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    El Tio's Restaurant

    4.8 (46 reviews)
    Closed • 8:00 am - 7:00 pm

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    EL TIO'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - El Tio's Restaurant

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    Three Meat Burrito
    Hayley C.

    I swear, this may be the BEST breakfast burrito I've ever had! My friends and I came by on a Monday morning craving good Mexican food. I was visiting from LA, and had high expectations, whereas they were visiting from Cincinnati and were just excited for a good burrito. The man and woman working were super nice, and the burritos were TO DIE FOR!! They were so big, and the egg, meat, peppers, and hash browns tasted so fresh.

    Jack M.

    I had a good breakfast burrito from this little place hidden away in a little strip mall in Rolando. I choose the ham, eggs, tater tots, cheese, and sour cream breakfast burrito for $9 and some change. You can switch up the proteins. Like I said, the burrito was good and well filled and quite large, but next time, I will ax the sour cream because it softened up the tater tots. Also, the burrito really didn't need it. The burrito came with a good amount of ham and scrambled eggs. I would have liked more cheese in the burrito, however. I did mention to the owner that the flour tortilla needed more time on the hot griddle, to brown it up a bit and give it that good texture. The red hot sauce that I tried was really good, and so was the service. The place is simple and offers a few tables inside.

    Menu 1.6.2025
    Chandra R.

    A hidden gem! Our party of five arrived at 8:00 AM for breakfast and were warmly greeted by the owner. We ordered five dishes, and our food was on the table within 15 minutes despite him being the only one working. The food was delicious and packed with flavor. While we were eating, the owner invited us to participate in cutting the Rosca de Reyes. My husband made the second cut, and we found Baby Jesus! The owner was thrilled for us, and on February 2, my husband will be buying tamales for everyone. This was our best restaurant experience in San Diego.

    Menu Board
    Lisa T.

    Small, hole in the wall but well worth the stop!!! Friendly, delicious and fresh. Authentic and amazing sauces, tender and juicy meats.

    Torta de Jamón

    Amazing! Fresh and crunchy veggies. Great service. I will be coming back every time I'm in the area!

    Carne Asada Fries

    It was my first time coming here, and since we went to the area, I was looking for some good CAF. I stop by this place and the fries were delicious. The french fries were nice and crispy. Everything was seasoned deliciously. And also the sauces are just the right amount of spice. The only con that I have to save about. It is that. I wish it would have more cheese, but overall it was delicious!! Definitely going back now that I live in the area!!! And the service was fast.

    Cheese Burger and Fries

    I was craving a good quality burger and didn't want the usual in n out. I found El Tio's on yelp and i'm so glad I did! I got the weekly special of cheeseburger, fries, and a can of soda for $9. The lettuce, tomato, and onion were so fresh and the patty was nice and thick. Everything else on the menu looked so good, i'll definitely be returning to try more

    California

    Most California burritos have either guacamole or sour cream. This burrito had both and it was a perfect balance that made it very delicious. The owner was nice and offered recommendations. This hole in the wall is worth a stop if you are in the area!

    Torta de Milanesa
    Tim B.

    El Tios has a great menu! Big portions and the flavor of the torta de milanesa was amazing. Red salsa was also fire!

    Cheeto burrito
    Eduardo M.

    If I could rate this more than 5 stars I would. In a city full of taco shops, Tio's has to be one of the most underrated in SD. Every time I enter, Tio greets with me a warm welcome asking my order and what I'd like to drink. He creates a good atmosphere chatting you up and makes it feel as a friendship as opposed to a service. The food always comes with good portions and the salsa is great. The menu holds a lot of variety from breakfast plates to sandwiches to a classic order of carne asada fries that you can never go wrong with. Today I tried a Cheeto burrito and this might have to be my new go to order. Tio gives a great service and definitely deserves more recognition. 100/10

    Restaurant store front - don't blink or you'll pass it by!

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    Business owner information

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    Lizette G.

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    2 years ago

    Service was great and fries were perfect can't say anything bad about the place. The price here are fair.

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    2 years ago

    Really good! Good quality and good price! The service was good too they were kind! I'll be back

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    2 years ago

    The food was 10/10 and the service was quick and kind to our needs and overall great place to enjoy a lunch or breakfast

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    3 years ago

    Amazing food. Good prices. Order food here. Great service. Stop reading this review, get into your car, and come here NOW.

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    Page 1 of 2

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    La Puerta - Combo Tacos

    La Puerta

    4.2(4.8k reviews)
    6.4 mi•Gaslamp
    •$$

    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.)

    Photos
    La Puerta - Restaurant

    Restaurant

    La Puerta - Chicken with fried cheese tacos

    Chicken with fried cheese tacos

    La Puerta - Harland Hazy IPA

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    Harland Hazy IPA

    La Puerta - Half off all apps during happy hour 3-5 and late night happy hour 9-close

    La Puerta

    4.4(609 reviews)
    6.3 mi•Mission Hills
    •$$

    A few of my friends were visiting from NYC & we were looking for some late night eats/drinks and…read moredecided to come here. It was around 10:15pm on a Thursday night and the kitchen was about to close. We ordered a bunch of food and shared. Here's a run down of everything we had: STREET TACOS: we tried the following:: (they were out of the shrimp) El pastor tacos (5/5) Pollo asado tacos (4.5/5) Carne asada tacos (4/5) the steak was overcooked IMO It comes with rice and beans on the side and it was all delicious!! We also ordered fries which were delicious and the Al pastor quesadilla. I will definitely be coming back for these because they were fire!! The spicy margs are also delicious! The ambiance is 10/10, it's beautiful inside and our waiter was fast & efficient. I'll be back!

    Such a great spot for Sunday funday!! They have happy hour specials every day from 3-5pm and you…read moreget 1/2 off all drinks and appetizers. It's such a great deal and the food and drinks are actually good so it's definitely worth it. Our server was also super sweet and cool, she gave us lots of suggestions and was joking with us and just a good vibe. The restaurant and bar area were all super full but it never felt overly crowded and we only had to wait 5 minutes to get seated. This is such a great happy hour spot. We tried the flautas, queso fondido with chorizo, and the civiche. We loved it all!! We also tried the frozen margaritas which were the perfect consistency. Not too icy, not to sweet, and it this head wave it was so refreshing.

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    La Puerta
    La Puerta - Weeknd HH drinks (half off)

    Weeknd HH drinks (half off)

    La Puerta - Taquitos

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    Taquitos

    Cocina de Barrio

    Cocina de Barrio

    4.5(1.2k reviews)
    5.7 mi•Hillcrest
    •$$
    Happy hour specials
    Full bar

    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!

    Was in the area and needed a quick bite before an event. Stopped by at 4pm and was surprised to be…read moreone of 4 people at the restaurant. Two at the bar, one outside, then me. Given the minimal patrons, service was excellent. Was here during happy hour and the food was great! Server said birria or fish tacos are best, so I opted for birria. Tacos didn't come with consumé but they were juicy enough without it. Good flavor but tortillas did start to fall apart. Margaritas for $5 are a good deal and tasted fresh. Ambiance is upscale Mexican and I think it hits, at least for happy hour! Guac and salsa prices were too high for my liking ($13 and $10, respectively) especially as a happy hour item, but to each their own. Overall 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 with a $5 marg as the kicker to round up vs down (for guac and salsa prices).

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    Cocina de Barrio
    Cocina de Barrio
    Cocina de Barrio - Mango-Tajin Popsicle Margarita

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    Mango-Tajin Popsicle Margarita

    Coasterra - main entrance

    Coasterra

    4.0(4.1k reviews)
    7.6 mi
    •$$$

    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.

    I don't normally write Yelp reviews but I was truly blown away by the service I received at…read moreCoasterra this past weekend! Our server Ari (Ariana?) was so welcoming and kind to my husband and I. She recommended we order the Ahi tuna tostada and it did not disappoint!! The calamari was incredible as well- so delicious!! She was truly one of of the best servers I've ever encountered- gave us the full run down and recommendations based off the vibe we wanted for the night :)

    Photos
    Coasterra - Located on Harbor Island, Coasterra offers stunning views of the San Diego Bay, downtown skyline and Coronado Bridge.

    Located on Harbor Island, Coasterra offers stunning views of the San Diego Bay, downtown skyline and Coronado Bridge.

    Coasterra - View from patio

    View from patio

    Coasterra - Main dining room

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    Main dining room

    Oscars Mexican Seafood

    Oscars Mexican Seafood

    4.2(2.2k reviews)
    5.6 mi•Hillcrest
    •$$

    Hands-down the best seafood and fish taco place in San Diego! A must order is the Taco Especial…read morewith smoked fish, shrimp, scallops, tomato, cilantro, onion, melted cheese and avocado. I highly recommend pairing this with the chipotle sauce, which is offered along with all of the other sauces. The Battered Fish Taco and Tuna Ceviche Tostada is also a must. Every time I have visitors to San Diego and they want authentic Mexican Food I take them to Oscar's. I won't eat my fish tacos anywhere else! This place is definitely a local establishment. Note that parking is tight in the parking lot, but you can also park on the street around the corner. The food is worth the search for a spot if the lot is full. This eatery is legit!

    I don't get it…read more Saturday 10:45am. Party of 8. They have some outdoor seating but was able to get a spot inside to fit us all. Very small location! We sat under the TV and it was so loud that we couldn't hear each other talking even while right next to each other. We asked them to turn down the volume which wasn't an issue. Food was okay. As a seafood restaurant, I was expecting the seafood to be great. I enjoyed the turf in my taco more than the surf! The tacos I had were good and seems to be their main focus on perfecting because everything else was below mediocre. I usually prefer a lot of lime in my ceviche but this was waaayyy too lime-y. And I have never seen elotes sitting in a soup! Plus, the rice and beans were bland! Their sauces are very good though!

    Photos
    Oscars Mexican Seafood - Inside | IG:@socalsnomnoms

    Inside | IG:@socalsnomnoms

    Oscars Mexican Seafood - Battered Fish Taco

    Battered Fish Taco

    Oscars Mexican Seafood - Fish Ceviche

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    Fish Ceviche

    California Burritos

    California Burritos

    4.3(1.4k reviews)
    6.1 mi
    •$$

    This is my first time dining inside this California Burrito Restaurant…read more I was driving around in this area and I saw this California Burrito Restaurant and I wanted to give this place a try. I enjoy eating authentic Mexican cuisine. I parked my car in their parking lot then I walked inside their front door. I talked to the owner Caesar and asked him How long has he been in business at this Starling Drive location in San Diego, CA? Caesar said he's been operating his California Burrito Restaurant business for 20 years now. Caesar also said to me that he works with his wife and grown children at his Mexican restaurant every day. My order was placed by Caesar today for my lunch time meal at 12:30 PM. I ordered one Beans and Cheese Burrito. The price is $7.50. Then I had to pay a tip of 20 percent that came up to $1.25. The tax was $1.50. My total purchase today was $9.25. I had to wait at least 30 minutes later until my order number 109 was called to the front counter today. There was non stop walk in customers coming into this California Burrito Restaurant at the lunch hour between 12:30 AM to 2:30 PM today. Their majority of their customers were of Mexican descent and I saw only 3 Black People placing their orders with Caesar today. I was the only Asian person ordering from this California Burrito Restaurant this afternoon. I also noticed 2 Nurses picking up their orders today who work for Sharp Memorial Hospital today. This man and woman nurse were of Caucasian descent. It's interesting for me to get to know the population of people who are living nearby this Starling Drive location. Caesar called my order number 109 today. Then I was served a really HUGE Beans and Cheese Burrito. I also drank cold ice water today. It was a beautiful day today because the weather conditions were very cool and cloudy. I sat down at this window seat so I could see the outside. The Beans and Cheese Burrito was very tasty the beans were refried and thete was a very generous amount of shredded cheddar cheese. The Tortilla was heated up and slightly toasted. This Beans and Cheese Burrito was a HUGE Size. I wasn't sure that I had an appetite to finish eating this Beans and Cheese Burrito but the flavor was amazing! I kept taking small bites on this Beans and Cheese Burrito for my lunch time meal this afternoon. I also received excellent customer service from Caesar and the rest of his family I saw was working very hard in the back kitchen area preparing and making their very popular Carne Asada Burritos. I also saw Caesar and an older lady sweeping up the floor and also mopping up the floor inside their front entrance to their California Burrito Restaurant Caesar told me to come in again soon to try their Steak Carne Asada Burrito. This item is the most popular food in their California Burrito Menu. I told Cesar the owner 3 I will dine inside his restaurant again soon. I love Carne Asada Burritos.

    When i saw that there was an actually spot called California Burrito, you bet that I had to try a…read moreCalifornia burrito at California burrito lol Got the California burrito, carne asada taco, chicken taco and menudo. Portions were massive but unfortunately there was not much flavor, and im not too keen on hot salsa since i cannot handle spicy. It was ok but unsure if this would be a go to spot. The staff here are friendly and at the time i came, a Wednesday night around 5pm, there was a steady stream of people ordering to go and also eating there The place itself isnt that big. Theres counter space with about 5 stools inside and 4 tables outside. This is more of a take out spot. Parking may be limited depending on the time of day/night you go.

    Photos
    California Burritos
    California Burritos - Sausage, Eggs, Cheese, and Potatoes Burrito

    Sausage, Eggs, Cheese, and Potatoes Burrito

    California Burritos

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    El Tio's Restaurant - sandwiches - Updated September 2026

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