This place ROCKS!!! super cheap and the women are so nice and SUCH hard workers. I was there the day after July 4th and was surprised to find out they were open on the 4th. they work 7 days a week, craziness! I don't get pedi manis often but will definitely be back and am dragging the boyfriend with me to treat him. they give great foot massages! read more

Great customer service and amazing job on my gel nails. Not only did Amy do a great job on my nails, she made sure I was happy and offered to fix them if any of them broke. I will definitely go back. read more

My review is about a month late but here it goes... I don't get mani/pedis very often but while in town for my boyfriends work conference I decided to pamper myself while he was at a meeting. I yelped some nail places and essentials came up. I was the first customer of the day. The ladies were beyond wonderful. I got so much attention from each of them. They talked with me, asked me questions, and none of it seemed forced like other places I've been to. I ended up getting a pedi and gel mani. Let me just say, perfection! Not a single spot of nail was missed. Here I am a month later and I just now got my first nail polish chip! This place is fantastic! read more

In the land of cheap, high quality manicures and pedicures, EN is as good as it gets. Their pedicures are spectacular - they easily spend around 45 minutes on one customer and it lasts for a few weeks. This has become my regular, go-to place. My only complaint (and it is a small one) is that their selection of colors is weak - I'd suggest bringing your own. Try to make a reservation - it actually makes a difference. read more

Best customer service I've ever had at a nail salon! Got a gel manicure and a regular pedi. Not the best job, but still excellent! They made sure I was taken care of and comfortable. The pedi was so relaxing despite not having real salon chairs. Will definitely go back! read more

I love this place! I've been coming here for about a year and it's great. I trust each of the techs, no matter which one I get. They often allow me to just walk in if they have the time. They have great prices and they always remember me when I come in! They ask about my job and family and how my day went. This is a great local business to support! read more

I've become pretty loyal to this place. The ladies that work there are so friendly and very accomodating. I usually just walk in since I live close by and they are pretty good about fitting me in...even staying late to finish my nails without feeling like they are rushing at all. Even when they are busy I don't ever feel like they're trying to get done quickly like a lot of other nail salons seem to do. The one time I did call for an appointment they called me back to let me know that they were running a little behind and asked if I could come 15 minutes later. I thought that was considerate instead of having me wait when I get there. The leg and foot massage is worth the price of the pedicure alone. The only thing is that it's cash only and I usually don't carry much with me but luckily Wa-Mu and B of A are both right there. I'll continue my loyalty to them. read more

I love this nail salon, all of the ladies here do a fantastic job on everything I have ever had done, I usually get gel manicure and pedicure. I've never had such a great gel manicure, these nails have lasted 3 weeks without a chip and may have gone longer if I didn't decide on a color change. Their pedicures are amazing, they pay attention to detail and give you an amazing foot/leg massage! They don't have the fancy spa chairs but honestly those massagers don't feel good to me anyways. This is a small place so you should always make an appointment. They also do great natural thin acrylics, I got mine done for the first time in a long time and they look perfect! I love this place and will always come here when I need any nail service! read more

Essential Nails - Love these. Done by Tammy :) - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

Got gels and a pedicure and loved both! They are kind from the moment you walk through the door and very efficient in everything they do. You can tell they all love what they are doing and take the time to make sure your visit is an overall great experience. read more

I have to give this place a 5-star rating because it costs $26 for mani/pedi combo that includes super nice massage! I enjoy massages in general and dont usually fully appreciate the massages that come with mani/pedi packages. I had Amy today and she definitely cares for her work. I left feeling clean and pampered. Note that this is not a fancy spa or anything and there is no massage chair. Who needs massage chair when they massage you so well? :) read more

This place is really affordable and the girls do a great job. If you are looking for a solid nail place without the frills that gets the job done, this is your place. A mani/pedi is only $26. I got an $11 manicure and my nails look beautiful. They don't have the traditional massage/pedicure chairs, you know the ones with the sink attached to the chair with its own drain? They have you sit in a chair and bring a fresh tub of hot soapy water for you to soak your feet in. Like I said, gets the job done. The nail polishes are not high end, they are not all OPI or Orly, so if you are really loyal to your nail polish brands, you may want to bring your own shade. I found a really pretty shade and my sister found a pretty one too, so it is not a deal breaker. I'd go here again. read more

Solid three stars. Wasn't bad but wasn't all around great. They were very sweet ladies, not overly intrusive and fairly quiet. My biggest concern is with their pedicures. They bring a cheap pedi tub that anyone can buy at the store over to you that has no jets and a lot of suds. When the lady brought mine over a long piece of her hair was floating on top. She didn't do any callus removal and took very little time massaging my feet and legs- which is the best part of a pedicure. The pricing was about average for a pedi and gel mani. I'll go back for a mani but not a pedi. read more

I don't know, I really wanted to make this my go to nail salon but I have to say I was disappointed. The girl that did my nails was super nice and we had great conversation however the quality just wasn't there. I had a shellac manicure and one of the nails had a few bubbles in it but I didn't say anything even though I knew she was aware of if because she kept trying to push them away. I figured whatever, it happens. Two days later I look down and half of the polish on my thumb nail had chipped away, super annoying. I went back in and she fixed it for free. Then again two days later the same thing happened, isn't this why you get shellac and pay the price for it? To not deal with this? Yet again I had to take time out of my day and go back in, so in one week I had to go in 3 times for a simple manicure. She was super nice again but this time blamed it on me saying "some polish doesn't work with certain people's skin" oooookkkay, never heard that before but if that's what you wanna believe the go for it. Sorry to say I just can't justify continuing to come back and pay $30 for a manicure that can't last over 48 hours. read more

Essential Nails - Not to the base of the nail and this was within 48 hours of getting my manicure. Total bummer. - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here today because I saw great reviews on here. It was such a great experience Jessica and Lana were so nice and fun to talk to. They both did an amazing job and love how good the massage/foot scrub was! I'll definitely be coming back :) read more

I have been going to the ladies of Essential Nails for the past 7 years....they are AMAZING! For the price and service, you can't ask for a better mani/pedi. Their nail application is flawless and lasting. They are professional, kind, loyal, clean, competent and more than accommodating. The massage is to die for! I would suggest seeing any of the ladies....Jessica, Tammy, Lana or Amy....you can't go wrong seeing any of these ladies...they are all perfectionists! With great pride I support this family business..they work so hard and provide a quality service. I am always putting the word out for Essential Nails......you won't be disappointed! =) Sidenote...although they do not have "spa chairs" it's worth giving up that salon "feature" for the wonderful service provided! read more

This has been my go-to spot for over 10 years now. Amy is my favorite....although any of then ladies there are great. They give you a great massage and fix any mistakes that even you might make on your way out of the door. You can't beat the prices either. There are a lot of nail salons in Pacific Beach but this will always be my favorite. read more

Went there without an appointment just because of the previous reviews and got an excellent service. Just had to wait 10 minutes. Manicure and pedicure&french for 30$. I am absolutely satisfied, the women there are very nice, helpful and caring so even the interior is not the newest I strongly recommend this place to everybody. read more

I have been going here for years and have brought numerous friends, as well. The quality of the work is always spot on. The ladies are sweet and genuine. There is no pressure ever for add-ones or upgrades. The massages are always the right strength, and I consistently get compliments on my nails. All this at a great price! I am fussy. They do the best job. I don't even consider going anywhere else. read more

Totally going back! This is not what you'd expect. It's just a plain ol nail salon with great service, quality, and the best for your money. The $26 combo deal is even more great because they do an exceptional job. There aren't any spa chairs and bells and whistles, but it's clean. My lady gave the longest, best massage and spent time on my nails and toes. The only reason my medicure didn't last long is because we went camping the following weekend. I'll definitely be back for my mani's and pedi's. read more

Went for the first time today, I have to say I'm pretty impressed with what you get for such a great price. I got a mani and pedi for $26.00, which I think is a pretty fantastic price. I think Amy was the name of the lady that did my nails, she was super sweet and gave a great leg and foot massage. My only complaints: 1) about the chairs, I wish they had the big massage chairs. They had swivel office chairs, which still weren't that bad. 2) It was pretty warm in there and I guess there's no a/c, so they had the door open and fans on, but this let a lot of flies in :/ . The cons really weren't that bad. I would go back again for sure. read more

This place is incredible! Not only is it in a perfect location, but it's also spotless, reasonably priced and they do a superb job. I was absolutely blown away by my shellac manicure and pedicure. The lady took great care applying the polish and making sure it was neat. She listened to my ideas about the design that I wanted and the result was fantastic. I also really enjoyed the foot massage as part of the pedicure. I melted into my chair! I would recommend this place over any other places in the area. I had a great experience there! read more

Essential Nails - It's been almost a week and the shellac polish looks fantastic. Thank you, Essential Nails! - Nail Salons Near Me - San Diego, California

one of the best nail salons i've been to in pacific beach! everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming. i got a gel mani and pedi and they look amazing! you can't beat the price either! great prices, staff, and great nails. i will definitely be back! 10/10 recommend this nail salon read more

Very small inside. My wife and I walked in to get pedicures; they only had 2 customers but they told us they could only take one of us.

Awesome ladies in there and friendly, no massage chairs but they did tag team us so we got done faster...

Great little nail salon. Very friendly! I got a fill on my acrylic and gel nails...They look great, I already received a compliment. Ann spent a lot of time with me didn't rush. Great location! Highly recommend! Only downside is its small, and you might have to wait a bit if you don't have an appointment . read more

First of all, I want to say that these ladies are very nice. I made an appointment for 1pm and had to wait awhile. I wanted a manicure and pedicure and was hoping I could get them both done at the same time, but that was not the case. So, it took a lot longer than I expected (an hour and a half) which I wasn't happy with because I had somewhere to be later. Worst of all, my GEL manicure started chipping within a couple of days. It hasn't even been a week and most of my nails are chipped. Next time I will pay more for a higher quality place. read more

I found Essential Nails on Yelp when I was looking for a place to take my soon to be mother in law and her sister 2 days before my wedding to all get our nails done for the big day. I chose to come here because a few people specifically noted the integrity of the paint job (meaning that it lasted far longer than normal). This is entirely true! My American manicure was spot on perfect in following the line of the nail bed, AND it lasted through 6 days of playing sports and being in the water in Maui. I was truly impressed. In the time since going there, I have gone to get an American manicure at another place and it was awful. (More on that in another post). This is really a gem of a salon. If you're looking for a place with the big massage chairs for pedicures, this is not it. However, I get my nails done so that I look nice the whole week, not to sit in a massage chair that doesn't really feel that great. This place is family owned and has been in the same location for over a decade. In PB years, that's forever, so if they weren't getting it right, they would have been long gone. This is the best mani/pedi I've had in San Diego, and the price cannot be beat. read more

I am a big fan of this place. The saloon is "essential" as stated! if you are not looking for a fancy spa this place is just what you need. Everyone is polite and friendly. The prices are affordable and the service is very good. I was happy with my manicure and pedicure. read more

If I could give Jessica 100 Stars I would! The service they provide is amazing and I would definitely come back. I went in to get a mani-pedi and everything came out perfect read more

Meg was the best! She take care about my nails, she literally did her job very well! I loved it!

I love coming here, this is my go to nail salon! Came here when I used to live in PB, and now that I don't live in PB, I still come here! The ladies are great and they're all super nice. And I know that all nail salons are pretty much the same, but the ladies here are great, and I love coming here. I can never remember their names, and they probably don't remember mine either, but whenever they see me, they always greet me with a warm smile and always give me great service. read more

By far the best nail salon in San Diego (with the exception of Lulu in N. park). Inexpensive, clean, friendly and impeccable quality. What more could you ask for? read more

The place is quite rundown and dirty. I'd be concern of heath issues using this place. They are cousins that work together. Quite money hungry! Jessica runs the show. I just wanted regular manicure. She kept saying "just regular - no gel"? When I said yes. She did not have time for me. I thinks most of these positive reviews are fake and is done by their relatives. Again more than anything, I'd be concern about hygiene issue. I would not go back!!! read more

They did a wonderful job with my toe nails. They have a wide collection of nail colors. The pedicure price is relatively lesser than others :) .They made my day yay! read more

Found my new go to spot for manis and pedis! Not only are the prices very reasonable; the services were the best I've had in San Diego. I can't brag enough how in love with my nails I am, which kinda sucks in a way because now Im obsessed with having them look as good as they do and will want my nails to look this great all the time. Amy was so sweet and nice, both my gel manicure and pedicure came out great. She also kept reminding me that if there's a chip to just go in and she'll be happy to fix it with no charge. read more

This salon is a hidden gem in PB. The customer service and quality are better than any salon in the 5 star resorts. Jessica and Tammy are fabulous! It's absolutely worth the trek into PB. read more

This is a nice and affordable nail salon. The ladies who work here are all very friendly and do a great job. I've been here a few times for a french mani/pedi and it'll last for 2+ weeks! Parking is a pain but hey, it's PB. read more

I love them here! I always make sure Jessica is able to do my manicure and Amy for my pedicure. They are amazing. They are not expensive and they always do such a great job. My polish always lasts forever and if I mess up polish on a nail or break one, I can go in and they'll fix it no questions asked. The girls here are always so nice and they always remember me:) I've been going there for 3 yrs, but I mean when I 1st started going. They do not have "spa" pedicures but I'm not a huge fan anyways. The parking around here kinda stinks but that's because it's in Pacific Beach, there is a parking lot close by where it's $1/hr though so not too bad if you can't find free street parking. read more

Essential nails is the best in PB! If you come here once they will remember you forever. I have been coming to essential nails for over a year and refuse to go anywhere else. Any of the amazing women who work here will do an amazing job! read more

I started coming here after reading reviews - thanks Yelp! (The fact that a mani/pedi costs just $26 helped too!!) The ladies here are really nice and do a great job - my nail polish seems to stay so much longer. The massages are long and wonderful. Definitely give the ladies here a shot. My only advice - make an appointment!! read more