Ignore the San Diego Locals telling you this isn't good food. We got a birria burrito and the spicy diablo shrimp tacos, both were a 10/10. Fresh food, service was great, atmosphere is a plus. Definitely recommend if you are debating coming or visiting. read more

El Sueño - birria burrito & shrimp diablo tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

The handmade flour tortillas and queso fundido?! WOAH. They are seriously non-negotiable. The tortillas are fresh, soft, and absolutely delicious, and the fundido is everything you want it to be. I ordered the steak fajitas, and they did NOT disappoint. They came with delicious refried beans, perfectly cooked rice, crema, and pico de gallo. And those onions and bell peppers with the fajitas? SO GOOD. Everything was flavorful, fresh, and cooked perfectly. If you're coming here, do yourself a favor and get the handmade flour tortillas and queso fundido. You can thank me later! ***They currently are reservations only on Sundays but you can choose the bar and it's full service if you don't place a reservations!!*** read more

El Sueño - Steak fajitas - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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The food was decent, but the bartenders were inconsistent. We ordered two specific drinks that they misidentified. They apologized and promised to cover the cost of the second order. However, when we paid, we noticed that the second drink order had been mistakenly added to our receipt. This was supposed to be covered by their initial mistake, but it wasn't. The first drinks were on happy hour, and we had a special type of tequila that was discounted by three dollars during that time. We had checked our receipt again, but it showed that the discount had not been applied. The atmosphere and decor were great, but the poor service and mistakes made me hesitant to return. read more

Worst dining experience in any restaurant ever. Service was horrible. My group was seated at 7pm and we didn't leave until 10pm. This was not a multi course meal. The five of us each ordered one entre. It took over an hour to get our food after we ordered it. One meal came out, and 10 minutes later three more meals arrived. 30 minutes after the first meal came out, I was given my food. There was not enough silverware at the table so even after we received our food, some in our group couldn't eat it. It was at least 30 minutes before we got silverware after asking and by that time the food was cold. Additionally, someone at our table ordered fajitas and this entre came without tortillas. It was 40 minutes before he received tortillas and his food was cold by that time. Before the food arrived, our group ordered four drinks from the bar and I asked for more water. It was over 30 minutes before the drinks and water came. I have no idea what happened to our server, but we decided to grab anyone that looked like they were working to help us. Eventually, I think the food runner became our server. It looked like there was one server for the entire outdoor area. This food was okay. Nothing to write home about. There are much better and cheaper options including hole in the wall burrito shops. JV's down the street would have been a much better and cheaper experience. JV's is reliable and tastes way better than the food we ordered. We spent over $300 at El Sueno. At the end of the dinner, as we waited to pay the bill, my friend's chair broke and he fell flat on his bottom. I was not at all impressed by the restaurant's concern or willingness to rectify this or anything we experienced while we dined. Just an FYI, my friend is not overweight in any way. The chair was falling apart and never should have been placed out. It should have been in the garbage. When we got up to leave, we could see another chair at the table was breaking/falling apart and removed it from the table so no one else would have to suffer the embarrassment someone in our party already had. This experience was an embarrassment to me. Three of my friends were from out of town and wanted to eat in Old Town as a highlight of their trip. Sadly, this was anything but a positive experience. I should have taken them to Cafe Coyote - a crowd favorite. Cafe Coyote is always fun with fast and great service and excellent food. Lastly, I realize San Diego was been experiencing a heat wave but there was little to nothing on the patio to keep us comfortable. We were hot and stuffy on the outdoor patio. In all honesty, I wish I had talked to the manager to have stuff taken off our bill after this unacceptable experience. We saw another table complain about a their experience and it looked like they had stuff removed from their bill. As we looked around the patio area where we sat, we could see everyone had been there just as long as we had and were having a similar experience. We were all left waiting for hours to get our food and get out. I would never go back to this restaurant and caution anyone considering spending their money and time here. read more

My friend wanted to try this place for lunch so we decided to go here to give it a try. We went on a weekday so the place was pretty empty and parking was not an issue. We were seated outdoors in their pretty courtyard and there was a lot of shade overhead. Ordered the chilaquiles with mole and it was good. I think I would order it with red or green salsa next time. The mole was a little plain so I added the salsa that came with the complimentary chips. The quesadilla plate was a large portion and was good. Will have to come back to try they happy hour next time too! read more

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Excellent and authentic Mexican food. Tortillas made fresh next to the dining room. Generous happy hour offerings. We sampled the house margarita which was ok on the happy hour. You can get a much larger drink off the regular menu. The chips and guacamole were very fresh. Seems like the chips were house made. The potato flautas were a big hit which we really enjoyed. The roasted corn salad had less corn than I imagined. So take a look at my photo to calibrate your expectations. Overall a very good dining experience. read more

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Charming Old Town San Diego Mexican restaurant with authentic good food. Cane here on a Sunday night with hubby, daughter and son in law. I ordered the carne asada burrito and a glass of wine. The rest of party had different cocktails. They were all delicious. Daughter had an amazing vegetarian rajas burrito. This burrito was the reason she brought us here. It was Super cheesy and delicious. The service was great, absolutely no complaints. El Sueño is a charming restaurant with a rustic Mexican Hacienda vibe and live trees in dining area. They have a Happy Hour along with a taco Tuesday special. Will definitely come back on a Tuesday! read more

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I'm always on the lookout for a good Mexican restaurant. I stopped by here for a little snack and to wait out the traffic. Inside brings you back to a nostalgic place. So I loved the atmosphere in the restaurant but I really didn't care much for the food. The salsa was pretty bland. We tried their Happy hour and ordered the potato flautas, steak taco and their watermelon margarita. The flautas' weren't hot. Which doesn't make much sense since they weren't busy. Only a few customers when we got there. The upside is that they do have a parking area for customers so in Old Town that's a plus! read more

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Stumbled upon this restaurant late at night after walking around Old Town San Diego. Super glad that they were still open. The place was chill with a bit of a romantic ambience. We got Rolled Tacos, and - I forget the official name of this - but it's like a crunch wrap. Both were delicious. I liked that my Taquitos were crunchy and did not get too soggy with all the toppings on them. The Crunch Wrap was hot, cheesy and meaty. I asked if they offered complementary chips and salsa. Our server said yes, but only the first round. I felt that was kind of a weird thing to say. But one round was more than plenty for us. Loved the 2 salsa's - especially the red spicy one. Overall, a cool place to chill and munch on some Mexican food. It's also close to the trolley station, which is helpful. read more

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Came here primarily for happy hour. The inside decor is a very cute set up with pink barstools and greenery everywhere. The Watermelon Margarita was $8, which is good pricing for HH. For food, the potato flautas were a lot smaller than expected. It was one flauta cut into two pieces. It also lacked a lot of flavor, very bland. They also didn't taste very hot. The steak tacos were better. read more

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I love Mexican food and this place will satisfy your cravings for it. Nice spot in old town SD with cool vibes. Our server suggested a secret menu item so we tried that and it was really nice. Drinks were good served in fancy cups. So do ask for chefs secretenu when you go there next time. As compared to other Mexican food this place is a bit pricey but you get what you pay. Food is a little mild on spices but I am sure they can always make that adjustment. Overall nice experience on a weekend evening- good food, nice music and ambiance. I will give it a 7 on DVFM score. Cheers and enjoy !! DVFM- DEES VALUE FOR MONEY SCORE ! read more

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Had some time to kill before our train in Old Town so we decided to grab dinner at El Sueño. It's one of the easiest restaurants to walk to from there, and we're so glad we went! Francisco was such an attentive server, he always made sure we were well taken care of. Loved the birria burrito and taco plate, always appreciate when the tortillas are made in house. One of our top spots in the Old town area, and we'll definitely be back! read more

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Visited this cute, charming, vibey restaurant located in Old Town. Wasn't sure what to expect based on the mix reviews..The ambiance and music was gr For food we ordered the tableside tortillas with sweet chili butter, surf and turf fajitas, wagyu chorizo burger, and the California burrito. They were all fairly good. The negatives were that I had asked my steak temperature to be cooked medium well and it came well done instead (no pink at all). Our server was friendly but unfortunately not attentive. Had to look for him to bring plates for our appetizers, refill our water, etc. read more

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I was skeptical at first with this spot being in Old Town, but this place was truly amazing. Authenticity? I'll leave that to the experts. I just know this place had me eating till I was stuffed, STILL wanting more. - Chips were amazing, super crispy - Elote was extremely juicy, perfectly sauced - Cali burrito had a delicious tortilla and everything inside was yummy as well read more

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I came across El Sueno from Tiktok, and it looked cute and aesthetic, so I was excited to try it. We got the free chips with both a red sauce and green sauce. They were pretty good, although the chips were unevenly salted, as some chips were plain and others were too salty. For my entree, I got the carne asada street tacos. I loved that they came with guacamole, as I'm a huge guac fan, and that's normally extra! I also loved the taste of the asada. It was marinated well. My only complaint was it got a little greasy. read more

El Sueño - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Was intrigued by their social media, so we came in with our party of 9 for a Sunday brunch. We had reservations for an early brunch (10:00 am,) so it was pretty empty when we arrived. When I walked in, there was no one to greet or take me to my table. I wandered around a bit bit didn't find anyone, so I found myself to their outdoor patio when I ran into a waitress. I was directed to our table in their cute patio. It's decorated with colorful florals and has an overall Spanish vibe. Service was a little slow. Iced teas were not freshly brewed, so we didn't enjoy them. I ordered their Piloncillo French Toast and it was DELICIOUS! I also enjoyed a cup of their Cafe de Olla and it did not disappoint. ‼ Warning, their parking will cost you $30! If you can, park for FREE on the street, or next door at the Bazaar or across from the Bazaar is the CalTrans and there's FREE parking on weekends there. Why they are charging to park when you're choosing to spend money at their establishment already is beyond ridiculous!! I would NEVER pay that much for parking. That's more than one meal! read more

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I feel this place is all show no go. Come for aesthetics, not for the food. And with that being said, you're paying for the aesthetics, not for the food. Decorated nice, fancy branded napkins, pretty drinks, fun menu. Everything that looks nice in photos. But the food was average, over priced, and didn't give me the "I need to come back" feels Pros: chips on chips on chips, they just kept coming! Love that. Two different salsas served with the chips-- verde and rojo (this was spicy). Homemade hand pressed tortillas. Guac was chunky (personal preference) Cons: expensive. $15 for tacos, $40 for fajitas. And nothing special about them. Drinks were inconsistent--first margarita was great but then after that they all tasted different. The ratios were off and I think they switched tequilas. The limes were so dry. Like we couldn't squeeze any juice out of the limes. The tequila tasting menu was hard to understand. And you can only tasted the * tequilas and basically all the normal tequilas you would have at home have the * read more

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We met friends there today. There was a mix up with the keys to the kitchen, bar areas. Taylor was the server there and she handled it soo well. Once they got things open, she was taking care of 5 tables and she was incredible. Very aware of each table and we never felt unattended to. Food was really good, margaritas were amazing. We sat on the patio and it was so perfect. Great place, we'll be going back for sure. Major kudos to Taylor, she was great! read more

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Service 10/10. Food 10/10. Vibes 10/10. Food was delicious and fresh. We will definitely be coming back next time we're in old town! read more

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Our server, Maria, was wonderful tonight! As first time parents we took on the challenge of having dinner with our 6 month old and Maria graciously helped us find a place to change the baby, get our food right away, and even stopped by to check in as it was past the baby's bedtime and we were worried he was on the verge of an overtired meltdown. She was so easy to talk to and very calm. From the moment we sat to the time we left all the staff we interacted with were so kind and helpful. Drinks and food were excellent. We had the surf and turf burrito and some tacos. read more

The food was really good! We at in the bar area at the start of happy hour. They have some nice happy hour options. I love their homemade tortillas! They were excellent! read more

I'm back again to try some different dishes, one year later! In continuation of my birthday celebrations, I opted to come here with a small group of friends. Chicle was sweet and also alcohol forward. It was in a big glass & I was unable to finish! The chips and salsas are always a hit, my fave being the red spicy salsa. I actually put this in my tacos :) The soft shell crab tacos was something that I never tried before and I actually enjoyed it! We finished off with Churros and ice cream, topped with a sparkler for my bday! Staff were so sweet and accommodating! Totally enjoyed my experience here. read more

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It was very awkward walking up. The hostess just kind of looked at us. We let her know we had a reservation, and she told us it would be a bit and to wait to the side. It was only like 5:15 and not busy yet, so that was strange. Once we were sat, it took our server a long time to come over. I felt very bad for him because he had too many tables and was doing his best. We ended up ordering food and drinks altogether because we were worried it would be awhile before we saw him again. After about 15 minutes, our food ended up coming out before our 2 margaritas and 2 beers. The food wait wasn't bad, but the cocktails took like 20 minutes. I would hate to see what the drink wait is when it's actually busy. Our server was very apologetic, but obviously frustrated. I got the pato tacos, and the other 3 of us got different dishes. While none of us thought the food was bad, no one was overly impressed. We never got checked on once everything we ordered was out. We had to flag down the server for our check, as we had a show to get to. We had been excited to try this place, as some food is Old Town is a little lackluster. Overall though, it falls into the category of tourist food at tourist prices. Unfortunately we would not plan to go again. read more

El Sueño - Carnitas tacos with rice and beans - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food and service were fantastic. Nice comfortable place. Cute decor. Nice patio. A bit loud, not good for conversation. I recommend and will be back. read more

El Sueño - Pollo burrito - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

If you're in Old Town, El Sueño is a must-visit. I've been here for both breakfast and dinner, and it never disappoints. For breakfast, the Mexican eggs and masa pancakes are absolute standouts. The menu feels really thoughtful and beautifully incorporates elements of Mexican culture. Pro tip from a regular: order the hot chocolate with a shot of espresso--it makes the perfect mocha. Dinner is just as good. The birria enchiladas are a must, and honestly, you can't go wrong with any of the tacos. Their homemade tortillas alone are worth the visit. And don't skip the frozen piña colada--it's the perfect way to cool off after walking around Old Town on a hot day. Service is always friendly and attentive, with the manager frequently checking in, and the overall vibe is fun, relaxed, and great for any occasion. Highly recommend! read more

Food was great, good prices. Ambiance was very nice. Cody is the best server ever ! Great service honestly, should give him like a $10 raise : ) Love the place, great find and first impression. read more

El Sueño - QUESO FUNDIDO - IT WAS BOMB - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

My fiancé and I stumbled upon this gem & we're pleasantly surprised at how amazing the service & food are. Cody went above and beyond and we can't wait to be back! read more

El Sueño - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

El Sueño should be called La Pesadilla. My friend and I were excited about trying this chic Mexican restaurant in Old Town. On paper all amazing, beautiful decor, great patio, modern and cozy. However, the entrance is managed by teenagers chatting with each others and ignoring the guests. No smiles, no good night, totally ignoring us. The restaurant was pretty empty when we arrived and we went to the bar but soon I told my friend that would be better to get a table. I went several times to the girls who kept chatting and told me they will go check with us at the bar. No one came, we waited cocktail in hand for at least 45 minutes and we left to eat cheaper and better treated ar Mike Red tacos. When we left, no goodbyes, no sorry, nothing. Please hire professional hosts, this was unbelievable. Other than that, pretty place. read more

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Visited for Drinks top of the day and was welcomed to a very beautiful Ambiance. I was early to the establishment yet great service was still delivered. My order being Espresso Martini & was suggested a Mexican Candy! Maile the Bartender/Server made every drink to Perfection! Would try food another time as my time was short. Evenings & Nights can get busy, perfect for a Day or Evening Out! read more

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This place is amazing. It's not traditional Mexican food in my opinion. It's more of a modern interpretation. I got the Duck Tacos (which had a mole sauce over it), and it was one of the most delicious things I've eaten in a long time. My wife had the birria tacos, which was also very good. Service is friendly, no complaints. Ambiance is more modern, and you're in Old Town of course. Highly recommend. read more

El Sueño - Birria Tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

I love mezcal, as you know, and the Bad Bunny didn't disappoint. Spicy, Smokey, and subtly sweet. The Cadillac margarita was very fresh. The drinks did take forever to come out tho. The rolled tacos were pretty great. Rolled tacos are a dime a dozen, and it takes a lot to stand out. These did, balancing crunch, tender chicken, and spice. Guac was rich in cilantro and onion, which I'm into. The enchiladas suizas were tender, flavorful, and vibrant w a tangy tomatillo kick. The husband, of his surf and turf fajitas, said he was v pleased. Thick cuts of steak and fat grilled shrimp served w the standard fajita accoutrements. The space is cute, I'd only eaten in their kitschy indoor dining area previously, but the patio is nicely lit. The service is slow and feels incoherent and flustered. read more

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Okay El Sueño... you absolutely ate. We sat at the bar for happy hour and had the best experience thanks to Adam. He recommended the mango margarita and it was absolute fire Pookie. I also got the house margarita and both were so good. We ordered the flautas, some kind of Mexican style beignets, and churros with white chocolate, caramel, and chocolate dipping sauces. Everything was unreal, but the dessert was out of this world. Amazing drinks, great food, and even better service. We'll definitely be back. read more

El Sueño - HH marg!!! - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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We tried getting into some other places on this street but all of them had 45 minute waits. We were immediately seated and it is so beautiful on the outside patio. Everyone in my group loved our food and felt that the prices were fair for the sizes of the servings. My rolled tacos were crispy and well-seasoned. A great stop for anyone in town! read more

El Sueño - Rolled tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

We came here on a Saturday to celebrate my friend's birthday, and they really did a great job setting everything up for us. They had the upstairs area decorated so cute, and there were Patrón bottles filled with margaritas waiting for our group, which was such a fun touch. I can't really speak on the full food menu since I had eaten beforehand, but I did snack on the chips, salsa, and guacamole, which were all really good. The space itself is super cute with a fun vibe, and our server was phenomenal. She was attentive, friendly, and helped make the celebration run smoothly. My only small wish is that they offered more à la carte items. I would have loved to grab a small bite, but most of the options seemed like full meals. Overall, it's definitely a fun spot to host a party or birthday celebration. Great atmosphere and great service! read more

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Decided to check this place out for my bday. Talk about a hidden gem! You really can never go wrong with any choice in Old Town. But, I digress. Today the spotlight is on El Sueño! And what a dream it was! We made reservations for 4, however it wasn't too full on a random Monday evening. We arrived a little early & were seated promptly. Our server was on point, from the dish recommendations to checking if we had enough napkins! They're on point here! And if weather permits, sit outside to snap a shot for the Gram! The food! My goodness, lest we forget the chilaquiles from heaven! Drowning in salsa verde! The Carajillo to wash down my dish was a pairing perfection! My sister had the California burrito. Kids had the tacos de asada & chicken rolled tacos. And for dessert, churros!! TL:DR Great food, great service, great time! read more

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We had a reservation and were promptly seated out of the side patio. With lots of overhead greenery and the walls equally covered in greenery, the theme is sort of jungle à la alfresco. Our server was nice, but wasn't seen much in between plates, and it wasn't that busy. Food was pretty good. My husband thought his burrito was a little dry, but our fajitas were pretty tasty (my daughter and I shared). We ordered the guac, it was good, but pretty small. Drinks were nice, Hubs had a michilada and I had a paloma. read more

We stumbled upon El Sueno for lunch while enjoying our day in Old Town. We found it through InKind and saw that the reviews and food looked so good. Upon arrival we were offered chips and salsa which were so good! Everything made in house. Our waitress saw how much we were enjoying the salsa that she brought us their "creamy" jalapeño salsa which is dairy/avocado free so left us pondering what could make it so creamy. Then the food came out and we literally wiped out everything. Food was so flavorful we added this restaurant to our list to return to when we are back. Great food and service! read more

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Cute atmosphere and amazing drinks!!! Roberto the bartender was the best! He gave us great recommendations. I got the bad bunny and the cocktail of the month desperado shot. Delish! read more

El Sueño - Desperado shot - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

We came in on a Saturday night, wasn't packed as I thought it would be. We were sat outside, it was chilly and our waitress never even offered to turn on the heater. We could have asked, I forgot bc I was wearing a jacket but still, common courtesy. I ordered a non-alcoholic drink, strawberry margarita and it was too sour, too much lemon. I had to wait for the ice to melt for it to dilute to taste a little better. Drinks came in right away. The food took a good 30-45min to arrive!!! Our waitress did come over to apologize saying the kitchen was backed up but the restaurant wasn't even that packed. The steak was actually a 10/10!!! It was juicy, perfectly cooked, and great flavor. Will be back for the steak fajitas for sure. The corn was okay, needed more flavor. I got quesadillas with bell peppers and it was way tooooo much cheese!! They had great taste but it was cheese overload. Overall; I'll most likely be back to try other items in their menu but will be the last time if they take forever again with the food!!! read more

Still a great patio - and much more comfortable in June than in January (when the heater was not quite enough to feel cozy). The service at the beginning was pretty annoying - no one would make eye contact with us or bring us water for a good 15-20 mins until we finally got our great server Mason (who also helped us last time). He's fabulous and kept checking on us after for the rest of the night. It was also disappointing that the two things I came for: pan de elote and huarache - they were both out of! We got the elote, which was good but not as good as the corn bread. I did get the fish tacos which I really enjoyed. I got the Oh. Behave cocktail which is a hard horchata and which I'd wanted to try last time but they were out of. It was tasty but the menu didn't mention it was a frozen slushy cocktail, which is not really my thing; I thought it would just be Horchata + Coconut + Dark Rum up in a martini glass. I would try a different cocktail next time. Anyway, Mason is the best. The patio was not full of tourists but lots of young Mexican Americans out for a fun night. I like it here but wish they didn't run out of so much stuff and that you might get greeted by someone when you sit down. But we'll ask for Mason again next time and hope to have the other dishes again! read more

El Sueño - Oh. Behave. Tasty but slushy, which I was not expecting. - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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