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    El Pariente

    4.6 (57 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 7:00 pm

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    Business Info

    EL PARIENTE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - El Pariente

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    Tostada
    Jake W.

    The service is quick, friendly, the space is fun and clean. The staff really seem like they care a lot about doing their best, to the point of asking us to fill out short surveys on how they could better. The chochito (broiled pork) is excellent and unique to this area at least, and there's always the standard adobada and carne asada. Prices are excellent. Definitely a staple.

    California burrito
    Tina S.

    This place specializes in cochito which is broiled pork and do they stuff it. The burrito sizes were pretty big and stuffed and I would had been happy with both. It came out fresh and stuffed, The meat was pretty juicy but after awhile it can be kind of boring, good thing we have sauce. They came with three sauce, mild, spicy and spiciest. Also came with pickled onions which helped. The California burrito was pretty solid and big. Chips are more cripsy and complementary. Theres seating inside and outside, the restrooms both have different door code and very pretty big and clean. This was defintiely a very clean place. There was even a section for drinks and a open mic setup. Parking there is a small parking lots nearby that is shared with other stores.

    Outside
    Ryan M.

    Came to try this new taco shop because they specialize in a specific region of mexican cuisine; Mazatlan. They specialize in Cochito tatemado, or broiled pork. I got a Chochito burrito ($9) it comes with broiled pork, beans chorizo and cabbage. I didn't get the normal red ground chorizo that I'm used to but more of a finely chopped moist pork and bits of crispy skin through out the burrito. The cabbage was also finely chopped to match the pork. What stood out most and really made the burrito was the bits of crispy skin, it was unlike any other taco shop in San Diego. Its like the best part when you order crispy roast pork in the chinese market. What also made it was the slice of fresh jalapeno inside it added a nice crunch and a bit of freshness to it. The salsas were SPICY, they came in small containers for a reason, the green tomatillo salsa was least spicy but the other 2 were up there in spice level so use them sparingly. Because i ate there it came with some complemetary chips which were fried in house. They were good and i think flour tortilla chips so a bit different than normal. Service was friendly, you order at the reigster and they bring it to your table. There were a handful of tables inside as well as some outside. It looked like they were building a small stage inside, so maybe there's gonna be live music in the future or maybe just an elevated area. They have their own parking lot which they share with other businesses but you can also park on the street. I suggest you try this spot as its the only place that serves Mazatlan style food or specifically Cochito/Broiled pork.

    Suite front
    Emmett T.

    Anchoring a small strip of businesses in the Sherman Heights neighborhood is El Pariente which is a taqueria specializing in broiled pork (cochito tatemado) from Mazatlan. I haven't discovered another taco shop in town that serves pork cooked this way. There was an on-site lot for the plaza which was good because curbside parking in this area can be sketchy after sunset. A front patio had a few tables with umbrellas for coverage from the elements. The inside dining area could seat a couple of dozen customers. A banner on the outside advertised a 3 x 1 small taco special on Taco Tuesdays which may be worth a return trip. The left menu screen listed breakfast items, burritos, rolled tacos, beverages, and desserts. The right menu screen displayed tacos, quesadillas, tortas, and mulitas. I selected one of each of the three tacos... asada, adobada, and cochito. The first two were garnished with guacamole, cilantro, and onions. The cochito was dressed with beans, chorizo, and cabbage. The broiled pork was certainly a must try when visiting this place. Not only did the broiling impart a unique flavor to the meat, but the kitchen added bits of crunchy pork (i.e. chicharrones) as a topping to that taco. The texture contrast made the cochito taste even better. Even the adobada tasted different than what I have experienced elsewhere albeit in a better way. The asada was the least impressive of my trio as the beef was pretty standard. A tray with four compartments was provided containing three types of salsa and limes. I did a taste test and quickly realized that there was lots of HEAT in the salsas so I avoided using any on my food. I bought a pineapple agua fresca to quench my thirst after eating. The service was very good from the staff. I gave a 4.5 star rating for my dining experience at El Pariente.

    Quesadilla
    Cirwan S.

    Leaving the padres game and was in the mood for Mexican food! Saw this place and we went here. The cashier said they are know for their pork tacos also known for their poke tacos ! I started things out with their asada fries which were yummy but then got 3 of their signature cochito tatemado tacos, which were amazing ! Definitely a must try ! My buddy got the macha breakfast burrito & the cochito tatemado quesadilla which he said was a must try ! We both got a banana bread and loved it ! Restaurant was clean, service was great, lots of seating inside. Definitely coming back !

    Menu
    Christopher L.

    Back again! Been a regular here and they finally have alcohol now! Definitely recommend the cocci to tacos, the quesadillas are huge. And as always, must get the rolled tacos!

    Okayyy this spot is a whole vibe! From the second you walk in, it just feels good, modern, stylish, and super inviting. The music was on point and really set the mood without being too loud. And the food?? So good. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and came out looking amazing. You can tell they really care about what they're serving. Plus, the place was really clean, which just makes the whole experience even better. Good vibes, great food, good music... what more do you need? I'll definitely be back!

    California Burrito - good ratio of ingredients, it has crispy fries, carne asada is seasoned well and not greasy.
    Art G.

    The service is quick and friendly. The California burrito is solid, chips are good, salsas are spicy and the agua de limón con chia is exactly what it should be.

    Lauren L.

    It is really rare for me to leave a review for food. It's also a rare moment to eat something and say WOW. The tacos here are sooo good! They are known for their shredded pork but honestly ALL their food is good here. The asada is my favorite, the meat was smoky and cooked to perfection, not dry at all. The tortillas taste fresh and came out hot. The adobada is just as good. I don't want to leave a review because I don't want this place to get too popular but they need the attention! The space is clean and well maintained! Service is great as well!

    Cochito taco and chorizo breakfast burrito

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    This place has a great ambiance and the cochito mulitas are amazing. The service is friendly and welcoming--definitely worth a visit!

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Cravings satisfied!! Had the Cochito Tacos again!! So good!! And of course the friendly and most attentive staff.. thank you!

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    1 year ago

    Excellent food and service! Try the cochito anything, you will not be disappointed. I will definitely be back.

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    1 year ago

    The best cochito tacos.. 100% recommend amazing customers service !!! We definitely be coming back !!!

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    carnitas were really good ! ive been to mazatlan a few times and these tasted just like it!customer service was also good and friendly.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    cáiganle aquí con los compás de "El pariente" , esta a toda madre el servicio, la comida y la humildad. jálense!

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    Page 2 of 2

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    La Puerta

    4.2(4.8k reviews)
    1.0 miGaslamp
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    We had a great experience at La Puerta! The service was excellent, and the atmosphere had that…read moreperfect mix of chill and lively -- definitely a popular spot without feeling too hectic. They also had some really great vegetarian options. The tostadas, veggie tacos, and flautas were all awesome and full of flavor. The margaritas were reasonably strong, which was nice. And definitely save room for the churros -- they were so good! The only thing that wasn't quite our preference was the queso fundido. It was a little more solid than we like; we prefer ours to be extra melty and gooey. Otherwise, everything was fantastic. Great food, drinks, service, and vibes!

    I'm so mad about this place!! Hubby and I headed down to SD…read moreto get away from the heat in the OC. On the drive, I decided I wanted Mexican food. I picked a place off Google but when we landed there we were not comfortable stopping to park, so we looked again and decided to check out La Puerta not realizing it was in the Gaslight District. I am not a fan of the Gaslight District, which is why I am so mad!! I'm going to HAVE to go back to the Gaslight District!! The food was AMAZING!! I HIGHLY recommend the Potato Flautitas. It's the kind of dish I'm going to dream about, I'm salivating now just thinking about them. I also did the Pick 3 Street Tacos (and actually ordered a 4th). The Ranchero Shrimp and Grilled Veggie were top notch. The Conchinita was recommended by our waiter, and it was interesting, tasty but different. It could have used a little more pickled onion. The only one I would not recommend (shockingly, I thought it would be the easy pass) was the carne asada. It was too greasy. My husband ordered a carne asada quesadilla and said the same, it was too wet and soaked through the tortilla. But there were no many other delightful options, I would say just don't go traditional. But honestly my favorite thing on the plate was the side dish rajas con crema, seriously, that alone is going to drag me down to the Gaslight District. I'm even considering going to a Padres game just for the excuse. I'm salivating again! As for our waiter, Colin, he was fantastic. Very informative, made great suggestions and seemed genuinely pleased by our satisfaction. He was smiling the whole time, friendly and stayed very present. I highly recommend you get yourself through the door at La Puerta and sit down for a meal ASAP. (We ate the food so fast I forgot to take pictures.)

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    3.4 miMission Hills
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    George was great. I will give him 5 stars. The food was delicious. Thank you for the service. The…read moregirl in the front wasn't too friendly.

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    4.5(1.2k reviews)
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    I have not been here in a while. Lo siento! I have missed it so much! Ordered the house…read moremargarita to start off the evening!They have changed the menu a little, but they still have my favorites. The big tortilla with beans and chorizo...sooooo good! I can never pronounce the name of it...LOL! But I also ordered the taquitos, another delicious starter! I then had the green mole with ground pistachios over chicken...oh sooooo good!!!!! I love coming here! The staff is always friendly! The server said it had been a while. The outside patio is always welcoming!!! They are also dog friendly! Cako Approves!

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    We had such a wonderful experience at Coasterra! From the moment we arrived, everything was…read morefantastic. Our server, Case, was absolutely amazing. He was friendly, attentive, conscientious, and timely throughout our entire meal. He made sure we had everything we needed without ever being overbearing. My mother even said she would eat at Coasterra every day if Case were her server, that's how impressed she was with his service! He truly went above and beyond and made our dining experience extra special. And the food was AMAZING! Everything we ordered was delicious, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. You can definitely tell there is care put into the food. The meals are a little on the pricey side, but considering the beautiful setting, quality of the food, and exceptional service, we felt it was worth it for a special occasion. We will definitely be back, and hopefully we'll get Case as our server again! He is a true asset to Coasterra.

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    4.1(5.7k reviews)
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    I'm shocked I haven't written a review yet for Puesto. I…read morehave been numerous times to multiple locations and The HQ is no exception. What I love about this location is the outdoor seating patio. Almost any time of year, the weather is perfect to sit out there and enjoy the great ambiance and of course the food and drinks. My go to is always the street tacos. They're the perfect size to try 2-3 and let me tell you there are some great options. Tonight I enjoyed the grilled shrimp and the carnitas. The grilled shrimp taco was just a little spicy but not too bad. I think I'm just extra sensitive to spice. The carnitas had avocado on top and basically melted in my mouth. If you are enjoying drinks, they're on the stronger side and really good! I shouldn't forget the servers. Top notch and super friendly. Not just ours either. I was observing how attentive and friendly other servers were also...and there were some big groups seated around us and we all were getting nothing but 5-star treatment!!

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