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    Cocina del Rancho

    3.8 (190 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Bars
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:30 pm

    Order Cocina del Rancho Takeout or Delivery

    Cocina del Rancho Photos

    Business Info

    COCINA DEL RANCHO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Live music
    Good for groups

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    Reviews With Photos

    Margarita's
    Calley G.

    Amazing service. So friendly from host to server to bartenders. The food is so delicious! Love the spicy salsa and the verde sauce was so fresh and yummy! Don't forget those sweet margaritas, on the rocks or blended, YUM!!

    Shrimp Tacos Plate
    Mei T.

    It has become a tradition that I host my annual MeetUp Fun Diego Ladies Halloween celebration at this restaurant. This was our 3rd year and we had a great time! I discovered a new menu item that I absolutely love: Salmon Tacos. For those of you who love fish tacos but want to keep a healthy diet, you have to try these! The salmon is grilled, not deep fried, and is juicy and flavorful. I asked for a side of black beans instead of refried beans to keep with my healthy theme. It was delish! Cocina Del Rancho never disappoints! As always, the staff took excellent care of us! The beautiful restaurant was decorated with a Halloween theme. It was perfect! Thank you, Gaetano and your staff for welcoming our group!

    Cocina del Rancho
    Zan L.

    My family lives just up the street so we have been coming to this shopping center and this specific restaurant location for many years even when it was another Mexican restaurant with different ownership and a different name. It's just as good now as it was in the past and can honestly say Cochina Del Rancho is worth visiting no matter where in San Diego you are from. They take reservations or you can do walk-in and inside is very large with many different seating options as well as a room in the back for private parties. They also have a large bar with tons of drink options and a huge menu filled with all sorts of great dishes. Being that it's in a shopping center and a quiet part of Rancho Santa Fe there is plenty of parking spaces so finding a spot will never be an issue. Our server was very polite and everything that we ordered came out quickly. For this visit, I started with the Queso Fundido and really enjoyed it although the portion size is very large. It's more than enough for a party of four so if you are solo, I would not recommend ordering it unless you are very hungry. For my entrée, I chose the Chicken Mole Enchiladas, and really enjoyed them. The mole had some great flavor and the chicken was cooked just like I like it. Overall, a great Mexican restaurant in a beautiful part of San Diego and I would highly recommend anyone.

    Inside
    Chary P.

    We came for lunch. This is a restaurant we had not tried before. The initial impression was very positive! Loved its interior. It was an upscale cantina. We ordered a small street carnitas taco, a carnitas quesadilla and a couple of cocktails. The taco was delicious! The quesadilla was not so exciting to my hubby. He thought the onions and cheese overwhelm the flavor of the carnitas. Service was friendly and attentive. Yes, you should give it a try.

    Interior -- Bar
    Norbert K.

    The Carne Asada Nachos (5/5) were great as always yesterday. I tried the Spicy Margherita (5/5 $9 HH) for the first time. Terrific. I ordered it up, and it arrived with slices of Jalapeños floating on top ... SPICEY! Perfect with the nachos. Bar service was very good and attentive.

    Queso Dip
    Heather R.

    Not my favorite. Queso was decent, rest of the food was alright. Place was dead and they asked if we had reservations- which we didn't. They then acted like it might be a while... they found us a seat. The place was not busy the entire time we were there. It became very loud with music. So that was kind of annoying, probably won't make the drive back out there when there's better Mexican food closer.

    Delicious carne asada taco
    Vivian G.

    Great cozy place with solid food. Homemade chicken tortilla soup I added some lime to and was delicious on a cold day and amazing carne asada as well

    Gabriela E.

    Very average Mexican food. Close to home and east parking. We were seated quickly and the ambiance is nice. Food came quick with big portions but nothing special for San Diego. We got the shrimp ceviche and it did not seem very fresh. Chips and salsa were great with free refills! The carnitas burrito was tasty but some pieces of meat were a little too salty for my liking and the rice and beans could've used more flavor. Overall decent and quick for a sit down place

    Dani S.

    We really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately it was a disappointment. We were driving through Rancho Santa Fe one afternoon and decided to get food here. ordered several items to share. The service was extremely slow even on a weekday late afternoon. Our food took a long time to come out. Each item was very mediocre in both presentation taste and flavor. Decent portion size, but twice as expensive as Mexican food everywhere else. The ingredients used was also extremely average. All the meats were definitely over cooked and flavorless. there was no service at all, someone basically dropped off our food and left and we never saw them ever again. Probably will not come back.

    Tacos Al Pastor
    Michelle S.

    The place looks great. The decor is fun and inviting. Our server was very helpful and nice......... However, My Al Pastor tacos were gorgeous but not good at all. They had no Al Pastor flavor at all. The meat was thin pork steaks and the fat hadn't been rendered. I frankly took two bites and left them because they were so fatty and hard to chew. The portions are very large but almost ridiculously so. The queso fundito was pretty ok, But for $15.00 it was very greasy and such a huge amount that it congealed long before you could eat it. My daughter got a quesadilla with Carnitas and she did enjoy the meat in that. Also Huge, pictured below AFTER she was full. Overall unless I knew that this place was brand new, I would not return for a second try.

    Chicken Tortilla Soup

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    10 months ago

    I'm 86 years old. The carne asada in their tacos was the toughest meat I have ever had in my life!

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    7 months ago

    run-down place; average quality of food, unclean restrooms, and not caring staff; address and location do not always mean quality

    Business owner information

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    Gae C.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Cocina del Rancho Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cocina del Rancho

    Do you have a patio? Can I bring my dog?

    Hi, Yes, we do have a patio and you can bring your dog

    Are you still serving chilaquiles breakfast?

    Can I make a reservation for 7 at a table for tomorrow at 11:30? Name is Yvette Adams. I can send my number thru a private message on yelp

    Hello, Yes we are. Please come in anytime you like.… Read more

    Is Cocina del Rancho open for takeout and delivery? I tried calling them. I let it rang 12 times and no one answered.

    Hi, yes We are open from 12,00 pm to 8,00 pm Thank you

    Is the queso with chorizo gluten free?

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Tony's Jacal

    Tony's Jacal

    4.1
    (949 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    As a third generation California resident, I've had some sit down Mexican food. From Alvera St, to…read moreEast Los, to SD. This is by far, one of the best sit down historical Mexican Restaurants around. We came in and sat on the beautiful patio. The salsa had oregano instead of cilantro and a little heat! The chili relleno was amazingly old school with a perfect egg batter. The beans were amazing. The rice had heat. The turkey taco was the standout. The marg wasn't a face punch of lime and sugar. Service is weird, but not enough to tank a perfect meal!

    NOT DOG FRIENDLY…read more Came in on a Friday around 1:15 PM. The patio had a few tables already seated and looked nice at first glance. The experience started off a bit off-putting. There's a sign saying no dogs allowed on the patio, which felt odd for an outdoor space. We were told dogs weren't allowed, even though another table had a dog sitting there. Our dogs are registered service animals, and when that came up, the interaction felt tense rather than straightforward. We ultimately said we'd take our business elsewhere, especially since there are other restaurants very close by. After that, the situation shifted. One of the staff members ended up seating us, and our server was genuinely great. She was kind, attentive, and easily the best part of the service experience. Another staff member did seem a bit uncomfortable or standoffish when bringing waters, but things improved once our server took over. Food-wise, I ordered the turkey taco and enchilada combo with rice and beans. They're known for turkey dishes, but it didn't really stand out to me. The turkey was on the dry side. The beef enchilada was better and pretty standard for Tex-Mex. The salsa had a solid heat to it, which I didn't care for. They don't serve queso, which was surprising. I also tried the guacamole, but it tasted more processed than fresh, so I wouldn't order that again. We also tried one of their popular margaritas, which our server recommended. It was fine, nothing memorable, but not bad either. The food came out in a reasonable amount of time. At checkout, the same staff member who initially handled the dog situation was much friendlier and even gave us a chocolate on the house, which was a nice gesture and appreciated. Overall, the patio is cute and the service from our server was excellent. That said, the initial welcome and inconsistent handling of the patio policy left a bad first impression. Food was average. I don't see myself coming back though.

    Photos
    Clean dining area, super cute
    Clean dining area, super cute
    Corn!
    Corn!
    Outdoor seating

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    Outdoor seating
    Los Tacos

    Los Tacos

    4.5
    (482 reviews)
    5.2 mi
    $$

    If you haven't tried the spicy surf and turf burrito here, you're missing out. It's the perfect…read morebalance of heat and flavor. Since the location is in a small plaza, parking is definitely a challenge when it's busy. I highly recommend placing a mobile/phone order ahead of time so you can just grab and go. Highly recommend!

    I decided to stop by Los Tacos in Encinitas after reading all the great reviews about this specific…read morelocation! The parking lot has plentiful parking but was completely full as I was leaving around 12pm. There were tons of order pick-up spots and 20-minute max parking spots that help with the flow. The restaurant was impeccably clean with a growing line of lunch-goers. The workers were very efficient and the line moved quickly. I also noticed the apparent owner/manager talking to regulars and greeting customers as they walked in, which I really liked to see! I was served my order to-go in less than 10 minutes and ended up unexpectedly using the other 10 minutes after taking my first bite--after that it was hard to stop. The burrito was the perfect size (not too large and not too small). My original breakfast burrito was wrapped in a fresh hand-made tortilla filled with fluffy eggs, the perfect amount of bacon, cheese, soft fresh potatoes, topped with the avocado salsa verde which went perfectly with everything. I even ended up sipping the salsa (it was that good) between bites of the burrito. I was also blown away by the clean and fully stocked salsa bar. So many options (including non-spicy ones for those with gastric limitations too!) and they even offered radishes, carrots, and pickled onions individually wrapped with care. Everything tasted fresh and home-made. After 7 years being away from San Diego, Los Tacos delivered exactly what I had been missing. This location really blew me away and I will definitely be back to see what else it has to offer.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Original Breakfast Burrito with Avocado Salsa
    Original Breakfast Burrito with Avocado Salsa
    3 taco combo (mixed between garlic shrimp, baja style fish and carne asada)

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    3 taco combo (mixed between garlic shrimp, baja style fish and carne asada)
    Tamarindo Del Mar

    Tamarindo Del Mar

    4.2
    (680 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$

    We had such a good time! We ordered the guacamole and it…read morewas surprisingly delicious. The pomegranate mixed in is such a unique touch and adds a little sweetness that works really well. For food, the chicken burrito was super filling and packed with chicken, rice, and beans, topped with avocado and served wet style. Really comforting and flavorful. The beef tacos were my personal favorite though. They were so flavorful with a creamy sauce on top that made them stand out. We also tried the ceviche appetizer which came with plantain chips and tasted very fresh and bright. They even have kids meals, and the chicken taco with rice and beans was perfect for a simple option. The vibe here is super fun and relaxed and it's just a short walk from the ocean, which makes it feel like a perfect coastal stop. The patio seating area is also really nice if you want to sit outside and enjoy the weather. Overall, great food, great atmosphere, and a spot I'd definitely come back to.

    Highly recommend visiting Tamarindo for their fantastic Happy Hour menu! (Everyday 3-5:30pm)…read more We made a visit on a weekday so it wasn't busy at all. We brought our baby in a stroller and the restaurant was fairly stroller-friendly, even while sitting at the bar. For drinks we opted for non-alcoholic beverages, Del Sol and Watermelon Zero-Rita. Both were beautiful drinks and so refreshing! For food we got their Elote Avocado Bites, Chicken Street Tacos, Beef Sliders, and Cubano Rolls. Everything was tasty, and my favorites were the Elote Avocado Bites and Cubano Rolls. The avocado bites included large slices of avocado and I loved the tanginess in the Cubano Rolls. The portions were pretty hefty for a happy hour menu and we left stuffed! Our waitress was very friendly and attentive! We found paid parking in the garage behind the restaurant.

    Photos
    Interior side 2
    Interior side 2
    Beat Salad
    Beat Salad
    Mexican Elote Spears

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    Mexican Elote Spears
    Salt  + Lime

    Salt + Lime

    4.3
    (624 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Vegan friendly

    Husband and I came here for the first time to have lunch and were amazed at how wonderful it was!…read moreOur server was prompt and so polite. We got seated quickly in their beautiful outdoor patio area with our 2 pups! The food was absolutely delicious! The wonton tostada, DEFINTELY my favorite!! I wish we got more orders! I was apprehensive about the tangerine in it at first, but it brought such a delicious sweet flavor to the tostada, literally devoured it so fast lol 20/10! The bone marrow quesadillas were good. The bone marrow was juicy, melt in your mouth flavor! I like to add a squeeze of lime on the marrow as well, tastes so good that way. The quesadilla itself was okay, tbh I could've done without it as it wasn't anything amazing. The bulgogi burger is on their monthly special menu! It's listed as sliders but when we came, our server informed us they only have it as a regular burger for the time being which wasn't an issue for us! It was delicious & filled with so much flavor! I loved the crunch from all the veggies inside as well. The fries it came with had some sort of sugar salt which wasn't my favorite, but still good. Overall we had an amazing first experience and will definitely be back & bring our family/friends!

    Father's Day brunch at Salt + Lime Del Mar--such a great vibe. Fresh, lively spot with a beautiful…read morestreet view and even a peek of the ocean. Service was super friendly and made the whole experience even better. The starters absolutely stole the show--bone marrow quesadillas were fire, and the aguachile negro was next level, easily the standout. My kid loved the Mexican French toast (really tasty), and my wife's enfrijoladas were also a hit. For my main, ordered the chilaquiles verdes with birria. The meat was solid, but the chilaquiles themselves were a bit flat on flavor. I ordered the chilaquiles verdes with birria. I really wanted to love it, but it just didn't hit. That said, I'd definitely give this place another shot. It's a great spot with a lot going for it--I'd just try something different next time.

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Won Tostada:
 Marinated Tune/Chipotle Mayo/Avocado/Pickled Onion/Sesame Seeds/Chives/Masago
    Won Tostada: Marinated Tune/Chipotle Mayo/Avocado/Pickled Onion/Sesame Seeds/Chives/Masago
    Potato Taquitos:
 Mashed Potato/Shredded Lettuce/Crema/Cotija Cheese/Pickled Onions/Green Salsa

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    Potato Taquitos: Mashed Potato/Shredded Lettuce/Crema/Cotija Cheese/Pickled Onions/Green Salsa

    Cocina del Rancho - mexican - Updated July 2026

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