cause no ac, but really nice seating read more

Brought a friend here for a birthday dinner this week, and we really enjoyed it. Everything was fresh and beautifully presented. The service was friendly and professional. The ribeye was delicious. The margaritas were beautiful and tasty, especially the popsicle margarita. Portions were large and prices were reasonable. They even brought us a huge piece of cake and offered to sing the birthday song, but we declined. The cake was also very good. The seating was unusually comfortable, the atmosphere was relaxing, and the acoustics were good. What a refreshing surprise in Encinitas! read more

This Mexican restaurant has a lot of good stuff going on. For lunch we ordered several rounds of flavored champagne . The food quality was good and the server was attentive. It is a little overpriced and that is the reason for 4-stars. read more

This place was delicious! The staff was also very helpful and friendly and it had a great atmosphere. We will be back and will recommend others check it out. read more

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Richard was very welcoming & friendly First time coming here and definitely will be coming back such great service read more

Cocina de Barrio - Encinitas - La paloma and the mechi - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Encinitas, California

I came here for my 21st birthday brunch and had an amazing experience. The food was awesome along with their unique drinks. Service was pretty on point, the weight staff was friendly. What brought me in here was the pictures of their restaurant. this place is truly beautiful and so well done. read more

Amazing food and extremely personal service! Cool ambience at the bar with a wide range of tequillas to try. The fish we ordered was light and incredibly unique. Our server was so knowledgeable and helpful! Food came fast too! Cant wait to come back read more

I must say that I love this place. This was our second time here and definitely not the last. If you love Mexican culture this is the spot. From the music, the food, the artistry and the drinks, it's really a great ambiance. Oscar and Hilda treated us so well, like family! I'm definitely grateful for the experience because brunch became a highlight for our family trip. Thanks again guys! read more

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Everything was great except the food and the 100° bathroom. Portions were so small and very expensive, not worth it. Service was wonderful however. I would only come back here for drinks. read more

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

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Food: Huge portion, definitely worth the price but was too spicy for me unfortunately. My fault for not checking on the spice level though! (I am a wimp about spice) Service: Great. Super friendly, checked in on us multiple times, food and drinks came out quickly. Ambiance: Good ambiance, a little dead especially for a weekend but the decor and music was great Other: On the pricier side for drinks, food was a reasonable price. I think it would be more packed if it was on the main strip of restaurants in Encinitas and not in a shopping plaza Definitely want to come back for lunch or dinner since we came for brunch. read more

Cocina de Barrio - Encinitas - Chilaquiles verdes y rojos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Encinitas, California

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We come here for brunch very frequently. The food is excellent every single time! Weve had a majority of the food on the menu and some of our favorites are Arroz con leche pancakes, pineapple upside down pancakes, chicken tinga quesadillas, all of the breakfast scrambles, birria tacos and their spicy salsa! Their cocktails are made with fresh ingredients and the service is always great! read more

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

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Fun spot, great location and great food. Prices are eh, nothing crazy but not cheap. Service was good and people are amiable enough. Plus is they don't linger or come around too often, but keep close if you need something. They also have a homemade guac that they make in front of you, which is super fun. I def recommend. read more

What an exciting dining experience! I love the creativity of the menu items and the presentation. It was my best experience in a few months. Everything was delicious and the staff is very friendly and professional. Kudos to Fatima and Bruce for their services and for their warmth. I will be returning to try more items. read more

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Ambience was nicely done. Very modern and welcoming. Thought was put into the design. Staff: Warm and welcoming. They were helpful and courteous. Food: OMG loved it. I tried so hard to finish but it was too much food for me. Plated very nicely. Fresh ingredients. Lots of flavor. My favorite were the cheesecake pancakes. It had little cheesecake squares on it...yummm! It was the type of food that you remember years later. "I miss That one place in Encinitos- with cheesecake squares on the pancakes" Also, very reasonably priced. Lots of options on the menu that I will have to make another trip from Nor-Cal for. Thank you for the great food memories!!! read more

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