Decided to check out their happy hour menu and let me tell you it did not disappoint. Happy hour was between 2 to 6pm. Highly recommend The birria empanada and rolled taco were delicious. Elote was a bit to salty for my taste. They had $8 shot of patron and their Margaritas were pretty tasty. The atmosphere was very lively and upbeat with sports playing on the TV. Server were super friendly and very attentive. Nice open space with lots indoor and outdoor sitting. read more

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Came here for a good time, did not stay for very long. Owner was nice enough at first but kept harassing my party. He kept high fiving us, offering free drinks, introducing us to other patrons but it was just TOO MUCH!! We were trying to vibe and have a good time after SDCC. We all blacked out from the constant harassment and left immediately. Can't even say how good the food is because the environment is so bad. I feel bad for all the women employees and women patrons because the owner would not stop being annoying. I don't care to be your friend, I came here to decompress from the convention. I don't want the drunk owner of this establishment to bother me every minute. read more

I recently visited this place to watch the soccer game for the World Cup. We had such an amazing time! The food is good, the drinks are fun, and the atmosphere was amazing! It was super crowded but our server was really good, fast and attentive. This place is in Gaslamp so the parking absolutely sucks. Be prepared for that. read more

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Visited El Chingon Badass Mexican for a night out clubbing and overall it was a mixed 3-star experience. The vibe at night is definitely more of a club scene--loud music, packed dance floor, and a high-energy crowd, so if that's what you're going for, it delivers on the atmosphere. It's a fun spot to go out with friends and just enjoy the night. That said, we went expecting some food, but there wasn't any food being served when we were there, which was a bit disappointing. For a place that also markets itself as a Mexican restaurant, that part felt like it was missing during the club hours. Overall, good energy for nightlife, but not fully what we were hoping for that night. read more

El Chingon Bad Ass Mexican - Interior - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

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I came here on Memorial Day Monday. There was a decent crowd, but it wasn't nearly as packed as it usually is. Most nights, you're practically shoulder to shoulder with people, so it was nice having a little extra room to move around. The service was awesome, as always. It didn't take long at all to get our drinks, and the staff were all friendly. We sat upstairs near the DJ booth, which is one of my favorite spots in the venue. It's spacious and a great place to overlook the crowd and people-watch. The DJs always do a fantastic job playing a mix of music that, and the crowd is consistently fun with a great vibe. If you're looking for a place to party, this is definitely one of the go-to spots. The customer service is excellent, the staff are welcoming, and even the bouncers are friendly and professional. Overall, it's always a great time whenever I visit. read more

El Chingon Bad Ass Mexican - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

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Had great reviews, (4.6), so we took a shot, boy did we make a mistake. This place is basically a bar masquerading as a restaurant, If one of us doesn't get sick it will be a miracle. Should've went with my gut, and walked out once I realized my feet were sticking to the floor, but I didn't, big mistake. I needed to use the men's room, wish I hadn't but at that point the cat was out of the bag. How this place passes any health inspection is beyond me. I just hope the guacamole doesn't do me in, hardly touched my entree because I wasn't quite sure it was what I ordered, since it didn't resemble anything I read of the menu. Plenty of other Mexican restaurants to choose from, stay away from dive, you might regret it. read more

Man I wish I lived in San Diego - I'd be here all the time. Randomly walked into this spot before WWE Survivor Series at Petco and this place is awesome. First off - let's talk about the staff. I have a little over four years sober. From my seat I could see the bar (which doesn't trigger me) and there was a fellow wrestling fan drinking alone. He left to use the restroom I assume and the bartender covered his drink. This tells me they hire quality people who care about their patrons - much respect. The food was amazing. I had the surf and turf burrito and holy smokes it was HUGE. It was also delicious. The steak was really great and cut up to not overwhelm the healthy portions of shrimp. I also got to try a bite of the Mexican Cuban and it was epic. Fusion done right Props as well for lots of complimentary chips and salsa and two types of salsa that were quality, This place is awesome - very much recommended it if you find yourself in the Gaslamp. read more

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I have been a regular customer at this restaurant, and we always enjoy dining here, often spending over $400 on our meals. However, our last visit was disappointing and I feel compelled to share this experience. My daughter wanted some ice cream from the neighboring place, so we allowed her to choose her treat over there. Unfortunately, when we tried to return to the restaurant, the security personnel, supported by the owner, prevented us from re-entering. As a result, we had to leave, which was truly unfortunate. It's disappointing to see a place I have supported for so long handle a situation like this. I hope this review serves as constructive feedback, as I believe customer service is crucial, especially for loyal patrons. read more

When for lunch at Comic Con. The CC charge was way different than my receipt. Be careful

Came here for a quick bite and some drinks and we were pleasantly surprised! We were sat pretty quickly since they weren't that busy and our server checked on us pretty frequently until they got busier but that's understandable. The interior design of the restaurant was super cool and seems like it could be a fun time at night! For drinks we got the margarita and a skinny spicy margarita. Both were pretty good! For food we got the rolled tacos and the elote. The rolled tacos were good, nothing crazy, but the elote was sooo delicious! The salsa that came with the chips were also yummy with a good hint of spice. read more

El Chingon Bad Ass Mexican - Rolled Tacos Elote a la Linea - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

What really stood out was their great attitude and genuine hospitality. Even during a busy rush, they made sure everyone felt welcomed and taken care of. It's rare to find someone who combines professionalism, efficiency, and such a positive personality. The excellent service truly elevated our night, and I'll definitely be coming back because of it. Highly recommend stopping by and asking for them if you get the chance! Thanks again Benny and Kyle read more

I was in San Diego for a conference and was recommended this spot. Despite the work cup games going on the staff and bartenders were very fast and attentive. The vibe was great - definitely a spot to come turn up with friends. read more

Gaslamp is a nice area to go to. This place caught our eyes, so we decided to check it out in the a.m. the food was pretty cool and the ambiance. read more

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Proper el pastor (con piña!), great HH prices, quality desserts and friendly service make this a worthy Gaslamp go to. From the start, Sergio raised the bar on great service with his kind demeanor and attentiveness. The HH (3-6 pm) deals are dirt cheap, with most items only $4-6. Companion really liked the al pastor tacos, while my $4 elote cup was just so so. However, the dessert made up for it as the flan was a big portion of wonderfully flavored and textured goodness. There were at least 5 other dessert options listed by Serg (not on the menu),which makes me suspect that they might share a dessert section with Havana 1920 next door. read more

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Excellent service at El Chingon restaurant! We were greeted and promptly seated! The front door hostess was very friendly! The waitress was also great! She made some fantastic food and drink recommendations, which we really enjoyed! It's a nice place to sit down and enjoy a great drink and of course, the tacos!! read more

El Chingon Bad Ass Mexican - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

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Solid food and a party atmosphere, I've always seen this place with a line out the door and for good reason! The drinks were absolutely delicious (I LOVED the Avenida revolucion, it was like a tequila pina colada) and salsa was 10/10. Our tacos and burrito were fine, nothing crazy, but the quesabirria empanada was unique and delicious! Definitely recommend coming here for drinks and apps! read more

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Caught this place when it was slow on a sunday afternoon which was great! had a 3 taco plate and choose 3 different types with fish, carnitas, and birria meat along with beans and rice. the two salsas with chips are absolutely delicious and could be a meal on its own! read more

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Yikes, promoters are desperate AF. Will have you Venmo them personally to bring you to into the club. They get yelled at by management in front of you for over promising - a mess. Ya'll need to get it together cus the music was good lol. Would be nice for promoters to be transparent AT THE DOOR, not shiesty. read more

So delicious!! Had a birria queso empanada! So good I wanted more! The margarita flight was perfect .

We made it just in time for happy hour on Wednesday! I feel like this place would be super cool on the weekends, but a little more odd at around 5pm in the middle of the week. Don't let that deter you though because the food and drinks were yum! A little bit of confusion with the group's order, but our waiter was quick to remedy it. I do wish it was a little cleaner as a restaurant, but it gives better vibes as a bar. Floor and tables were a bit sticky, but no one really notices that with a good margarita in hand. read more

NOTHING BADASS ASS HERE . NASTY !!!! I'd rather have Taco Bell... El Chigon YA RIGHT Basic kinda flavorless white people Mexican food ‍and i asked for a spicy salsa ... They said we have Tapatio This is No El Chigon everything tastes like you picked it off of the grocery aisle flavorless basic nothing EL Chigon about this place but the logo . Waitress forgot multiple orders... And as I'm writing this review, she just came again and asked us what kind of soda did we order for the third time ... ‍ Dirty Plastic cups for the beers we ordered all scratched up and dirty... This place its DISGUSTING ! read more

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Located in downtown San Diego, El Chingon definitely has a unique vibe, with its neon lights, wall art, unapologetic Mexicanness, and nods to the culture with the skulls and trolling of Trump. It has all the markings of a fun spot for those looking for a cool atmosphere before it gets popping at night. The night I visited, the place was pretty lively for a Saturday at 9 pm. It usually doesn't get packed until 11pm. There was a host/hostess at the entrance checking IDs, along with roaming security guards, so the vibe felt safe. The crowd was still enjoying food and drinks, but I opted for just a cocktail. They have a decent cocktail menu, and since it's a full bar, you can order any drink you'd like. I tried the Zapata and Avenida Revolución cocktails. The Avenida was definitely the winner as it was smooth and refreshing. The Zapata, on the other hand, had a smoke bitters flavor that was a bit too intense for my taste. But I do like what they were thinking with the combination of flavors in this one. One thing to note: the bar area was pretty dark, so it was hard to make out the liquor brands, but the bartenders were happy to share that info if you asked. This spot transitions into a club scene later on during the night, which I've experienced before when it was packed, so it's versatile depending on what kind of night you're after. While I enjoyed the atmosphere and the drinks, the intensity of the Zapata cocktail kept me from rating it higher. Still, I'd return for the fun, the vibes and the Avenida Revolución! read more

El Chingon Bad Ass Mexican - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

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My husband and I stopped by El Chingon around 4:30pm on a Friday. Despite it being really crowded in the area due to SDCC, we were able to get seated right away at a table facing the street. The restaurant seemed like it could get wild. The vibe wasn't far off from some of the "clubbier" type of spots along Gaslamp as they blasted reggaeton. Service was fine. Our beverages and food came out promptly. Our server didn't come around often, but he was friendly and courteous. We ordered a plate of pollo asado nachos to snack on. Solid nachos. Fully loaded with melted cheese, guac, sour cream, and chicken. read more

We had a blast here for DJ night. The drinks are strong and delicious, especially their house specialty cocktails. The food is standard, solid Mexican fare that hits the spot perfectly before jumping onto the dance floor. Just a heads up--it gets super packed later in the evening, so definitely arrive early or book a table if you want a place to sit. A fantastic, high-energy spot! read more

Hands down my favorite bar in the Gaslamp! The food, music, and atmosphere are all fantastic. Even on the busiest nights, the door guys Jeff and Kyle run the scene like pros and always make my friends and me feel genuinely welcome. Truly a great venue! read more

A bar I have come to for years one of my local favs. Music is always the best here. Drinks are good too! Service is routine bare minimum every time read more

El Chingon Bad Ass Mexican - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

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We came to El Chingon on a Saturday night around 7PM and were actually surprised at how fast we were seated, maybe a 5-minute wait for a party of 6, which was awesome. Our server was super friendly and quick to take our order, and the food came out within 10 minutes, which we appreciated. Most of our food came out perfect, but one of my friends has an avocado allergy and had specifically ordered the loaded fries without guacamole and asked for jalapeños on the side. Everyone got their food at the same time except her, and when hers finally came out, it had guac and jalapeños on it. Our waitress was really apologetic and took it back right away. They brought out a new plate, this time without guac, but it still had jalapeños on it. She felt really bad again, but let us keep the second wrong fries and brought out the correct ones fast. So definitely shoutout to her for handling it well! As far as the food overall, it was okay. Nothing mind-blowing, just average Mexican food. I'd say people come here more for the vibe than the food. While we were eating, the music was loud and upbeat, which made the vibe fun without being overwhelming. As we were heading out, you could really tell the party scene was starting to kick in, people were gathering around the bar, and it felt more like a nightlife spot than a restaurant. If you're looking for a solid pregame spot or fun place to hang with friends, this place is a vibe. If you're coming strictly for the food, there are probably better options in SD. read more

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No happy hour on Friday. This was not posted anywhere. Service mediocre. So many other options. Probably a pass on Friday

Serious Snacks for a weekday Happy Hour. Happy Hour early in the week was very quiet with less than 6 at the bar and only a two top out front. Oh it will get crazy. Service was swift and multiple people made sure I was taken care of. Happy Hour Margarita was sweet and weak. I tried two without feeling them but all the sweetener I'll feel later in the form of a headache later. Much too sweet for me. Upgrade and don't be cheap like me. Or there are ~20 beers on tap for some foam. Serious Salsa! The roasted red had heat and the green tomatillo did not disappoint with a fresh, bright kick. The chips are winners too. No wimpy chips that can deliver. These stay together all the way to the crunch. Oh and salsa is made in house. Snack Up! The Rolled Tacos (3) for $5 loaded with guacamole, pico, cheese and lettuce. The chicken have a kick to them too! Bring the gang after work, get loud (but be polite), and have some solid food at a surp read more

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Came here for lunch. Highly disappointed with the service. Rick took our drink order. And disappeared for 95% of the service. The bartenders and other wait staff had to call our server to come back in the building. It took 25 mins to even order our food. And it was SLOW- another table was sat during this whole time so there wasn't any reason it would've taken that long. Coming from a manager standpoint there is room for improvement when it comes to the slow hours/times. read more

Great vibe and amazing food! The free chips and salsa were super tasty. We tried the Mexican Cuban sandwich, it packed with flavor and the Zapata mezcal cocktails were excellent too! read more

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Excellent ingredients the flavor in the food is one of a kind never go wrong when I come here for lunch and great service read more

El Chingon Bad Ass Mexican - Carne Asada Plate - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

Food and customer service was great. And the drinks were on point! The lady bartender (I wish I remembered her name) and hostess were super sweet! read more

We've had Ali as our server twice at brunch at El Chingon, and she's been amazing both times. She's friendly, attentive, and makes the whole experience feel easy and enjoyable. She's great at anticipating what you need without being overbearing, and her positive energy really stands out. Service like hers is a big reason we'll keep coming back! Highly recommend asking for Ali!! read more

Our last restaurant/bar stop at the Gaslamp Quarter in Downtown San Diego, CA was at El Chingon Bad ass Mexican. We enjoyed the ambiance and give it a 4/5 stars to the following: -Carnitas burrito with rice, beans, sour cream and guacamole. -The complementary chips and salsa. -Chocolate cheesecake 3.8/5. We give the following drinks 3/5 stars: -Mango margarita -Pancho Villa Tamarindo margaritas. The drinks could've sweeter the way most Mexican restaurants serve them. The service was excellent!! I definitely would go back for the same carnitas burrito. Happy Yelping :) read more

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I had my doubts about this place due to the fact that it marketed itself as "bad ass" & seemed more like a nightclub than an actual restaurant. The "bad ass" gimmick aside, the food tasted very good & came out fresh. The margaritas were pretty good as well (very sweet). Even the chips and salsa were outstanding. I'd absolutely come back but the biggest drawback is that even sitting outside does not help you escape the obnoxiously loud music blaring through every corner of this place. read more

El Chingon Bad Ass Mexican - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

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My friend and I both closed our cards after we purchased our drinks and we both have two different charges. I saw another review where a guest experienced the same thing. I hope the owners pay closer attention to this. I am not going to go broke with these charges but it feels horrible to be ripped off and not be able to do anything about it. The bartenders are definitely tipping themselves!! FRAUD is a crime, I hope justice comes soon. read more

El Chingon Bad Ass Mexican - Don't use your card at this bar!!! They double charged our cards. - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

Bad ass Mexican means bad ass review. I rarely write bad reviews, but this was worth mentioning. From the first encounter with the hostess at the door, she did not look like she wanted to be there nor was she attentive. When she finally seated us I asked for her name and she said it doesn't matter since she was off and leaving. Wtf? Not the most appropriate interaction nor was it professional. This was just the beginning. We then got another hostess and she seemed nice at first. She asked us for any food or drinks and tried selling us bottle service. She then went into saying that a large party and seating inside could only take 3 credit cards max. I told her not everyone will be drinking or eating. She says well you can order separately then, but would have to be seated outside. I was irked. We ended up outside. Heat lamps weren't working and took forever for them to light up. I had to mention that it needed to be turned on multiple times since it was chilly outside. Server seemed bothered by the request. You can just tell from her facial expression, demeanor, and lack of enthusiasm that she did not want to be there nor serve us. I was beyond annoyed at this point. So many other reasons for the low rating: took 30 minutes for my friend to get his beer after multiple requests, the drinks were overpriced ($15 for a small margarita) not worth it for the amount you get, $12 shot of tequila which looked like less than a shot, and the food was subpar. I was with a mix of ethnicities and we all agreed it tasted like white Mexican food. Honestly though, Taco Bell is better. My friend said there was a lack in seasoning even salt. Everyone seemed disappointed with the quality of food. Where is the chef? Is there a chef? For a mexican restaurant/bar you would think they would represent authentic Mexican cuisine. I guess the negative Yelp reviews were right. It does get loud inside at the bar so expect to scream at your neighbor. This isn't really my scene but came to support a colleague as she is leaving our department. Otherwise, I would never ever step foot in here. Stools, chairs, couch, and tables need an upgrade. Interior seemed rundown. I wasn't drunk, but the uneven stools and unleveled patio made me wobble as if I was. The only good thing I enjoyed was the sparkling bottled mineral water. That gets 2 stars. Shady business tactics. Just read the other bad reviews. You have been warned. Enter with caution. read more

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Good place. We were here last year during comic con so every place was super busy and can't really give the greatest review since I know it's the hardest time for them. We liked our tacos enough that we almost came back this year. read more

El Chingon Bad Ass Mexican - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

Great service, amazing ambience. If you're smart, you'll order the empanada. It was phenomenal. read more

El Chingon Bad Ass Mexican - Margarita flight - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California