Our first and not our last visit to Cocina was amazing. Our Server Matt listens and directs you to what you really want. As I was enjoying my cocktail I noticed that Matt gave all of his tables the same attention. He is absolutely fabulous! Alicia read more

Drinks amazing, food creative and fresh, service from Matt was entertaining and a very positive experience. Highly recommended! We will be back. read more

Yelp and Maps shows that they are dog friendly, but that is only for service animals. Don't come with pets. Posting 3 stars, but was unable to eat here, so don't know if the food is good. read more

Guys my enchiladas from here were so good I literally cannot stop thinking about them. Shoutout the birria enchiladas fr My mom got a salad with chicken and also won't stop talking about their BASIC chicken, like you know it's good when the basic chicken is being raved about read more

What a disappointment! Had high hopes given such high ranking but I doubt they are real given our experience. Food - BAD- enchiladas (soggy mushy rice and tasteless chiken) and tacos were just splash of sauce with wtvr filling. Both with barely edible sour/super salty guacamole. Mediocre - Fajitas and ceviche Excellent - grilled octopus, truly excellent. Kids burger was really good, excellent quality and size! Atmosphere/service - bathroom was dirty with papertowels all over the floor. Couldn't find our waiter through out the dinner. Literally had to get up and look for one to get water refill during dinner. Couldn't find him at the end of the dinner either, ended up asking the hostess. read more

Fresco Cocina - Bathroom was dirty, not even a basket in the stall. - Tacos Near Me - Carlsbad, California

This is not about the food or ambience. I try to only leave 4/5 star reviews of restaurants as I am in hospitality. Restaurants have so many variables. I like to highlight the positives. However, my experience with the hostesses at 4pm on Saturday 6/20 was not suitable. The bar was not open (yet?). Even though the restaurant was at maybe 15% capacity, they said no tables were available, but they could seat us on the deck. They have an exterior side deck and a rear deck and a rooftop deck. I am in an orthopedic boot due to a leg injury. The younger hostess walked us through the bar to the North side of the building and to a flight of metal stairs to the roof. I was shocked. We left. They should have said there wasn't seating. Even for their own liability purposes it blows my mind they would suggest a temporarily disabled person climb metal stairs. It made me cringe for those that are permanently disabled. Their sister restaurant 264 Fresco has a lift to their rooftop deck. It is kind of archaic, but at least it's available. I won't return to Fresco Cocina nor will I suggest it to others. In my opinion they might want to give the two women on duty at the hostess stand that day some training on how to deal with ADA situations. read more

Solid 4 stars, I say this because of the service and waiter that we're helping us. The food was great and I found the flavor combinations to be really tasty. I do wish the sugar salmon had more seasoning on it but the unique flavors of the corn and salsa tasted well. Interior is decorated well and I would say the lighting is just right. The chips and salsa was great but $15 for a serving of guacamole was a bit high for my preference. You are paying for vibe and food. I would come again for a special occasion but maybe minus the guacamole. read more

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We've been coming here for years! Docking it one star because I think it's pricey, but overall, the food, service and ambiance are top notch. We just recently came here with our 3 month old baby hoping to catch happy hour and the manager let us sit outside with our stroller and still partake (even tho HH is only at the bar). Really appreciated them being so accommodating. Our server was so sweet and helpful! We got an assortment of tacos (30% off tacos on Tuesday!) : fish, crispy pork belly and octopus! Plus guac and chips. Everything was so fresh and delicious! I will say the tacos are on the smaller side but order enough and you'll be full. Def recommend coming here for a date night or outing with friends! Oh and their mocktails and cocktails are delicious!! read more

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First time here. We had a reservation for 1030am. They open exactly at 1030am. There is a parking lot behind the restaurant, but also along the street. It wasn't very busy since they just opened. We were seated right away. They served chips and salsa fairly quick, and those were delicious! The food took awhile to get served though, but maybe because it was early morning for them and they make things fresh vs using old batches? Not sure... but the items came out all together. The guacamole came out last but the server said it was because it was freshly made. The calamari was just OK. The tacos a la carte order is 1 taco each. You can order as many as you like, but I don't think they are worth the price. We ordered a variety of tacos, and they weren't that great (very dry and small portions). The corn dish was OK (esquietes). The ribeye fries were dry. Was a bit underwhelmed by the food. Service was pretty good, and the interior fit the mood, however, it felt like a day club. Day club with good ambiance but costly mediocre food. Maybe their drinks are good? Didn't order any today. The best foods were the chips and salsa- they were actually delicious! Nothing to complain about the staff. They were all friendly and welcoming. read more

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Fresco Cocina has a nice, modern atmosphere with interesting decor, especially near the large windows by the bar. The staff was welcoming and attentive without hovering too much. The cocktails were delicious, and the birria enchiladas were definitely a highlight. The complimentary chips and salsa were also very good. I wasn't a fan of the birria sopes -- the texture and flavor were both a bit underwhelming for me. Prices were on the higher side -- our drinks were about $16 each and the sopes were $18 -- so while it was a nice experience, it's probably not somewhere I'd go back to often. read more

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Matt's the best server, incredible energy and great food makes the place so worth it!

Staff is friendly, attentive, professional. Tasty drinks and tasty bites. Happy hour was recommended by a bartender there. Will be back for sure :) read more

Fresco Cocina - Cuatro de Dip - Tacos Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Disclaimer: only came for drinks First round was very great, drinks were awesome super tasty. Sat at the bar and told our bartender that we just wanted drinks. Place was almost literally emptied out, the bar was completely empty. Fantastic carijillo, I got the one with tequila my spouse got the regular one both were prepared very well!! We finished then multiple staff members walked by and clearly noticed our empty glasses but no offers for second round. The first round was great we made it known we wanted another they were so good! Took about 30 minutes of empty glass to finally flag someone down, at that point just asked to get the check. Bartender finally came around to give us the check and made a slightly snarky comment about only getting one round and leaving. We wanted another they were good just didnt want sit around for another 30/40 plus minutes waiting :( Will definitely try again and get food next time! read more

Server Matt is THE BOMB and what made our dinner great! His energy is so addicting! Love it! GOOD VIBES DUDE! Food was exceptional- the ahi tuna citrus appetizer was so unique. The Quesabirria taco was outstanding. Will be back! read more

Matt hooked it up great Cali burrito definitely recommend so good best mexican restaurant around for sure

I had their sugar spiced salmon with roasted corn which was so good and very filling. Not to mention most of their food for the quality, was at a good price point. I had a little bite of their smash burger, which was fantastic, along with their carne asada fries. Everything was so packed with flavor, it's a must try if you're ever in the Carlsbad area. read more

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Love that they offer HH on the weekends. The bar area is super cute with large open windows. Drinks are a great deal on HH. I enjoyed both the Hibiscus Mezcalita and the Guava Mojito. The food a little disappointing. The Birra pozole was very fatty and was mostly just broth. I was excited to try the fish taco since they use sea bass but overall it was very small and bland. The squash bloom tacos were 5/5 definitely recommend. HH guacamole is very small but you do get complimentary chips and salsa. Passion fruit crème brûlée was a little too sweet. Overall it was a great experience for drinks but food could be improved. Service was fine, attentive but you could tell they were busy. Small parking lot available otherwise street parking. read more

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We decided to give Fresco's another try.... We were seated right away... no line... it was a Thursday evening... we asked to sit on the patio... and they accommodated us.... there was a nice breeze... they took our drink order right away ... then dinner... drinks were okay but our dinner's were fabulous... Waitress was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu.... We walked so we didn't need to worry about parking... read more

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Matt was and awesome server that's a local resident. He was the best server at any restaurant we went to in Carlsbad over our vacation.

Great location and they have a parking lot, so valuable. Interior is so pleasant and clean. Well done. We had the ribeye fries and carne asada steak with crispy potatoes and roasted carrots. Ribeye fries were loaded with fries, scant tiny overcooked pieces of ribeye, topped with guacamole & white sauce. Fries were limp & room temperature. The carne asada steak pieces looked great, veggies were tasty, the meat was a little tough. Bathroom was beautiful and clean. For after 2pm on Saturday so restaurant was near empty, oddly the service was very slow. read more

We were seated by the host for over 20 minutes and never even offered water. There were several waiters working around us. One was fixing his mistake of not offering a group their drinks until he was reminded bc the group was halfway through their meal. The other waiter just ran around and collected money. We ended up leaving. It's so disappointing as we love their Italian counterpart across from Carlsbad Inn. Definitely a big no- go elsewhere. read more

We found this place on Yelp -- visiting from out of town. The food tasted amazing. So delicious. I did have an issue and the manager Andrea sorted it out for me. She went above and beyond. Great customer service. The ambiance of the restaurant is so cute and has a special style. I'd eat here again. read more

Matt was amazing! best server - made our experience the best night of our week vacation!

Happy Hour is silly the best! Highly recommend the Aquachiles: delicious fresh jumbo shrimp and not too spicy. Each drink I've tried is handcrafted with perfection and freshness. The salmon gets me everytime with the cilantro yogurt sauce, but their carnitas as insanely flavorful as well. They have a beautiful indoor space and a cozy outdoor space as well. read more

Fresco Cocina - Hibiscus Mezcalita - Tacos Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Drinks and appetizers were great. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. She offered to turn on the heaters when it got cold in outside seating. Our drinks were always full. read more

Fresco Cocina - Casa Margarita with Tajin rim & El Corazon Drink was so yummy! Cuatro de Dip. - Tacos Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Prejudice staffs, hosts and servers all alike. The only person who was not was male bartender. My daughter made a reservation beforehand asking a high chair space. They stuck us right in front of kitchen door where it's most busy. We asked to sit elsewhere then hosts said they were all reserved. Only two tables were filled and no reservation cards were placed. They lied. Whole time we were there, customers were walk in mainly except couple of tables. My daughter wanted to put high chair on one side they refused. This went on for 5 minutes before sitting. What the hell! They felt stupid for not checking reservation book to make accommodation for a high chair so ended up putting an extra table so both parents can sit next to two kids. Once we sat, it wasn't any better. We had to ask for servingware, chips and salsa. Half way through my hubby asked for cold water. The witch server kept having hom repeat what he wanted because he has accent five times. I ended up shouting he wants ice water. She played stupid and brought cold water. The service sucked tremendously. I do NOT Recommend this restaurant. We spent nearly $400 dollars with bucket of salt food, poor service. We walked out with bitter taste in our mouth. If I can give negative stars I would most likely give -5 stars. read more

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Best burger that I've ever had! We found ourselves wandering around Carlsbad Village, in search of the smell of steak in the air beckoning to us. We landed at Fresco Cocina in the front dining area. Our server was extremely helpful. At first we were sad to see that Churrasco wasn't on the menu but after showing our server the picture and asking if there was something like that, we were told that is now called the carne asada. Perfect! It's what my husband ordered and enjoyed. I was tempted by the pictures of the burger. Normally when going out, that's not what I order. I could do that at home, right? Everything else on the menu looked great but I was in a burger mood. I don't regret it! Jalapeno, aioli, yuca fries just hit the spot on a cold winter's night. It just hit the spot. We split the bread pudding and it was amazing. It was more bready and not an oversaturated mess. Just perfectly balanced deliciousness. Perfect for splitting. The service was extra attentive and friendly. A good enough experience that this is going to turn into a regular date night location for us. I can't wait to go back and try more of their menu. read more

The service from Matt was amazing. He had such a great attitude and personality. Really made us all feel comfortable and special. And the food was so delicious!!! Would definitely come back read more

We love this place. The vibe is fun our waiter was excited to serve us and we had a great time

Ambiance: Nicely decorated and furnished Food: 4/5 Enchiladas Trio (the shrimp one was delicious and my favorite) the other three were Birria and cheese Drinks: Peach Mojito, refreshing and the peach adds the flavor Overall a good spot to check out read more

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Excellent food, service and ambiance. We were seated at our reservation time and had a young toddler thst was very hungry. They took a quick order to get something for her. She was eating while we were ordering. Great service! We had the mole fried rice with hanger steak, sea bass ceviche, multiple tacos, chips with the multiple dipping sauces and flan. All very good. Fresh made chips hot from the fryer was a great start. Higher recommend read more

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We came during happy hour. Got the carne asada and shrimp tacos and Enchiladas de birria The ahi tostaditas and crispy brussels sprouts to share. The service was very good. The tacos were really good. The brussels sprouts had a nice char to them. Probably one of the best brussels sprouts In had. The ahi tostaditas in my opinion had too much sauce on them, but still good. Came here a few times and it is always cold inside. They have a parking lot and there is also street parking. Place got packed pretty fast after happy hour. read more

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We started with their Cadillac margarita straight up with an extra shot of tequila on the side. The margarita and tequila were very smooth. I usually get Patron Silver but this time we tried Cierto Blanco. Happy surprise. We nibbled on the chips and salsa as we enjoyed our drinks. Then we ordered the chicken Fajitas de la Casa with all rice and no beans. The guacamole was bright green. They cover the chicken fajitas with a crema. I assumed the crema was on the side. Their corn tortillas are amazing. I could eat them separately by themselves. There's no shredded cheese, just the crema which was different. I definitely prefer shredded cheese. Then there's the grilled bell peppers, onions and a couple tomatoes. Excellent flavors. Great service from our server. The restaurant has a fun upbeat vibe with positive energies. For me, the margarita was a 5, service a 5, corn tortillas, guacamole, grilled vegetables and rice were a 5. The crema on the grilled chicken was a 3.75. Suggestion: have the server inform the customer the crema usually is on top of the chicken and would they prefer it on the side. read more

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We stopped by last night for dinner. We asked to be seated outside and were promptly given a table out on the deck. The host appeared to be in a not very happy or pleasant mood. We were never given water. No one ever attended to our table. We waited 10 minutes and decided to leave since they were not interested in our business. We do not recommend this restaurant. read more

Love this place! First time here. Matt took care of us so well. Coming back for sure!

Matt is so full of enthusiasm and recommendations. Food is awesome and location great. Yay!

Absolutely amazing food. They've got this new fried rice dish that is out of this world. Their birria tacos and enchiladas are bomb af too, cocktails delish and chips and salsa also legit. Omg, the chorizo and potato taquitos?! Insanity. This place is fire for sure. read more

Such an excellent experience and Matt took such great care of us!!!! Food is just top notch and from walking in the door to leaving we felt like we were family read more

We ended up at Fresco Cocina because there was an open parking spot in front. We were headed down the street for lunch and saw the food being presented to a table on the patio. We steered ourselves right in! Everyone was so friendly! Of course. they get to work in Carlsbad. We had the privilege of having Kelsey as our server. She walked us through the drink and food menus. Quite the lineup! Blondie had the Casa Margarita and i tried the El Guapo, with serrano chile-infused tequila! The drinks were excellent. We settled on tacos. we tried five of the eight? choices. They were all awesome. My favorites were the Prime Ribeye and the Quesabirria. But the Pork Belly, Chicken Verde and beer-battered seabass were all tied for second. We can't wait to go back! In fact, we're taking a group of 8 to dinner there this Sunday! I hope Kelsey is working read more

I've been coming here for a while and last night's experience meant I needed to finally leave the review it deserves. The food is always good, but last night the Mole fried rice and potato and chorizo taquitos were some of the top dishes here and most places!! So so unique and layered with flavors!!! Also kids Birria taco and rice and beans, are still top notch and majorly adult approved in flavor. Drinks are always delish, server always super nice and helpful, pretty decor... ya this place is one of our tops!! read more