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    Jalisco Cantina

    4.2 (224 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

    Jalisco Cantina Reservations

    Jalisco Cantina Photos

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    JALISCO CANTINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Jalisco Cantina

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    Reviews With Photos - Jalisco Cantina

    Dinner menu
    Elyse J.

    Fancy, special, definitely a treat. The cocktails are amazing! Try the La Mora or the one with kiwi puree. Tacos, civeche, and tostada de atun is the way to go. Camerones tacos are my favorite. The salsa is a must. You can also ask for the extra bottles of 3 unique flavors. The restaurant is large and kind of divided into 4 sections - outdoor counter seating, a gorgeous and decorative bar, main inside seating, and the back which is bright and sunny (kind of feels like you're sitting outside). The waiters are knowledgeable and happy to take your requests (no onions for example).

    Fish tacos
    Lauren S.

    Excellent experience from start to finish. I came here for some solo dining with my dog and was treated so kindly by the staff. They sat us by the street so we could people watch and brought my dog a bowl of water. Zeek, our server, was excellent. He informed me the drink I wanted wasn't available and helped me choose a backup option that ended up being excellent. He also helped me choose a dish that made my trip to the West Coast totally worth it. I ended up ordering the fish tacos and Zeek asked me if I wanted them fried or grilled. He explained the fried came with a maiz flour coating that made them crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Which is exactly what they were, but what I didn't expect was how great the tortilla was. Normally when I have tacos I fill up on tortilla and the tortilla falls apart. But this one was thin, but sturdy and allowed the taco filling to be the star of the show. I wish all tortillas were like this! I ordered the horchata ice cream for dessert, which was also delicious. When the check came, Zeek let me know they comped the dessert, because they didn't have the first drink I wanted, which was unexpected, but very much appreciated. I would absolutely recommend this place for a lovely dinner on State Street!

    Shrimp tacos
    Salma Z.

    The Flautas were absolutely amazing as a starter. It was crisp on the outside, soft on the inside. Beautifully served. Was so hungry... forgot to take a picture. We also ordered carne asada & shrimp taco plates. Loved the flavor profile... however, I would request some salsa next time. I like it a little spicy The ambiance is pretty chill with mostly American music. It would be nice to get some Latin style music in here. Service was on point. Very friendly. Will come back again!

    Carne Asada Tacos
    Bryan A.

    Food was yummy and they have their own slightly unique twists on their food. Definitely recommend the flautas, it had a crunchy and soft chewy texture at the same time. Server was friendly and quick. Love the laidback yet trendy Valle de Guadelupe vibes. Only downside was the host wasn't at the front and after waiting a few mins I had to go track them down to get seated.

    So pretty!
    Carolyn K.

    I love that they have so many gluten-free options! I was able to have fried fish tacos for the first time in years and they were absolutely delicious! The green salsa is one of the best I've ever had! The service was impeccable and the food came out very quickly. My only complaint is having to pay for chips and salsa. That's always a turn off at a Mexican restaurant. But even so, I can't wait to go back!

    Areli V.

    Food was really good, even tho they got my order wrong. They actually were super nice on fixing it right away. The chair we got it was a bit awkward because there was an other family right next to us. That area should def be saved for a bigger party. But nonetheless it was a good experience. They were playing all the good songs! Will def come back. The drinks were good as well

    Carne Asada tacos
    Paul P.

    We set up a reservation through open table to stop by last night, but didn't really need to as it's a big place and not a lot of tables were occupied when we arrived at 6:30. We were promptly greeted and sat by a very nice hostess who asked us our preference of seating. We went towards the back near the fireplace. - 5/5 stars. It's a cool restaurant with nice ambiance and comfortable seating. - 5/5 stars. We started out with the chips and salsa and added guacamole. I didn't realize that when asked that they'd charge $2.50 for salsas as we were asked as soon as we sat down and most other places do chips/salsa for free and obviously to add guacamole it's an up charge. The guacamole was very good, the salsas (both of them) neither my wife nor I liked. They were on the sweet and smoky side, no real spice or flavor profile that either of us liked for our salsa. - 3/5 stars. We ordered drinks when the chips arrived, I had a mojito and my wife had a blood orange drink of some sort. Both drinks were quick getting to us and tasted good. - 4/5 stars. Dinner was delivered very quickly. I had the carne asada tacos and my wife had the chicken enchiladas. Both of us enjoyed our main course meal. Both were very flavorful. 5/5 stars. Overall 4/5 stars, I'd recommend for the service and main courses, drinks aren't anything special from what anyone would be used to elsewhere, and get the salsas only if you like a sweeter flavor profile and know they do charge for them.

    Beef Enchiladas, rice & beans.
    Cindy P.

    Were here for the first time in early June. We spend lots of time in Carlsbad with my husband's company. Always looking for great restaurants to try. The food was delicious. Friendly and attentive staff. We'll return again.

    Poblano soup- AMAZING!
    Sara S.

    Finally got to stop in here for dinner, and the highlight was definitely the corn poblano soup, so amazing!! After that, shared some tacos with the table, the carnitas were my favorite so far. Their drinks are all amazing, we tried several different ones, but the pear and honey was the favorite. Cilantro margarita was different, and delicious. We were bummed they no longer have the coconut marg, hoping they bring that back. Service was great, our server was super helpful in pointing us in the right direction. The inside and back patio area are super cute and the whole restaurant had a great vibe!

    Flautas
    Marcus D.

    Jalisco Cantina in Carlsbad is an experience all on its own! The ambiance has a vibe that instantly sets the tone for a great night out--energetic, welcoming, and full of personality. Alexia, our server, was outstanding. She worked quickly, stayed attentive, and managed every table in her section with ease while still making us feel taken care of. The chicken flautas were exceptionally well done--crispy, flavorful, and definitely a standout. Pair that with their amazing variety of margaritas, and it made for the perfect dining experience. I'm already looking forward to my next visit!

    CREMA POBLANO (a roasted corn and poblano chowder with potatoes, leeks, tortilla strips, Fresno sauce, and cilantro oil)
    Scott T.

    been working to write down my queue. finishing this draft is long overdue. kept putting it off until we visited another time or two, but can't seem to drag ourselves in for a second try. that's hard to figure since we only live a few blocks away. one of thirty-two states (Federal Entities) in Mexico), Jalisco is about halfway down the Pacific side of the country's coast with their own unique regional cuisine. no drive-thru window here. JALISCO CANTINA is a sit-down place, not your abuela's taco shop. the ambiance is engaging with a restrained, almost playful atmosphere and no mariachi music blasting from arena-sized speakers. easy place to sit across the table from a beautiful woman and catch up on your day. the wife unit and I shared the ESQUITES (a roasted corn salad with cotija cheese, tortilla strips, tomatoes, jicama, red onion, chile-lime dressing and cilantro) and the CREMA POBLANO (a roasted corn and poblano chowder with potatoes, leeks, tortilla strips, Fresno sauce, and cilantro oil). both were good. for cocktails, she had a OSA ROSA (St. George vodka, spiced cranberry syrup, lime juice, and soda), and I had the SMOKE & FIRE MARGARITA (a serrano infused mezcal with cilantro and simple syrup). I really liked the mezcal's little kick. the service, food (which was gorgeous), and drinks were all excellent. I nearly never whine about an expensive eating-out experience, but I'd be hard pressed to argue our "snacky" dinner was a good value. probably need another try with more entree driven choices. will keep you posted.

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    4 months ago

    The best. Great food. Great service. Great location, Cocktails fabulous, both new and standard. Cadillac margaritas to die for!

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    2 months ago

    Our first experience here. Excellent services. The tacos are to die for. And the hot sauces are epic!

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    4 months ago

    The French toast with the peach whip cream. You needs to stop what you're doing and gitcha some!

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    Ask the Community - Jalisco Cantina

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    Same Same

    Same Same

    4.5
    (265 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    I've been here twice in the past week for happy hour and it's sooo good every time…read more The happy hour is Mon thru Thursday every week from 3-5 pm. I don't quite remember the prices but I think everything priced was fair/good value seeing as their food and cocktails are amazing and very high quality. I love the chicken gochujang sandwich. It is sweet, tangy, spicy, and the perfect portion. It is part of their happy hour but also their regular menu so it's great that I can enjoy at a discount. The happy hour was house cocktails only, but they do them really well. Their original cocktails are fun, delicious, and one of a kind. I tried a few and you can't go wrong. Lastly, the bartenders and servers are exceptional. They are kind and fun and definitely help to make the experience and environment a lot more enjoyable. I really enjoy this place and look forward to coming many more times and bringing more friends and family in to enjoy as well!

    My girlfriends and I came here for a night out during 4th of July weekend. I would say the standout…read morewas the Mucho Mucho Amor cocktail (Strawberry-infused tequila, watermelon cucumber syrup, yuzu, topped with hibiscus tea). This drink was refreshing, not too sweet, and something I would order again and again. We were a little disappointed they were not doing late night food the night we went to visit - I really wanted to try the banh mi. The DJ was okay, the vibes were interesting for a Friday night. The bartender made a good drink, however, he seemed a little annoyed with us wanting food and doing separate transactions.

    Photos
    Indoor decor
    Indoor decor
    HOT POTATO (fried fingerling potatoes, Thai spicy rub, pickled red onions, and lime aioli)
    HOT POTATO (fried fingerling potatoes, Thai spicy rub, pickled red onions, and lime aioli)
    The guests of honor: it is, after all, National Margarita Day

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    The guests of honor: it is, after all, National Margarita Day
    Frankie’s

    Frankie’s

    4.3
    (162 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    Just a great place to get cocktails! North County tend to close a bit early, so having this place…read moreto go to is awesome. There seems to be a good number of regulars and they are always friendly and happy to chat. I also love that the bartenders (I would only do this on nights that aren't super busy) are able and willing to create drinks for you based on your preferences.

    With so many places to imbibe in Oceanside, I realize how competitive these places have to be to…read morestay in business so I have to admit, my standards are fairly high. My husband and I stopped in to Frankie's on a recent Saturday at 5pm. Our kiddo had a performance down the street at 6pm so we had a little time to kill beforehand. The neighboring spots looked busy so we decided to go with Frankie's, seeing as they were less inundated at the time and we had a time constraint. Another allure was the sandwich board at the front door advertising discounted cocktails - sold!! Inside there were a handful of patrons at the bar, another table with two additional patrons and maybe a couple on the patio so it was fairly quiet and slow, so it looked promising. We headed up to the bar and hung out behind two empty barstools, the single female bartender greeted us and said she'd be right with us, but then continued chatting up the seated patrons, serving them and their friends that had just joined (AFTER we'd arrived). We moved a little further down to the handoff area where she was making drinks to save her having to come back to us again, and stood there for probably 10 minutes while she took orders and made all the drinks. We commented that she looked like she could definitely use a hand, and she said they were still adjusting into summer hours and determining whether more coverage was needed at this time - I figured 5pm on a Saturday should be primetime, so I'm not sure in what universe having a single bartender makes any sense. Finally we placed our cocktail orders, waited while they were made, and then put our card down for the tab. After we'd paid, I noticed the cocktails were more expensive than advertised on the sandwich board out front - I couldn't find a disclaimer anywhere that said only certain cocktails were included, so while it was a bummer I wasn't about to wait another 10-15 minutes to catch her attention and ask for clarification. Just a heads up to beware of whatever is advertised that might summon you in from the sidewalk, and make sure you ask before you make your selection. Drinks were very subpar, nothing special to write home about. While I can appreciate the Gatsby-esque vibe they're trying to uphold at Frankie's, they really should increase their staffing especially during prime weekend and evening hours, and be more transparent about their specials and what's included and what's not. Hindsight is 20/20, and the low volume of patrons when everything else around it was going off was probably a sign, so we'll skip Frankie's our next go around.

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    Behind the Bar
    Behind the Bar
    Interior
    Interior
    Bar area

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    Bar area
    Ladies Love Outlaws

    Ladies Love Outlaws

    4.3
    (3 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    I'm so glad the Heritage crew decided to utilize this space. Urge had the vision, but not the…read moreexecution to make 101 Proof really shine. They had fantastic bartenders and menu, but the speakeasy concept has been outdated for a while. Now, a Honky Tonk is a very different, good thing. The tunes are something North County has been wanting, but been missing in favor of larger venue DJ's, but the juke box here has been curated with classics. It's far too small to dance unless you're slow or maybe 2 stepping in the corner. The ambiance is dim, relaxed, fun. The drinks are just as good as some of the top bars around, helmed by Wyatt who you may remember from Switchboard and KNVS is a staple in Oceanside. Prices are excellent, staff is great. While you can get a cocktail here, you don't have to. A classic shot and a beer is just as likely to be had here as a stemmed glass proper cocktail. When it's jamming it is near a standing room all the way around. No doorman asking for a password, no re-entry on nights when Heritage are open (Monday is this exception). It's funny to watch South O locals wander in here and realize maybe it's time to stop trying to change places to be like other places and enjoy the experience shown.

    Drinks are solid and served in kitschy mugs or fun appropriate to their name glasses. The…read morebartenders were as good looking as the drinks and knew how to make them, but the ambiance is lacking in a huge way. Cheaply done from the tables to decor and even though we went on a Saturday night the place was slow. Music was also good, but the DJ stopped playing about 20 min after we'd gotten there. That was a bummer. One round and we moved on.

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    Ladies Love Outlaws
    Mac and cheese with Tri Tip
    Mac and cheese with Tri Tip
    Ladies Love Outlaws

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    Tower39 Rooftop Lounge

    Tower39 Rooftop Lounge

    4.3
    (190 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    It's the 1st day of Summer and I wanted to spend a lot of time outdoors soaking up the sunshine…read more What a perrrfect time to finally go to the Tower39 Rooftop Lounge! I wanted to go there for the longest especially for Happy Hour. When I got up there, I was amazed at the ocean views and pleasantly surprised it wasn't crowded during this beauuutiful late afternoon. I picked my spot to sit then stood in line while looking over the front-n-back menu. Everything sounded good but I wanted something fresssh and summery. The friendly staff was very knowledgeable about the menu and helpful in my decision to keep it Summer related. Not too long afterwards, my order came out. Looove the quick service! Both female bartenders were slaying it as soon as the line grew. It was niiice to see the world cup on the t.v. screen. I enjoyed watching it while I ate my yummy food and watched the magical sunset. More people showed up closer to the golden hour. Overall, I had a wonderful experience. Highly recommend this coastal hot spot to the Yelp Community!!

    Great spot, but no service. You have to go up to the bar to order which is a bummer. It would be my…read morego-to spot if they had servers. They recently updated their seating as well, to super comfortable seats. The food was really good as well! We had the shareable fondue, the prosciutto flatbread, the quesadilla, and one of their salads, and the food was delicious! Overall recommend this spot, but really wish they would add service or bring back the QR codes to order from the table. Plus you can't beat that gorgeous view of the beach and palm trees.

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    Tower39 Rooftop Lounge Seating
    Tower39 Rooftop Lounge Seating
    Tower39 Rooftop Bar
    Tower39 Rooftop Bar
    Tower39 Rooftop High-Table Seating

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    Tower39 Rooftop High-Table Seating
    The Plot

    The Plot

    4.7
    (710 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Absolutely delicious! The food was incredible, and Austin, our incredibly hospitable waiter,…read morerecommended some of his favorite dishes. One of them was the chicken shawarma, and it was so good! We were able to grab a charming spot outside near their garden, where they actually grow some of the fresh ingredients used in the dishes. Such a cool touch! They also offered a variety of sauces, all of which were delicious. Even the habanero sauce was surprisingly approachable, full of flavor without being overly spicy. The atmosphere was beautiful, the aesthetic was amazing, and the overall experience was fantastic. I would definitely come back.

    We go and do Restaurant Reviews & attend special events at The Plot quarterly with my groups San…read moreDiego Foodies and Carlsbad Foodies. This time around, it's just the family for Mother's Day. Since I know my food, the table let me order. Fresh hand cut thick long French Fries without a ton of seasoning or oil arrived: one with a cashew cheese truffle sauce, one with no salt, and one salted as requested. My daughter loved her reuben. I loved my blt. The two Caesar salads for the table disappeared quickly because their dressing is unbelievable! Let's see .... what didn't we eat is probably smarter than what did we eat. Beet ketchup, The C Word (braised cabbage), a couple of cronic sushi rolls, and there was a special lemon creme brûlée. Everyone enjoyed everything they ate, including my almost 3 year old grandson (they brought out a specially sliced fruit bowl for him). They offered many choices for kids, but he just wanted fruit. Hope you had as wonderful a Mother's Day as I did. Yes. We appreciated eating healthy and not walking away stuffed but instead satisfied. They were selling plants. So I bought 4 and planted them today! The gift that keeps on giving! We will be back for sure! With garlic, gusto & gratitude, Chef Marian

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    The Plot
    Sausage and biscuits
    Sausage and biscuits
    Fries with sauce

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    Fries with sauce
    Sound by the Sea

    Sound by the Sea

    4.2
    (113 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    My friend organized a '70s-themed beach party in Oceanside, and we ended up at this cool spot for…read moreappetizers and drinks. This was my second time here, and I love everything about this place. First of all, kudos to the bartender--I forgot her name, but she was incredibly generous and kind. She accidentally forgot my drink and kept apologizing, but I told her it was totally fine since we had a large party. To make up for it, she gave me two shots instead of one and even added a big discount. The ambiance of this place is unique and very artsy. If you're looking for a cool, one-of-a-kind spot to hang out, this is it. There's so much attention to detail throughout--even the restroom door is thoughtfully designed with a modern, creative touch. My friend ordered a variety of cocktails, and everyone enjoyed them. The food was great as well. I ordered the hummus plate, and it was the best I've ever had--so fresh and served in a generous portion. My friends tried the pizza and a few other items from the menu, and everything got a thumbs up. If you're in the area looking for a cool place to hang out or planning a party, this is the spot. I'll definitely be back again soon.

    Oof, I really wanted to like this place. But this wasn't it. They have potential but they're not…read morethere yet. First off, they have a "wait to be seated" sign at their entrance, but it took a while to get anyone to seat us. When we were inside, we noticed there was another entrance and people were just walking in, so "waiting to be seated" was just an option? We ordered a beer and seltzer and it took easily 10-15 minutes to get our drinks. Drinks that were in cans by the way. Music was good, DJs were good, but the whole vibe of the place is kinda everywhere. This lighting in this place needs to be more dimmed. DJs are spinning right in the middle of the room, and there's a clothes rack just chilling against the wall. The baristas are way in the back, and you can't really tell who works there. It took equally as long to get the check as it did to get my drinks. We only had 1 round of drinks. I dunno, waiting for canned drinks just threw me off. I can't imagine how much longer it would have taken to get a mixed cocktail. I only saw one guy mixing drinks and a bunch of women just hanging around. I'm assuming workers that look like they don't work there.

    Photos
    Preparing for the DJ/live music collaboration.
    Preparing for the DJ/live music collaboration.
    Sound by the Sea
    Dean Martini

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    Dean Martini

    Jalisco Cantina - mexican - Updated July 2026

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