Ok so the husband and I love a good bbq date night. And this place did not disappoint! Amazing…read morecornbread, cobbler, mac n cheese as good as Mama makes it, and oh my god the maple butter. We're coming back!

Same experience as Tiffany H. Place is easy to accommodate a large group. Self serve drinks,…read moresauces, and order window. Food came out fast, perfect for a hungry group like us. They had run out of the beef ribs before we got there, would have liked to try those. No brisket here, but the Tri tip was more to our liking, leaner cuts of meat. For dessert, bread pudding was the winner. Cobblers would have been 10/10 with ice cream. All in all a good eat, save for that single roach sighting.

Such a wonderful night with amazing food and amazing service. Cindy was our server tonight and her…read morebright spirit and enthusiasm really shined bright in every interaction. As first timers here, Cindy provided a welcoming and personal experience through meal recommendations, drink pairings, and community events. She truly made our night so much more memorable and meaningful throughout her kindness and hospitality. It is truly so refreshing to connect with such a warm-hearted and radiant person and have the opportunity to hear about their love for the industry, food, and connection to the people that they work with. It was such a pleasure to enjoy the amazing food and atmosphere that she provided tonight! Looking forward to our next time here!

Talk about a hidden gem in El Cajon! A friend has raved about this place for years and we just…read morehappened to be in the San Diego area so we took the trip, holy cannoli it was so worth the 25-minute drive!! My internal little Italian girl and my current grown woman left so feeling so satisfied - heart, soul, and most importantly, stomach. The freshness, savory, cheesiness, and richness of the food was amazing (chef's kiss, seriously). Literally every dish we ordered was absolutely delicious and seeing the cheese stretching with every bite made each one that much better. The aromas wafting from the Sicilian Macaroni & Cheese when placed in front of us made me close my eyes and take several deep breaths just to take it in. The freshness of the sauce and house/hand-made raviolis were just ridiculously delicious and the lasagna made my eyes roll back. The customer service and family feel of the restaurant only added to the nostalgia of grandma's kitchen. Thank you, Cindy, you were the absolute best! 10 out of 10 and I can't wait to come back again. They've just gained another customer for life. I can't say enough great things about this restaurant.

Delicious food, you cannot go wrong with any of their grill items! The quality is excellent and…read morealways consistent. We go there at least twice a month and get the family platters. I buy their food for work all the time. They're very fast in their service too and the place got really elevated after they renovated. The only downside is that it's usually PACKED!

I was really disappointed with the service. We went to sit at a table, but there were still used…read moreplates and dishes on it. The restaurant was very crowded, so we sat down and waited for someone to clean the table. The first lady who came over was very upset with us and asked why we sat there before the table was cleaned. Her attitude was rude and she told us she would come back to clean it and take our order, but she never did. Later, another waiter came over and was also upset with us, asking why we had sat there and speaking to us with an attitude. We were simply trying to find a place to sit because the restaurant was so crowded. I understand that the table should have been cleaned first, but there was no reason for both employees to get angry at us. The customer service could have been handled much more respectfully.

This was our first time @ Texas Roadhouse, and it did not disappoint! The iconic steak house chain…read moreserves up some of the best steaks and ribs in town, not to mention their freshly made sides and baked bread rolls 11/10! The bread was absolutely the best I've ever had!!! No reservations. Walk-ins only. Our party of 14 was quoted 1 hour of wait time. It only took about 30 minutes to be seated (not bad, considering we were a large group). The hostess was nice and amicable, she kept us informed on our wait time and seated us promptly! The vibe was definitely lively! Love the western decor (the deer head was a nice touch). The food on the other hand was absolutely the highlight of our dining experience. I ordered the 20 oz. bone in ribeye steak 10/10- medium. The steak was cooked to perfection (nicely charred on the outside, evenly warm and pink on the inside). Nice marbling of fat as well. My wife ordered the 6 oz. sirloin steak with shrimp skewers 10/10- well done (I know, she likes her meat burnt, sadly). For sides, we ordered the loaded mash, mac n cheese, and caesar salad. The loaded mash was rich, comforting, creamy, and savory 10/10! Overall, we had an exceptional time. We will definitely be back sooner than later. If you have yet to try this place, definitely do, you will not be disappointed!

I love Texas Roadhouse for an affordable steak dinner and some amazing apps/sides. Drinks here are…read morealso crazy cheap. Only downside is that you can expect to wait almost any time of day on weekends and during typical dining hours on weekdays, and in a similar vein it will always be loud and busy. The servers are so hospitable, but as they are serving a lot of tables, I would try to be as accommodating as possible. Shoutout to our server Gali, who is kind and warm and the best! The food is always great. The pork rib appetizer is pretty good, comes with four bones on a bed of fries if a party wants to share just a bit each. We've enjoyed the fried pickles before but it can be a little on the salty side. Similarly, depending on the day the rice/chili/steak can be a little heavily salted, so if you are sensitive to sodium I would make that clear to your server. I always get a sirloin (can't beat the price) with a cup of chili and a baked potato. The sirloin here is very good for what it is, and rarely ever overdone, nice and juicy. The chili has no beans but is nicely savory with lots of beef flavor. They have A1 if you want and ask. Always get extra rolls. They will even give you some to take home. Delicious with their whipped cinnamon butter.

Rodizio Grill offers a fun, all-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse experience with a wide variety of…read moregrilled meats brought right to your table, plus a big salad bar. It's a great place for a hearty meal and trying different cuts of meat. They have the best service and the meat servers are so full full.

Rodizio Grill in El Cajon is an absolute gem for a group celebration. We came here with a party of…read morefive to celebrate my sister's birthday, and the entire experience was great from start to finish. The gauchos were super friendly, incredibly attentive, and kept the meat coming at a perfect pace. They actually took the time to check how each of us preferred our meat cooked, making sure everyone at the table got exactly what they wanted. Every cut was seasoned well and cooked to perfection. On top of the fantastic meat selection, the side bar is loaded with a variety of delicious options to round out the meal. Great atmosphere, amazing food, and stellar service. We'll definitely be back!

I rarely leave reviews, but I had to recognize Mohammad. We stopped by around 11 PM, and despite it…read morebeing late at night, his energy, attitude, and hospitality were absolutely outstanding. He treated us like valued guests, not like customers walking in near closing time. What impressed me most was that he genuinely seemed to care about our experience. He was friendly, attentive, made great recommendations, and even surprised us with a small piece of chocolate on the house. It's the little things like that that people remember. Restaurants are only as good as the people who represent them, and Mohammad is the kind of employee every business wishes they had. If management sees this, please recognize and support him--employees with this level of professionalism and kindness are rare. We'll definitely be back because of him. Thank you, Mohammad!

The worst shawarma ever! And on the top of that I asked for…read morechicken and they put beef instead So bad and so expensive!!

5 stars! Funky's is a little gem in El Cajon that I'm so glad I found…read more Stopped by for lunch and walked away impressed -- the staff was super friendly and welcoming from the moment I walked in, and despite the spot being busy, service was quick and efficient. Plenty of parking available too, which made the whole visit easy. I went with the double patty smash burger topped with aioli, and it did not disappoint -- juicy, flavorful, and cooked just right. You could tell the beef was good quality and the smash technique gave it that perfect crispy edge. The vibe inside is laid-back with sports playing on the TVs, which made for a nice casual lunch spot. Will definitely be coming back to try more off the menu!"

With money being tight for everyone I try to frequent mom and pop places more often than the…read morechains. This place is a joke. Why have a "loyalty program" when they add points then reverse it later that same day. I went today and ordered my usual 2 burgers, fries and drinks. I gave my phone number for the Points. I then asked Vieann H (who identified herself as the manager) when I showed her my receipt from last time I visited and questioned why they reversed the previous points and why I got none from this receipt I produced. She tried to act like it was my fault I received no points and couldn't tell me why the points were reversed from the previous visit (even after she went back in the office to do the research. She told me when came back from the office, she could see all my order history but she couldn't give me back any points from my 2 previous visits. I told her this will be the last time I come and she is losing a customer over 29 points. SHE COULD CARE LESS. Her response to this was "I went in the back to do research". Beware! They don't even deserve the 1 Star I had to give them.

Great to have Vietnamese cuisine out here. Me and the fam stopped by on our way to lake Jennings…read more The owner was very kind and sweet. She was super helpful. We ordered the pho dac biet which is their house special and some banh mi. It was authentic, although I wish they had pâté on it. The pho broth was clean and yummy it had shrimp along with some meat. I'd recommend it since it's their house special!

Restaurant was very hot inside. They don't use a/c in the middle of summer. No napkins. Silver ware…read moreand chopsticks are in a container at the end of table. Seemed unsanitary as they looked dirty like they were used and put back. Tables weren't cleaned. Drinks come in very small cups. My daughter enjoyed her vegetable pho. I did not enjoy the tofu and noodles I ordered. I thought the noodles were large not skinny and the tofu tasted and felt like wet scrambled eggs. Wanted crispy tofu but it is very soggy and unflavored. Vegetables were soggy and overcooked. I didn't eat my food and told the lady at the register it was not what was expected and I didn't want it. She did not care or attempt to offer something else. I paid and threw away the food. Waste of money.

Some of the best birria in San Diego! Also wonderful customer service. I will be back!!read more

We were looking for a good Mexican spot while in El Cajon, and El Culichi looked…read moretempting--particularly as they have Sinaloan style chilorio on the menu. Chilorio is slow-simmered pork, shredded, fried in lard, and simmered in a sauce of chilis and spices. I've not found this dish anywhere north of the border and couldn't wait. I wasn't dissapointed. The chilorio was savory with deep flavors of chilis and spices. It's available as an omlette, but also as a side on its own, served in pan with a warm stack of very good corn or flour tortillas (or a mix of the two). In addition, we tried their birria de chivo (goat stew), also made in the Sinaloan tradition, with different chilis than the original Jalisco version and very cumin/cinnamon forward. Totally delicious. And totally affordable, at inexpensive-moderate menu pricing. The spot is charming, welcoming on the outside, tidy and clean on the inside, and run by a friendly family--who are happy to educate guests on their very special menu. I'd consider this a destination restaurant. Worth the trip from anywhere in San Diego County.

Cool joint with really nice people. Haven't been in a while and felt like old school brew. Always…read moregreeted with a smile and the beer is interesting. I think they're more into the Belgians, but I found a couple of West Coast-like IPAs. The cool thing about Burning is that they have food or an attached food truck. We went for Patty Melt/fries and a wedge. It was good and just my helpful two cents, if you're going to stay away from Rye bread in a Patty, you need lots of grilled onions. I love the white bread idea but it's more of a Chester than a Patty melt. Better news: Burning Beard is moving to a larger local, much larger, and a dedicated kitchen. Can't wait.

Burning Beard is my emotional support brewery at this point. I show up for the strong Belgian beers…read moreand stay because suddenly the world feels like a better place after one or two. Their patty melt also deserves its own fan club. It has no business being that good at a brewery. Do I love the music? No. It feels like my ears lost a bet. But after a solid Belgian, I find myself being way more forgiving. Funny how that works. The staff are ridiculously friendly too, which makes it hard to complain about anything when someone is handing you great beer with a smile. Come here for the Belgians, stay for the patty melt, tolerate the music, leave happy.