Well, I guess never say never. It has been 12 years since my last review and the last time I ate at El Indio. After that experience, I declared I would never return. Apparently, "never" expires after about 12 years and one hungry flight home. I was craving Mexican food, and my husband suggested we give El Indio another try. Since it was just the two of us and we did not need to make any special requests, I cautiously agreed. I'm glad I did. The cashier was friendly, and the food was fresh, authentic, and delicious. It was not very busy, yet our order still took 23 minutes, which gave me plenty of time to wonder whether I had made a terrible mistake! Thankfully, I had not. The food was worth the wait, and El Indio has officially been released from restaurant jail and added back into the rotation. read more

El Indio Mexican Restaurant - Mordiditas - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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I have not been to El Indio in years! So busy eating other places or happily cooking at home . In any case, El Indio is an iconic taco spot that has been serving San Diego since 1940! They still are going strong, and I love to see businesses grow and thrive. I was actually driving to Saffron to pick up some salad rolls but saw the parking was crazy so I decided to eat at El Indio before I work out. I saw there was parking nearby but paid of course . But, nonetheless parking close to the restaurant. I am on a calorie restricted diet plan so I just ordered two hard-shelled chicken tacos. By the time my food arrived, I was ready to inhaler it because my calories have been so restricted . That first bite was so amazing. The chicken was tender and juicy marinated in a spice mix that was on point. I love how it did not taste salty. Total perfection with the seasoning . The taco shells were tasty and the crunch was satisfying also . I had to get my red salsa and I also chose a green salsa since I am a salsa lover. Their salsa is fresh, homemade, and delicious! Two tacos was the perfect amount of food! I will be back hopefully soon to try other dishes on the menu. El Indio is the perfect spot whether you eat inside or outside (plenty of tables) for breakfast, lunch, and or dinner! Make sure to bring a hearty appetite because you will e hit every minute of this place! I am leaving happy, satisfied, and energized ready for my workout! read more

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It has been a really long time since I've been here. So much so, the interior has changed but at least the front picnic tables are still there. We were actually going to go somewhere down the street, but I thought why not give them a try? The staff is friendly. You order at the counter and they call your name. I got the chicken enchiladas and they were huge! Most places you get these skinny ones but these were good. Also, their taquitos were big too! I think they roll their own. Had I known, I wouldn't have gotten them because I was really full! There was a mix-up and I ordered two taco plates instead of one. It was fine, Daveed had something to eat later. He really liked the crispy tacos! I think they have gotten better since the last time I went which was back in the day...LOL! Cako Approves! read more

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This is one of those classic spots your local friends take you to in San Diego when you want some good ol classic Mexican food. I've been here a few times and I'm never disappointed, everything I've tried has been great. On my most recent visit I had the Tamales plate with one carne asada and one carnitas. Both were delicious and I had enchilada sauce on one and salsa verde on the other which made for a nice mix. The plate is more than enough for a meal, probably would be better as 2 meals but I couldn't stop eating it! The ambiance is very casual, you order, wait, pick up your food, and find a table. They have a salsa bar and a good selection of fountain drinks. The restaurant itself is very basic, no frills but that keeps it cheap and easy. One other pro tip, get some chips and/tortillas to go, fresh made and delicious for later. read more

El Indio Mexican Restaurant - Tamales with Salsa Verde and Enchilada Sauce - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

El Indio is a San Diego staple. I have been eating here since I was a little kid. They have the best chips in San Diego. Be sure to take a bag home with you. I love their combination plates. The two enchiladas and the enchilada & tamale combinations are two of my favorites. The chile rellenos are very good and loaded. I also enjoy their wet burrito combinations on occasion. The service is excellent and you get your food after only a few minutes. They offer plenty of seating. The parking is limited and can be challenging during their busy times. The vibe of El Indio is that of a tortilleria and a Mexican restaurant combined. If you are having a party or hosting a special event I highly recommend their catering menu. read more

Revising my previous review... El Indio Mexican Restaurant might be considered a DDD(diners, drive-ins, dives) but during Christmas I had to visit a special friend in Kansas City. I ordered 4 dozen tamales frozen tamales from El Indio and they were a hit with my friend and his family. They just warmed up the tamales, added salsas and tasted so good. El Indio happened to be highly recommended for their masa and tamales so I glad know now. The tamales are wrapped in corn husks. I got 2 dozen red chili beef, 1 dozen green chili chicken and a dozen of the green chili cheese, I should have gotten more, perhaps next time. Although the restaurant is old and is not fancy, but does have ample seating indoor, indoor patio, and outdoor across the street. The staff are super friendly, helpful, work expediently to minimize long waits and ai do see that they make an effort to try to keep the dining areas clean and tidy. I have tried many food selections from the menu and everything is always delicious, just as I like Mexican food to taste like. I usually order the tostado salad is called a taco salad with veggies, the chili relleno, crispy shredded beef tacos and my pup loves the tacos with beef carne asada meat. Another favorite is the housemade bag of tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole togo. The food seems to be a crowd favorite and there's usually a line especially during the Christmas season. And despite long lines, the staff work expediently to minimize wait time and make an effort to tidy up the dining areas. With every visit being positive and because the staff are super helpful and nice to me and my pup. Recommend!! read more

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El Indio was founded at the corner of India and Grape as a tortilla factory in 1940 making hand-made fresh corn tortillas daily. During WWII, customers from nearby factories soon began asking for ready-to-eat lunch items. The owner, Ralph Sr., responded by making the "taquito," a word he coined meaning "little taco." El Indio was featured on Guy Fieri's, "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" so you know it's good and we agreed! We got the carne asada taco plate, a California burrito, and a breakfast burrito and all of them were and were huge portions! Follow @allthingsfoodinsandiego for more must try San Diego restaurants, date night ideas, food experiences, kid friendly spots, with a sprinkling of home-cooking! read more

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Family was feeling Mexican and El Indio was highly recommended! When arrived we were pleased to be able to park in there private parking lot. We were greeted upon entering with a warm Welcome. They have indoor and outdoor seating as well. You order your food and then they call your number to pick up your food when ready. My husband ordered a Chimichanga, I had a refried bean sopes and my daughter had a crispy chicken taco and a carne asada sopes as well. Everyone really liked their food. The meat was tender and tasty and portion sizes were on the larger size . All the veggies on the food were fresh, lettuce tomatoes and onion. Definitely glad we stopped in . read more

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Two stars because the cashier was great. The carne asada was terrible. Not authentic, cold and overpriced. It was not busy. Don't waste your money. read more

Always a great to go here! We started it off with the homemade tortilla chips and guacamole. We ordered shrimp burrito, carne asada burrito, beef tamale, and chicken tamale. Our ordered was ready in no time. The carne asada was just as expected and the shrimp burrito was good too. The two tamales were ordered to go so the verdict is still out on that one. Staff is super friendly and we will definitely be back read more

El Indio Mexican Restaurant - Carne asada burrito - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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We always pass by this restaurant but finally stopped in after seeing a few YouTubers (like GarethEats) rave about it. We usually hit up Lucha Libre nearby, but this was a great change of pace. (Note: They have a parking lot, we just totally missed it at first!). Stepping inside, you're hit with the incredible aroma of fresh, house-made tortillas (they've been doing this since 1940!). It's a beautiful space with colorful ceiling tiles, vibrant wall murals, and soccer playing on the TVs. It was quite busy for lunch, but they kept things moving. There is also a small outdoor seating area. Our orders: Fish Taco Plate: Good quality fish with no fishy taste at all. The rice was delicious. My only critique is that I love a super crispy batter, so I wish it had a bit more crunch! World-Famous Chips & Salsa: The chips have a great spiced seasoning, though they are on the thicker side (I prefer a slightly thinner chip). The salsas are top-tier. I inhaled the hot taco salsa and the verde, and we even bought a jar of the mild salsa to take home. I was super pleased with our visit and will definitely be back. Next time, I'll just ask for the fish taco batter to be extra crispy! read more

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For a place that has been in business since 1940 making tortillas I had high expectations. The food and taste need a serious upgrade. I found a great parking spot that is normally impossible to get in this area. Ordering to-go food was a bit chaotic, and it took asking multiple staff to confirm my no-cilantro, no-spice request. When I got home to eat was surprised living in San Diego with food having less taste then some of the worst fast food places in SoCal. :-) Don't think I will return. read more

This restaurant offered a wide variety of Mexican favorites, some with a local twist. Food tasted good and authentic. Lots of room inside and outside. Great location with lots of parking. With no table service, the new cashier taking our order tried her best and made good suggestions. Would eat here again when we visit. read more

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This location was casually decorated and has been around for a while that served traditional Mexican dishes. Ordering was done at the counter and when it was ready, the name was shouted to pick it up. I went with the taco and tamale combination plate ($17.45). It also came with rice, beans, and a few chips. I chose a beef tamale and chicken taco. The tamale was taken out of the corn husk which was nice. The beef was very flavorful and the green salsa I added was a nice compliment. The taco was filled with everything including melted cheese on the actual tortilla. I liked that technique. The rice and beans were good while the homemade tortillas were my favorite. They held up nicely and just tasted authentic to me for some reason. Will I go back? Easily. read more

El Indio Mexican Restaurant - Chicken Taco - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've heard a lot about El Indio and how they have been around since 1949. Although they are coined with creating the term "Taquito", I ended up getting a crispy shell taco and a mini burrito combo. The burrito had a lot of flavor and their enchilada sauce was very good. The beans and rice were okay; nothing special. I'll have to try some other items next time since they have a huge menu. read more

El Indio Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

I love their carne asada burrito and refried beans, but some of their other menu items don't measure up to the Carne Asada burrito. This tends to be my first stop whenever I come to San Diego. Service is fast and they have seating inside and outside. read more

El Indio Mexican Restaurant - #16 2 taco comb - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Heard about this place from my boss who said she used to go here with her hubby so many times when they lived in the area. She raved about a fruit burrito dessert and I bookmarked it for so many years after that. Finally dropped by and was excited to see they still offered that, so after some questions to the super friendly staff (How big? How much?), I ended up ordering all three flavors (Cherry, Apple, Peach). It didn't take too long, and it was cool to sit in the restaurant while we waited, especially with the decor, TVs and the set-up. Tried the cherry one right away, and that ended up being super delicious. Sweet, but expected, and felt like it was a looser version of the famous McD's fruit pies, especially since they used a mini tortilla for the burrito. Really glad to have finally tried it, and hope to come back to try their regular food menu! read more

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I love this place! I'll make sure to take some pictures next time I go for the breakfast beef burrito. This place has been a staple in my family for over 15 years. The restaurant itself has been a staple in San Diego for over 80. read more

Hype aside, this place serves solidy good food! It also has an old school California feel to it, which I enjoyed. I had some taquitos and a cork husk wrapped tamale, both were great. Service was adequate, but they certainly were not overly pleasant. Parking meters outside were a bit challenging because all did not work. read more

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Overall very good meal here! We got the cheese enchilada combo and the carne asada French fries. The enchilada dish was better than the French fries. The sauce was so good and a great portion. The carve asada meat was a little inconsistent. Some good pieces and some dry ones. Parking is a bit tricky here so give yourself time to find some street parking and prepare to walk up/down a steeper hill. Restaurant had lots of seating options both indoors and outdoors. Clean and easy to get your sauces, drinks and utensils. Will definitely go back to try more of the menu! read more

El Indio Mexican Restaurant - Cheese Enchilada - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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I haven't lived in San Diego for over 30 years, but when I come to visit my Mom, I MUST go to El Indio for anything and everything mexican food. This time I had an adobada taco and rolled tacos with guac and cheese - theres nothing like SoCal Meican food - and El Indio tastes the same to me as when I was a little kid. I love getting my NorCal family addicted to their food, and they insist on returning every trip - 3X a year! Haven't even had a hard time parking the last few trips! The alsa bar is always stocked and i love the carrots and jalapenos as well. Mmmm a Mexican coke and El Indio. See you soon! read more

El Indio Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Neighbor said she really liked this place. Hubby said when he went to pick up the food everyone in the place was white. That should have been the first indication. Food was bland. Granted I ordered cheese enchiladas but the sauce tasted like old el paso canned. Chicken was decent just not great. It was comparable to a fast food chain we are all familiar with, ocat lleb. And if you can't figure that out, well, you will probably enjoy this food. read more

El Indio Mexican Restaurant - Cheese enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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El Indio is a San Diego STAPLE! I can't believe I was born and raised here and just recently tried it for the first time. You're telling me I was missing out on all of this goodness my whole life?!! We ordered a ton of food. We didn't NEED rolled tacos, but our hearts and bellies had NEEDS! The line gets long, but the line moves quickly and it's so worth the wait. Enjoy the old school vibes and delicious food! read more

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Every time I come to San Diego we eat here. Best tacos ever. I don't understand why they have a low rating every time I'm here we have great food and the people that are coming in have been doing it for years. I'm in to about 25 years now. Just can't seem to drive by without getting tacos read more

The famous taquitos were mediocre. In the past they were great.The meat was not good. Been g for 40 years but will not return.

Asked for no cheese on my beef hard shell taco and there was cheese. Odd thing is there was no cheese on my chicken taco and they have NO written on the wrapper. read more

El Indio Mexican Restaurant - Asked for no cheese on my beef hard shell taco and there is cheese - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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We just finished car shopping and wanted a "bite" to eat. Since we were nearby, dropped into El Indio for lunch. Placed an order for the Grilled Fish Taco Platter and a Pacifico. Good meal, good portions and filled the bill. read more

El Indio Mexican Restaurant - Inside El Indio - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Stopped here for late lunch early dinner before concert at Petco park. My sis in law said it was highly recommended. Omg. Best cheese enchiladas ever. And amazing rice. I was too full to finish or enjoy the beans lol. I'd definitely continue to visit before or after activities in San Diego. read more

If I could give this place zero stars I would...I bought a burrito that literally only had meat and pico. No rice, no beans, no salsa, and it cost $15! What kinda of burrito is that?! Horrible customer service to top it off, the cashier must hate her job. read more

El Indio Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Was so excited to finally be stopping here again. Hadn't been in years but my last experience was awesome. Unfortunately we got here close to closing, 7:48 pm to be exact was what the receipt said. And our experience totally reflected that. The young guy at the register was nice & helpful. The receipt said his name was John. This was probably our only good experience here. There was someone cleaning the dining area and had the chairs on all the tables. There were two 2 person tables open and the two other tables occupied. There was a lot to choose from on the menu. We went with a #2, #6, a bag of chips, a dozen tortillas to go and a mexican coke. Yes, I realize it's a lot of food for so late but the plan was to take some to go. The food so reflected the fact that they were closing. It was lukewarm and tasted like it was microwaved food. The chips that came on the plate were so hard and had a greasy old taste. It was like they were from the bottom of the frier. The tamale on my plate was ok. The green sauce on top of it though was sour. It reminded me of when green sauce starts to go bad. My husband's enchiladas were even stuck to the plate some. The bag of seasoned chips we also bought tasted as thought they had been over fried. While we were trying to eat, you could tell everyone was ready to go because they all started standing in the lobby/dining area. Now before you come at me for going into a restaurant right before closing, we weren't the only ones. There was maybe 20 more people that had come in after us. One group ate rhere but the other people got theirs to go. If you want to close and go home right at closing, then lock the doors a half hour before closing or put a sign on the door stating no food orders after a certain time. Major disappointment. read more

El Indio Mexican Restaurant - Receipt of horrible over priced food - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Ordered this years masa from El Indio and our tamales turned out amazing! Thank you El Indio for providing a crucial ingredient to our tamalada. I called ahead to place an order for 15 lb. When I showed up to pick it up they didn't have my name down, however they were still able to sell me the masa I needed. They were very busy on a Saturday morning. The tamales I made at home turned out fluffy as the masa was very fluffy! I will definitely be back next year! read more

El Indio Mexican Restaurant - Large 10 lb masa bucket - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Best local authentic Mexican food! Though I recommend only playing Latino music vs the 70's80's romance songs, killed the vibe!

The food is fair. Service is good. Inside is nice and clean. They have indoor and outdoor seating. This place has been around about 70 years and the shop gets packed! Lol They got a lot of hype behind them . Maybe because the take credit for being the originators of the "Taquito" I tried some and they were pretty good. Also tried a few tacos and a mini burrito. All in all, I would return just because the prices are pretty good for the amount of food you get. Not because Guy Fieri says so!! Lol Its worth trying for yourself! read more

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Tacos were ok. As much hype because this was a "San Diego staple" it fell short. They recommended the fish tacos ($7each) and they were nothing special I actually liked my adobada street taco ($2.60) better which had lots of flavor. My kids enjoyed their tamale ($4.50) and asada street tacos. Staff was very friendly. They even gave us a free bag of famous chips which also fell short on expectations. Glad we tried it, I probably wouldn't go back. Had a fast food place feel. read more

El Indio Mexican Restaurant - Adobada street taco - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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The food was amazing especially the California burrito. We always get the Tacitos for our family party's. The people there always make our day and make us feel like we should come back. I've been going for 50 years and never have been disappointed by any factors of this amazing ambiance of a Mexican restaurant. read more

C+ It's pretty good, I just couldn't enjoy it thinking about why they don't add cheese to it as expensive as it is. Green salsa is good, not too mild not too spicy. The red salsa is terrible, it might as well be tomato paste. I probably would comeback if it wasn't $16.69 for a bacon, egg and potatoes breakfast burrito but it is. read more

El Indio Mexican Restaurant - Bacon, Egg & Potato Burrito - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

I have loved this restaurant for years. We lived in the area for over 20 years and were frequent patrons. We've had to move out of the area but still have opportunities to visit at least twice each year. Each time we come, we make a trip to this restaurant. I always leave some room in my carry on to bring some bags of chips home. They are the best--thick, crunchy, and clarify. They make the best nachos! If you're looking for ambience, you won't like El Indio. You come for the food. I'm a devotee of their shredded beef tacos but other family members enjoyed their rolled tacos too. I've heard mixed reviews on some of their other dishes. The guacamole is always fresh and not to be missed--accompanying the chips to perfection. I look forward to my visit later this year. read more

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I've been going to El Indio for 50 years. I always get their shredded chicken burrito because it is so unique. In the last year, it appears they changed their chef or recipe because now that burrito is just chicken, none of their enchilada sauce or whatever it was that made it special. It is dry and now not as good as other Mexican restaurants. Please go back to your original recipe. read more

This place has been on my list ever since I moved to San Diego. Its historical significance was a big draw for me, and I finally had the opportunity to try it recently. FYI, there's a parking lot across the street so parking was not an issue! Ordering was very easy and the staff was kind and efficient. I was surprised by how quickly the food came out given how busy the restaurant was. The food was very ok. I got the taquitos since it was pretty cheap for a good amount of food. Although they had a solid taste, I have had much better elsewhere in SD so I wasn't too impressed. Also, the salsa bar was average. Nothing crazy. Overall, I'm glad I was able to check this place off the list. Not too impressed with the food but you can check it out if you want to try a place with some historical significance. read more

A must try when in San Diego! Everything we had tasted great and fresh. the basics: Guac? good Tortilla chips? good Rice & beans? good Owner, Ed, was so personable and friendly. Welcomed our whole group warmly and even checked in on us. You can see the pride & respect he has in his restaurant. Worth the stop if in San Diego. read more