I have only been to this restaurant twice, and I already love it. The first time I went was a few…read moremonths ago with some friends and they had a taco stand set up outside their restaurant. The line was quite long but it moved very quickly. I spoke with a few people in the line that were very enjoyable and I also spoke with the cook who was very nice. My friends and I had a very good time and the food was amazing. My second time going was last night. I went with my friends and they all ordered something to eat. The lady who took our order was very sweet and there were also multiple drink selections such as Mexican coke, jarritos, and a very widespread variety of different Mexican beers. I didn't order anything to eat because I didn't have any money but after my friends' food came in less than ten minutes, the cook offered to make me a taco so that I could enjoy a meal with my friends. I declined at first but he insisted. It made my week. Not only did he make me two free tacos al pastor, they were absolutely delicious. As a Mexican who has been to many taco stands around Mexico, I can very confidently say that those tacos were the absolute closest you can get to some real authentic Mexican tacos in the US. I look forward to returning to this place very soon.

Brother's Mexican Restaurant is one of those hidden gems you almost don't want to tell people about…read morebecause it'll get even busier. Every time I've been here, the food has been fresh, flavorful, and tastes like it's made from scratch. The tacos are some of the best around, packed with meat and perfectly seasoned, and the burritos are huge and definitely worth the price. The staff is always welcoming and makes you feel right at home. There's plenty of seating, service is quick, and the prices are very reasonable for the quality and portions you get. One of the coolest things about this place is that it's connected to a sushi restaurant, so if you're with a group that can't decide between tacos or sushi, you can literally grab Mexican food, walk through the connector, and enjoy both. It's a unique setup that makes the experience even better. If you're looking for authentic, homemade-tasting Mexican food without spending a fortune, Brother's is an easy five stars. Highly recommended!

If you're in Hillcrest and craving something seriously good, you've gotta try the pollo a la brasa…read moreat Sangucheria. The chicken is insanely flavorful--perfectly seasoned, juicy, and with that crispy skin that just hits right. Honestly some of the best I've had. What really made the experience stand out though was the staff. Everyone was super friendly, welcoming, and made sure everything came out quick and just right. You can tell they actually care about the food and the people coming in. Between the amazing food and the great service, this spot is an easy 5 stars. I'll keep coming back.

Wow wow wow wow!! First off, everyone is so friendly here. Second, the food is wonderful. I love…read morethe pollo à la brasa. The cheese empanadas were my favorite too, with chicken being a close second and beef being third. My friends loved their sandwiches too. Would absolutely come here again....and again....again.

Food is delicious. Staff is wonderful and kind. Their cups and furniture however have seen better…read moredays, lol

First time trying pupusas and I'm so glad I came here! It's a traditional Salvadorian restaurant…read moreserving up amazing pupusas at a great price. Lots of indoor seating -- a simple, no‑frills spot -- but the food is where they really shine. We ordered the chicken tamale, carne asada pupusa, bean and cheese pupusa, and the plantain con frijoles y crema platter. Everything was delicious, and I would definitely come back. Service was a little slow, and they forgot one of our items at first, but they did bring it out eventually. Overall, a great first pupusa experience!

As a Colombian who has been craving authentic Colombian cuisine since my last visit to New York in…read moreDecember, I can confidently say this restaurant truly satisfied those cravings. Being nearly eight months pregnant, my expectations were especially high, and it is rare to find a place that meets them so well. From the seasoning of the food to the warm and attentive service, everything about this restaurant stands out. Although I don't recall my server's name, he was incredibly kind and provided excellent service throughout. The ambiance is also worth noting--the space is large, offers plenty of seating options, and even features a large TV, making it a great spot to relax or watch sports. To start, I ordered a watered mango juice along with a beef empanada. The empanada exceeded my expectations--despite being on the smaller side, it was packed with flavor. I enjoyed it so much that I ordered five more to go, which speaks for itself. They were served with fresh ají, a traditional sauce that complemented them perfectly. For my main course, I had the carne asada plate, which included steak, rice, beans, sweet plantains, avocado, tomato slices, and a small arepa. Every component of the dish was well-executed--the beans were flavorful, the meat was well-seasoned, and the overall plate felt authentic. It is often difficult to find truly authentic Colombian food, especially in San Diego, where options are limited or not genuinely Colombian. This restaurant, however, delivers on authenticity and flavor. The portion size was generous, and I ended up taking leftovers home to enjoy later. In addition to the empanadas (two chicken and three beef), I also ordered a buñuelo and a cheese arepa to go. Unfortunately, these items did not meet the same standard. The arepa lacked flavor and was overly greasy, and the buñuelo was dry and similarly oily, even after absorbing excess grease from the bag. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for Colombian food, especially given how rare it is to find quality options in this area. Friends of mine visited recently as well and thoroughly enjoyed their bandeja paisa, further confirming the consistency of the food. I will definitely be returning--especially for those empanadas. Como colombiana que ha estado antojándose de comida colombiana auténtica desde mi último viaje a Nueva York en diciembre, puedo decir con confianza que este restaurante realmente cumplió con mis expectativas. Además, estando casi de ocho meses de embarazo, mis expectativas eran aún más altas, y no es fácil encontrar un lugar que las cumpla tan bien. Desde el sazón de la comida hasta el servicio cálido y atento, todo en este restaurante destaca. Aunque no recuerdo el nombre del mesero, fue sumamente amable y atento. un servicio excelente en todo momento. El ambiente también merece mención: el lugar es amplio, y limpio. cuenta con muchas opciones de asientos y tiene una pantalla grande, lo que lo hace ideal para relajarse o ver deportes. Para empezar, pedí un jugo de mango (rebajado con agua) junto con una empanada de carne. La empanada superó mis expectativas; aunque es un poco pequeña, tiene muchísimo sabor. Me gustó tanto que pedí cinco más para llevar, lo cual habla por sí solo. Venían acompañadas de ají fresco, que las complementa perfectamente. Como plato fuerte, pedí la carne asada, que incluía arroz, frijoles, plátano maduro, aguacate, rodajas de tomate y una arepita. Cada componente del plato estaba muy bien logrado: los frijoles tenían un excelente sabor, la carne estaba bien sazonada y jugosa y, en general, el plato se sentía auténtico. Hoy en día es difícil encontrar comida colombiana verdaderamente auténtica, especialmente en San Diego, donde las opciones son limitadas o no lo son del todo. Sin embargo, este restaurante sí cumple con ese nivel de autenticidad y sabor. La porción fue bastante generosa, por lo que terminé llevándome lo que no pude terminar para comer más tarde. Además de las empanadas (dos de pollo y tres de carne), también pedí un buñuelo y una arepa de queso para llevar. Lamentablemente, estos no estuvieron al mismo nivel. La arepa carecía de sabor y estaba grasosa, y el buñuelo estaba seco y también muy aceitoso, incluso después de que la bolsa absorbiera parte de la grasa. En general, recomiendo este restaurante sin duda a cualquiera que esté buscando comida colombiana, especialmente considerando lo difícil que es encontrar buenas opciones en esta área. Unos amigos míos también vinieron recientemente y les encantó su bandeja paisa, lo que confirma la calidad constante del lugar. Definitivamente volveré, especialmente por esas empanadas.

BEST EMPANADAS IN ALL OF SAN DIEGO. I spent my whole day trying to find good empanadas here in san…read morediego that would remind me of new york and this was the only location that didn't disappoint. $1.99 per empanada, they are super filling and can tell are made with love. Service was amazing and quick and the atmosphere is very welcoming i love this place. LAS MEJORES EMPANADAS DE TODO SAN DIEGO. Pasé todo el día buscando buenas empanadas aquí en San Diego que me recordaran a Nueva York, y este fue el único lugar que no decepcionó. $1.99 por empanada, son muy llenadoras y se nota que están hechas con amor. El servicio fue increíble y rápido, y el ambiente es muy acogedor. Me encanta este lugar.

The food is great and comes out quickly. I haven't had anything bad after trying a lot of different…read morethings. The staff is very friendly as well.

This place is conveniently down the block, so I really wanted to love it, but it just didn't leave…read moremuch of an impression. Nothing was bad, but nothing was great either. The meat was fine if just a tad dry and chewy, overall everything was a bit on the bland side. It's surprisingly large inside, but we had our dog with us and opted to sit outside since it was a nice mid-morning. We were brought warm chips and salsa immediately which is always welcomed. I want more sit-down service Mexican spots in the area, but for now I'll probably be sticking to Ponce's for that, and then going to my taco shop staples for tasty taco plates. I'll probably give this place another shot when I'm in the mood for birria.

Hanna's is the kind of place you keep coming back to because it's feels like your mom is cooking…read morefor you. Such an incredible place, the staff are so kind and you can tell they love working at Hanna's! One of my favorites in SD.

This place has a very cute style with a mix of marble and wood table tops. The service was very…read morefriendly. I ordered the French breakfast with eggs, ham, brie and potatoes but it wasn't nearly as good as I imagined. Too much sauce and the potatoes were hard. Sorry, I can't recommend.

Tortas el Chapulin has recently opened at the Liberty Public Market at Liberty Station. They are…read moreoffering a variety of tortas and seasonal items like homemade tamales. I happen upon the "Chicken Milanesa which is essentially a fried chicken sandwich with freshly sliced avocado, lettuce tomatoes, a queso fresco, a small amount of re-fried beans, and a chipotle aioli spread for $11.99 plus tax. The torta was quite good and no doubt the fried chicken was the star. It was lightly breaded, crunchy, and the breast inside was tender. It could of been a little more juicier, but quite good and well seasoned nevertheless. I loved the addition of the queso fresco and avocado. They both worked very well here with the chicken. The chipotle aioli was very good and offered a subtle heat. Nothing to bad indeed. Both the lettuce and tomatoes were fresh and the bread was of very good quality. I do suggest that they heat it up or press it a little longer to develop a nice crust on it and to ensure it heats through properly. The young lady at the counter was super cool and friendly. I liked that they also offer grilled cheese and their version of avocado toast. Good thinking.

This Liberty Public Market stall used to be occupied by Venissimo Cheese. The owners of Cecilia's…read moreTaqueria across the way decided to take over and open up this sandwich spot. Five torta styles, two appetizers, and a dessert made up the menu. No grasshoppers were offered as a protein despite the business name and logo. I chose an Adobo Pork torta for my order. The meat came with refried bacon beans, sharp yellow cheddar cheese, avocado, lettuce, tomato, pickled red onions, and spicy salsa. A bag of chips and pickled jalapenos also came with the item. For $13.99, the torta was more like a grilled panini so I don't if I was being too picky with how it was prepared. The marinated pork was tasty, but perhaps not worth the extra $2 compared to the sliced ham, Cuban pork, or chicken milanesa. Instead of chips, it would have been nice to get a side of french fries for the price. For the quality and value of the food, I gave Tortas el Chapulin a three star rating.

Loved this fast food pupusas establishment. It takes a bit of time for them to complete the order…read morebecause they are made to order and I know how long they take to cook. We order a 3 pupusas plate and got the cheese, spicy and pork, bean and cheese. Sauce and curtido are self serve so we just topped it off after we got our order. I love how thin and cheesy they are. Spicy is nice. I liked them all..I wished we discovered this place earlier, we would've visited at least 3 times. Definitely dining here again. Big shaded patio area to eat at.

The roster of vendors at the Fashion Valley Mall food court has gone through many changes over the…read moreyears. Five 03 Pupusas is one of the newer businesses, however I was informed that they have been operating for nearly one year which tells you how often I frequent this section of the mall. As described on a banner posted on the front window, a pupusa is a thick, handmade corn tortilla stuffed with one or more fillings before being cooked on a flat top griddle. These Salvadorean items were sold as "plates" in six different quantities. Free condiments could be added from the station to the left of the service counter, but nothing else made up a plate except for the pupusa(s). Close to ten different fillings were available with some of them incurring an additional charge as a premium protein (e.g. steak). Sides and non-alcoholic beverages made up the rest of the menu. One pupusa cost $7. I bought two of them which reduced the price to $6 apiece. My two filling choices were Chicken and Mixed. The first was simply seasoned chicken and cheese. The second was finely shredded pork, red beans, and cheese. The items took about 15 minutes to prepare as they were assembled and cooked fresh. That was the good news. The less positive news was that I found the meats to be bland as they needed more seasoning or some type of marinade. For the price and quality of the pupusas, I gave a three star rating.