El servicio es bueno, no tengo quejas, Este es el único lugar hasta ahora que se acerca a ser auténtica comida española. visita sin problemas. read more

I would skip this restaurant based solely on the hostile and threatening way we were treated by the owner. I was at Costa Brava on Friday May 2, 2025, with a group of 12 to celebrate our friends who had gotten married that day. The newlyweds had made a reservation for 12 at 5 pm. As we had additional friends arriving, we had asked the hostess if we could save another table of six, which she agreed to do. Our friends were running late and the hostess informed us that she had to take the table back as she could not hold a table for over 15 minutes past the RSVP time. We apologized multiple times and said that they were parking and on their way. Ultimately, the other table of six was given away. Then after several rounds of drinks and after putting in a full order for 12 people, we were told by the groom that the owner had confronted him and told him that we were all getting kicked out, and that the unopened white claw on the table was the "last straw." As you can imagine, we were all shocked. We just had fresh food dropped on the table and had already put in our second round of food. Furthermore, though I understand outside alcohol policies, our server repeatedly offered to open a bottle of champagne for us that was a gift to the newlyweds and not bought at the restaurant. We never asked the server to do so, but he repeatedly asked and even brought over glasses and an ice bucket for the bottle of champagne. I want to note that we were never asked to put the unopened white claw away or told that the bottle of champagne was not allowed. If we had been asked to put the single, unopened white claw away, we would have happily agreed and there would have been no issue from us. So after paying for the food and drinks we had consumed, I went up to the hostess to ask sincerely out of curiosity why were being kicked out (I don't take writing one star reviews very lightly and wanted to know both sides before giving this restaurant a one star). The hostess responded twice that there "was no problem from us (the restaurant)." Then I expressed to her that I was super disappointed in how we were treated as this was a dinner to celebrate our friends who had been married that day. After I left the restaurant I was informed by the rest of the party that the groom went up to apologize to the owner and the owner responded by saying "you better watch your girl - she was about to get kicked in the face." If you take a look at the other 1-3 star reviews on yelp you will see that this is not a new complaint about this restaurant, in fact there are several reviews commenting on the lack of professionalism and baseless rage of the owner to paying customers. All in all, this was the most shocking experience at a restaurant I have ever had. I will not be returning and it's a bummer because they make one hell of an espresso martini. read more

Tapas and Sangria! Great food, drinks, and atmosphere. Had a great dinner here Caracoles Al Ali-Oli - escargot were yummy! They serve them shell-less here, which was new to me. The sauce was buttery and rich and wonderful. Dipped my bread in it too Champinones Al Ajillo - mushrooms were tasty and seasoned well, but nothing to write home about Choricito Frito - chorizo was soo savory. Some of my friends thought it was too salty, but I loved it. Croquetas de Jamon - so good! Really enjoyed this dish Datiles con Tocino - LOVED this. I was hesitant to get these bacon wrapped dates, but it was actually probably my favorite dish. So incredibly tasty Gambas al Ajillo - pretty good. I'm not the biggest shrimp person though Patatas Ali-Oli - we ordered two of these. Super tasty and warming, perfectly crispy. The aioli sauce was awesome. Pimientos a la Riojana - really liked this Pinchitos de Soloillo - these filet mignon skewers were yummy! Tender and flavorful. And the red bell peppers with this dish were great Rabas - I've never had fried calamari cut this way, and it was awesome. Perfectly lightly battered. Wish they had marinara sauce, but the aioli from the other dishes went well with this! Tortilla Espanola - pretty yummy, really potatoey. Hard to make out the other ingredients. Aceitunas Alinada - yummy olive starter Flan - yummy and eggy and generous with the whipped cream Crema Catalana - not my favorite creme brulee that I've had, but pretty dang good! Tarta de Chocolat - this was my one big letdown of the night. Tasted nothing like what a chocolate cheesecake should taste like. Weirdly frozen and dry. All seven of us took a bite and all of us stopped eating it. Our waiter was kind enough to take it back for us. Sangria - tasty and refreshing. Loved the chunks of fruit in it. We ordered the pitcher, which was enough for 4.5 glasses. read more

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Escargot and black squid paella was 10/10. Service was attentive but a bit slow. Not sure how they could be faster, they're always busy lol

One of San Diego's best secret gems. It's been one of my favorite places for classic Spanish food for over a decade and they are still top tier, always a vibe and the staff treats you like family. Obviously the food is amazing and the prices for tapas are super cheap in 2026 read more

Unassuming in location but food and service deserves your attention. Stopped by based on Yelp ratings and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food and atmosphere. For an authentic experience this place cannot be beat in this part of the world. Will come back again when in town for sure. read more

What a beautiful spot! I'm not someone who's in the PB area often but I got invited here for dinner with some friends and wow. I'm so glad I know about it now. They have lots of seating inside & outside. Very romantic & inside they play great music. My friend ordered everything and we did a family style. The escargot was unreal. It was my first time trying it & it was delicious. I'd get it again and again. Every single item was memorable. The mushrooms (served cold) were one of my favs. Chicken was tender. Potatoes had the best sauce on top. (I'm not a huge potato girl but loved these). The ham & cheese were a perfect duo. And that sangria. Wow wow wow!!! The best sangria I've ever had. The dishes were simple yet flavorful. I am so excited to come back here and try more dishes! read more

Costa Brava - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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I finally found a Spanish restaurant that makes me feel home. All the flavours were authentic, good amount of options and a reasonable price! Plus the staff was just amazing (Ruben gracias por tratarnos tan bien!). We went for happy hour (they only have it Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5pm to 6pm). The plates are a bit smaller but it's ok cause you can try many different things. We got some pitchers of sangria (so refreshing!), croquetas de jamon, croquetas de queso, montadito de morcilla, montadito de chorizo and patatas bravas. I can't wait to go back already and try other items in the menu!! Also they have a patio with live music (next time I'm making reservations to be sited there). I loved everything about it!! read more

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Loved coming here. We had a group of 7 so we were able to try a bunch of different tapas. The decor and ambiance were very cool and it is much bigger on the inside than it looks. We sat outside where they had a man playing Spanish guitar. Everything we ordered was excellent, especially the oxtail, bacon wrapped dates, and filet skewers. I would be happy to go back again especially with a big group. read more

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We came by for some dinner after a long day at the beach. We were able to make a reservation for a party of 5. When we arrived, we were seated in the back of the restaurant. It was a very very hot day, and a note was that the restaurant did not have AC. We just ordered a variety of their tapas dishes, all of which were super tasty. We ordered dishes including... the paella, clams, calamari, potatoes, shrimps, mushrooms, and the beef bone. They also had a live performer who was playing music the whole night. We also shared a bottle of wine! read more

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If you only have one meal in San Diego and love Spanish food, Costa Brava is the place to go to! Their paella mixta was over the top and our server Angel made our meal a special experience. read more

Costa Brava - Pallea Mixta - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

The servers are always amazing, even when they are busy, they must have a rhythm and check on tables often but not too much. The ambience is great and relaxing and THE FOOD!!! delicious, tasty, scrumptious, amazing. I would eat there every week if I lived nearby!!! read more

My favorite Tapas place ! Everything about the experience was exceptional. The decor is rustic and charming, with warm wooden accents, Spanish-inspired artwork, vine covered entranceway, and a cozy, inviting vibe that makes you feel like you've stepped into a little corner of Spain. The braised oxtail was absolutely phenomenal--so tender and flavorful, it practically melted in my mouth. The stuffed dates were another standout, perfectly balancing sweet and savory in every bite. And the espresso martini? Easily one of the best I've ever had--smooth, bold, and perfectly crafted. Costa Brava's ambiance and incredible food make it a must-visit! The servers are so attentive and give recommendations of pairings in case you're unsure ! read more

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It was okay, didn't overall impress. It was recommended to us by a friend, and our family tried the paella. True paella has a crisp bottom you can almost scrape the rice off of, and this overall seemed rushed and the rice was soggy/wet. Flavor was okay, good even, but not as great as I would have expected. We ordered a chocolate cheesecake for dessert as well, and it was like a frozen chocolate mouse. Not great at all, but maybe this is something they ship in and not make in house? I'm not sure. Service was good, everyone was friendly, but was hoping for more on the food front. Edit: Ambiance was good too, their restaurant is nice and much larger than I thought when we first were standing outside. The table we were sat at for 6 people was a bit small for my liking, but not a deal breaker. It just made plate juggling a little tougher as food came out, but the waiters and bussers were on top of that extremely well. read more

Everything is fantastic. Food, service, and atmosphere but the parking is very hard to get because of its location. read more

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4.5 Stars . . . sat at the bar one recent weekday. Cold draft coming in from outside and advised we could not shut door, a thorough fare for servers. In site of that, bartender was very friendly and helpful when it came to to picking out the wine (he gave us 3 samples). We ordered our bottle and had the rabbit and clams with pasta. Both dishes were fulfilling and delightful. Strong recommendations! read more

This place has great outdoor ambiance and plenty of seating. Wish there was more vegetarian options though. They do have a vegetarian paella but it's a minimum 2 person order and no one else in my party was interested so here's what I got instead: champinones al ajillo (sauteed mushrooms), patatas a la brava (spicy potatoes), and tortilla espanola (spanish potato omelet). The sauteed mushrooms were rather bland although the sauce paired great with the complimentary bread rolls. The spicy potatoes were the best of all three with a nice crisp outside and starchy inside (they were not spicy at all though). The spanish potato omelet was pretty disappointing too as the potatoes were diced, not even thinly sliced as is the classic way to prepare them. The preparation was just all wrong. I finished with the crema catalana (spanish-style creme brulee) which tasted pretty much the same as any other creme brulee I've had (maybe a little lighter?) except the caramelized sugar on top was not evenly torched and had full on completely burned spots. The complimentary soft bread rolls with the garlic aioli were actually probably the best part. I got the rest of the bread rolls to go and didn't take any of my actual leftovers. The sangria was amazing though and only $6 a glass (maybe it was happy hour?). It wasn't on a menu so we didn't know the price until we got the bill but had we known how cheap it was, we would have gotten more! The servers must have been really busy too because whenever we tried to get their attention, they would answer while walking away (and we wouldn't fully hear them) or they would walk away before we finished asking our questions. The restaurant must be pretty short staffed so that's not on them but the food speaks for itself and it's not great. read more

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Authentic Spanish food and wine, legitimate ingredients imported from Spain. Owner is from Galicia and knows what great Spanish food is. Have had him cater parties at my home and does superb job. Flamenco guitar on weekends I've been to restaurant. Great service. read more

Came here on a weekday, unfortunately we didn't realize that happy hour is not every day of the week, so plan accordingly! Still a great experience with decently priced sangria pitchers and a good variety of hot/cold tapas. Between the ambiance and our Spanish waiter, it definitely felt like being back in Spain! read more

Enjoy the delicious and authentic Spanish food. I know no other restaurant that does "Comida Española" as well.

Love the food, service is always good and wine is great! It's a nice neighborhood spot for tapas and good times

The food was ok. Pulpo came out cold, patatas bravas were awful, calamari was ok, pan con tomate was really good, chorizos were super dry, hard as a rock.The service was great. read more

Service, Food and Ambiance is outstanding. This is our favorite restaurant in San Diego. Nicki always takes of us. Matteo and Orlando are amazing. All staff is amazing. I can't give enough praise for this hidden gem! read more

What a delightful hidden culinary adventure on the busiest street in PB! Costa Brava is easy to miss if you are not looking for it. Well worth the effort in every way! The place gets quite busy so be sure to make a reservation. The ambiance is nice, with patio and indoor dining as well as a bar. It can get a bit loud as the restaurant fills up. We were a party of 6 and while the restaurant was quite busy, we were definitely not neglected. The staff were very accommodating and from the beginning set the tone for an amazing dining experience. We shared some "tapas" to include a salad, Manchego cheese, Marinated Olives, Marinated Octopus, Fire Roasted Peppers stuffed with Seafood and wait for it...the star of the show...Shrimp in Garlic. The Shrimp with Garlic was was extraordinary. Each bite was a burst of pure garlicky goodness. This tapas is not to be missed! For main courses we shared Salmon, Rabbit, and of course, Paella. The Paella was the jewel of the main courses. The Paella is served for minimum of 2 people and was a delectable treasure trove with saffron infused rice, shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari and chorizo. It was a seafood lovers dream! Overall we were very pleased with Costa Brava and the exceptional experience all around. As for upgrades...best to make a reservation and allow time for street parking. read more

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Excellent service and ambiance. Food and drinks area great as well !!!!!!!'nnnnnn. Nnnnnn. Nnnnnnkkkk read more

Always a great experience. Food is delicious and staff are so nice. Great for large groups and intimate experiences too. We've been coming for 20 years and it keeps getting better. read more

Good is delicious, I will recommend the Chuleton and the Paella is really good. The service is excellent they're very nice read more

Oh my goodness the food is so good here. The parking is a challenge, but what do you expect for PB? The girls and I came here for happy hour and I think we had a sampling of everything on the menu including their sangria. There is a cute little garden in the area in the back that is so gorgeous. If I had known it was back there, I would have requested we got seated back there. It's easy to think you can park in the shopping mall across the street however if you do I think you will get towed so just find street parking. If you come early you can find something. The service is good and quick and that is very important when you are starving after a long day at work! :) I'm sure we will be back when I feel like braving the traffic to get into the PB area and want to hunt for parking. read more

Costa Brava - Sangria - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Have been wanting to come here for a while, I love tapas! Our Server Gustavo was so kind to us and was so so tentative! He recommended a great wine and made sure our glasses were constantly full. The inside was very Spanish in decor with a live guitar player that made the ambiance so inviting. We had some bread which held us over while we waited for the food. We ordered the Pulpo A La Vinagreta (octopus), Gambas Al Ajillo (shrimp in garlic), Croquetas de Pollo (chicken croquettes), Rabas (fried calamari), Datiles Con Tocino (dates wrapped in bacon) and the Paella de Marisco (shrimp paella). Oh and flan for dessert! The pulpo a La vinagreta was delicious with a sauce I could dip my Dre's in after and it was cooked perfectly! The Gambas al ajillo also had good flavor and were cooked perfectly as well. The croquetas de pollo were nice and crispy, not greasy and the chicken inside was well seasoned. The rabas (calamari) was lightly breaded but just a little too soft for calamari.. they were cut into skinny fry shapes then fried which I wasn't really a fan of.. they were just okay. I'd skip it next time since there's so many better options on the menu. The datiles con tocino (dates wrapped in bacon) were delicious sweet and savory with a nice sauce on the plate to compliment them. The paella though.. the paella was the best I have ever had! It was delicious? All the seafood in it was cooked to perfection and the rice has so much delicious flavor oh my gosh I would get an order to go and just go home and enjoy it if I could! And the flan for desert was absolutely amazing.. the best I've ever had.. and I'm Mexican! Crazy I know!! Over all such a nice vibe with great service and energy all around. Perfect for any crowd! read more

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Fun ambiance. Service was great. Friendly staff. Food not great. Paella was very mediocre. Sangria was too watered down.

If you want a taste of Spain/ Basque county, then this is your place. Excellent restaurant with wonderful staff. This place is busy during the weekends, so make a reservations. read more

Cheap trip to Spain's favorite foods, excellent service. Great location and great price

Costa Brava's sangría is pretty good - we ordered two pitchers to share. Didn't care too much for their Paella Negra however we ordered a variety of cold and hot tapas which we were all great! Service was good. Prior to or reservation we stopped at Costa Brava's store a few doors down - wide variety of products to build a charcuterie for picnic or home! read more

Love that place, Jaime is the best server ever, ambiance is great, food delicious, from tapas to my favorite, the oax tail

Came here for mother's day and it brought me Back to when i lived in southern spain. Paella was flavorful (a little expensive but hey, san diego prices right?) for tapas, we ordered the chicken croquettes, patatas bravas, jamon, steak pinchito, calamari. The bread they give was fresh from the oven as well. All in all, great food, great service. This is located on a busy street, no parking lot. read more

Outstanding. Excellent wine list from Spain including Mencia. You have to ask to get paella socarrat and wait as the kitchen is often too busy. read more

Great service and interaction with Jaime. He is the man and made the experience great for me and my family. Food is great also if you like Spanish Tapas. Been coming to this place for many years now and I will continue to recommend them to loved ones. read more

Best restaurant in PB. Food is delicious. Really authentic Spanish appetizers and some entrées. Staff is really friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere is really cool and unique and interesting. You really feel like you're in Spain (I imagine). Only thing I ever got there I didn't really like was the rabbit, and it's probably bad karma for eating a rabbit. read more

Had a reservation for 16 to celebrate some friends after their courthouse marriage. We ordered food and drinks, and eventually were asked to leave along with being physically threatened by the owner. 4 of our guests were late arriving to our reservation, but as we had ordered two rounds of drinks and food we did not think this would be an issue. 15 minutes after the time of our reservations they took the table settings for our friends who then arrived within 4 minutes. The owner of the restaurant, Javier came to our table and asked us to leave. I was appalled. We thought he was kidding. When asked why, he stated "the white claw was the last straw" (we had an unopened white claw on the table which at no point did the waiters or Javier state was unallowed or should be removed. We had also brought a bottle of champagne as a gift for the bride and groom which the waiter insisted we opened and poured for us). As the food had just been delivered to the table along with our second round of drinks, we were given a tab, paid it and we proceeded to eat the food we paid for (was never asked if we wanted to box the food) as Javier was staring at our table from the patio. Upon leaving the restaurant my female friend inquired with the hostess what the issue was, she stated, "there was no issue". As the Groom and I walked out, the Groom approached Javier and said "I want to apologize for whatever it is that we did". Javier's response was, and I quote "you better watch your friend she almost just got kicked in the F$&kin face".... Javier was red in the face and visibly shaking. This type of behavior and the environment it creates is not one in which anyone should bring their family to. I will never step foot inside this place ever again and I recommend no one else does either. Javier took a wonderful evening out with friends and family (including children) into a threat of violence to our party. read more

Yum yum, check out the happy hour. Ask for server Matt D, whom we have known for decades from Tourmaline. He is a wine expert and he can fill you in on other local attractions too. read more