I've been living in San Diego since 1998, I've eaten a lot of San Diego tacos the past 28 years...and the inflation that has come along with it... Fast, casual, clean, and friendly service...they even deliver to California Wild Ales next door for free, which is where this elderly Yelper was drinking away on a Saturday afternoon. $3 Baja Fish Tacos...Only $3 for a Fish Taco in this age of Inflation! AWESOME! The fish is fresh, moist, succulent and deep fried in a thick, hot, crispy, and seasoned batter. Topped with fresh crispy cool cabbage and tomatoes, and lovely chipotle sauce. So good, so cheap! $5.75 Carne Asada Taco...meaty, tasty, tender, beefy steak perfectly grilled with lovely fresh spread of green guacamole, yum! read more

Johnny Mananas, tacos and beer. Happy hour beer is $3 and Tuesday and Thursday street tacos $2.50 each: So this is by far the best value in Ocean Beach. Best taco price and best happy hour beer price: we stopped in today basically because of the happy hour beer price. We discovered the taco deal and ordered a dozen carne asada tacos and 2 fish tacos, 2 beers, chips and guacamole and a soda. Tacos were made fresh after ordering. The carne asada tacos were delicious and cooked to perfection. But the fish tacos? Oh boy, these were amazing. Great flavor and crunch on those. These were $3.50 each and well worth the price paid. The owner was there taking our order and working hard. Everything was fantastic and these prices for ocean beach can't be beat. Great food and great beer prices. Give this place a try; it's legit for sure. read more

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I am usually not one to leave reviews, but I can't shake the way I was treated by the cashier. After a long drive from LA, we stopped in to check out their earlier happy hour while waiting to be able to check in to our hotel down the street. After ordering some tacos and a margarita, the first thing I noticed was that toilet in the bathroom didn't flush and there were no paper towels to wipe my hands. I was able to get over that part, because c'est la vie--but it was noted. Once I sat down at the table, the tacos I ordered came out. For the 2 for 3 special, I got two carnitas and a fish taco going for a bit of variation to mix it up. The carnitas were made from pork shoulder which tasted like it came from the oven, which was fine, but had absolutely no seasoning on it, but it was soft and juicy. The fish, peor, tasted freezer burnt, was dry and also had no flavor. After one bite, I knew I wouldn't be able to finish it, and I was hungry, so I went to the cashier and told him about the fish. I asked him if I could swap out the fish for another carnitas taco thinking it would be an easy fix. He forced me to repeat my gripes about The fish three times and then tells me that "I usually never do this" as he reluctantly and angrily agrees to swap out the taco. I was so bewildered, uncomfortable and felt deeply respected over a complaint about a simple hour taco. In any case, I won't be returning and can't for the life of me understand how people that live in San Diego and should know what a good taco is, could rate this place above 4 stars. Come to LA! read more

Food is still good but I just paid $9 for a street taco. If you're going to shrink the tacos shrink the price. The manager said there were too many toppings on the original version so they shrunk the tacos to make it better. Nice try my guy. read more

The tacos were good but veryyyy spicy. The chipotle crema is no joke. Everyone working was kind and they were showing World Cup games inside. read more

Johnny Mañanas - Ocean Beach - Baja Fish Taco - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Ordered through Grubhub to come to our hotel in Ocean Beach. Service was within 45 minutes- we appreciated the prompt timing as it had been a long day of driving. We ordered 5 rolled tacos with guacamole and the birria quesadilla , and provided us with at least two more meals because of the large portions. Both excellent and would order again! Will be a place we go to or order from in future. Highly recommend!! read more

Johnny Mañanas - Ocean Beach - 5 Rolled beef tacos with guacamole +! - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Johnny Mañanas is about 3 blocks from the beach in Ocean Beach. After a day of surfing or walking up and down Newport Ave., this is one of the popular spots locals go to for Mexican food, especially On Taco Tuesday the Baja Fish tacos are what you order. This small casual restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. You order, pay and the food is brought to you at your table if dining there. The place is NOT fancy, actually qualifies as a dive, but most of Ocean Beach is very casual with people in beach attire: shorts, Tshirt, slippers with messy hair and no one cares, lol My friend resides in Point Loma which is close by and Ocean Beach is entertaining for people watching, lots of strange people and lots of homelessness :( Since I've been in San Diego, I have eaten more tacos than ever. Maybe because San Diego is especially known for fish tacos grilled or Baja style. With shredded cabbage on top and creamy salsa. These tacos were good but not the best. Looks better than it tasted and portions were generous. My pup liked the quesabirria taco which has stewed beef which is tender and when paired with the melted gooey cheese it's like a marriage of a quesadilla and a taco actually tastier than the fish tacos. Service was okay, the cashier wasn't truthful about the prices and tried to overcharge me, good thing I pointed out the menu and corrected her on the spot. She must have thought I was a tourist who doesn't pay much attention to details, lol...sorry I'm the opposite and detail oriented. Dishonest staffers trying to overcharge customers is a major faux pas and this is a rating downgrade. Whether you're a surfer dude or not but just want some casual Mexican food, Johnny Mañanas is worth a try, especially on Taco Tuesday! read more

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We enjoyed our taco lunch at Johnny Mañanas while visiting San Diego. The guy who helped us was super nice and happily accommodated my need for no spice. I ordered a Quesobirria taco and grilled fish taco. The grilled fish taco had great flavor, was perfectly cooked and held a nice size piece of fish. I ordered it with just cabbage since I the pico and chipotle crema sadly would have been too spicy for me. The Quesobirria taco was good and stuffed full of shredded beef, tho perhaps could have used a bit more flavor. Tho since I'm unable to have anything spicy anymore, I wasn't able to add any of the goodies from Johnny's salsa bar. We shared a guac and chips appy and loved the guac as well as the house made chips. Hubs also loved his $3.00 beer for their all day weekend happy hour. This was our first time at Johnny's and we'll definitely be back!! read more

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OK, I feel mixed about this because the service was great and I would say the price is also pretty good for their deals and on Tuesday and Thursday you can get two dollar 50 Cent tacos. I did get two fish tacos and you can see my pictures they had a great crunch, but for some reason that the type of fish was just too tough. It felt really rough when I bit into it and it was a lot of lettuce. I think they could've used more salsa to give more of a variety of flavors. The thought is they're taking fish and frying it and you expect it to be really flaky and fresh. It was warm, but it wasn't as fresh as I thought it would be considering we are right by the ocean. I don't know maybe I need to give it another try and I know the reviews are pretty high for this place but I know that if you're looking for fish tacos, there might be some other taco spots that could scratch that itch read more

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Had 2 quesabirria tacos. They tasted good but then I had really bad diarrhea afterwards. It's lasted more than 24hrs and extremely uncomfortable. I've had to cancel my plans because I keep running to the bathroom. It was the only thing I ate that day, so I know it was the tacos. read more

We really scored well with choosing Johnny Mañanas for our OB lunch stop. Our server was super friendly and attentive and we appreciated the outside tables. Tacos were tasty, with lots of fillings and garnish. We appreciated the tortillas holding their own. No failures and no spills. The carnitas were juicy and flavorful and the Baja fish was crunchy and not oily. Well worth a return visit during our time in San Diego. read more

Johnny Mañanas - Ocean Beach - Carnitas and Baja fish tacos - delish! - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Food is fantastic, huge portions, good vibes! Best of all is the owner, he really does a great job!

This Mexican restaurant is amazing. A little street side restaurant with wonderful ambiance if you like sitting at a comfortable table on the street. But no matter where you sit, this food is delicious. I use to live in SD so I know what real Mexican food is supposed to taste like. Unfortunately I live in Portland, Maine. Wonderful fish and lobster, marginal Mexican food. So when I got to SD I went to Ocean Beach looking for real Mexican food. I found Johnny Mañana! End of story. read more

Johnny Mañanas - Ocean Beach - Crispy Fish Tacos Modelo Dark Beer, Mexican beer. - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

If you're looking for a decent burrito or tacos in Ocean Beach, this is a solid spot to check out. Just don't come expecting anything super special or very authentic. I enjoyed it overall, but I'm still on the hunt for truly authentic Mexican food in OB. I ordered the chicken burrito and a bean and cheese burrito. Both were good, filling, and exactly what I expected. Nothing bad, just nothing that really stood out. I didn't love the chicken flavor. I did really appreciate the salsa bar. The habanero salsa is great and definitely the highlight for me. Staff is friendly and ambiance is average. Good option if you're nearby and craving a burrito, just keep expectations realistic. read more

We came here for a late lunch after driving from Phoenix. The food was SOOO good! I had a fish taco and chicken taco and both were great but I must give high marks to the chicken in the grilled chicken taco! Seasoned perfectly, cut into small chunks and hot!! I would def come here again just for the chicken taco. The guy behind the counter came out to chat with us as we were getting ready to leave. He was very friendly, and talking to him gave me just that little bit of a connection to the beach town vibe that made me feel less like a wide eyed tourist and more comfortable and at home. read more

Best fish tacos in SD! All their food is great and the staff and service. You rock Johnny!! read more

Johnny Mañanas - Ocean Beach - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Simple but good Mexican food. We have been here twice getting tacos before our tattoos and it hits the spot.

Absolutely AMAZING!!! Fish Taco's are the best I have ever had.. Street taco special. ADD dipping sauce- DELISHOUS.. and the California burrito is huge. Its a Must go to eat.. read more

This is a small eatery specialized in Mexican food with its famous $1.99 crispy fish taco. The place is in the midst of a busy street and not exactly stands out. Parking is a bit challenging. We visited there a bit after 1:00 pm on a Sunday. It wasn't busy when we arrived but was filling up by the time we got our food. The place has bare bone inside and outside seating. Orders were taken over the counter and came about 20 mins later. Service was good. We tried their speciality, crispy fish taco and some other dishes. The fish taco was fresh. The fish was crispy, a bit bland but compensated with a slightly spicy sauce. Overall it's definitely worth the price. If it's for that alone, it's worth 4 stars. The chicken quesadilla was cheesy and tasty. The Guacamole dips and chips were not up to par. The dip was OK, but the chips weren't done right, not crispy at all. They also served Sangria and beers for a reasonable price. One should try their crispy fish taco at least once when in town. read more

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The tacos are very flavorful. Fish tacos are a teeny tiny bit bland but nothing a good salsa can't fix. One of their salsas had habanero I believe and it had a gooood kick so be careful with the orange one. read more

Johnny Mañanas - Ocean Beach - Tacos and salsas - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Great place for a sit down lunch if you're into shrimp, and fish tacos. I originally had ordered 4 tacos with nachos but was told the nachos was massive so I reduced my tacos to 3 and thank gawd I listened. Nachos was freaking massive, they definitely don't hold back on that serving. Shrimp tacos 5/5 Fish tacos 5/5 Nachos 5/5 They also serve drinks Went with a Michilada and would recommend. Definitely recommend this place, they have a salsa bar too. The habanero salsa is spicy af! You're been warned! Awesome place, definitely recommend. read more

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I'm Mexican, I eat Mexican at home, this place is an extension of home, the carne asada fries are the best here. The fries are perfect, the burritos are pricy but really good, this is my number one Mexican in ocean beach, gracias karnal!!! read more

This was a great lunch choice for our visit to OB. The vibe was great, with an awesome all day weekend happy hour (can we get a shout out for $3 draft beers please?). Our server was super friendly and attentive and they had plenty of seating both inside and out. Our tacos were great, with lots of fillings and garnish. We loved how the tortillas held up without tearing. No spills is always a good thing. The carnitas were flavorful and the Baja fish was crunchy without excess oil. Definitely a return option on our trip. read more

Johnny Mañanas - Ocean Beach - Carnitas taco and Baja fish taco - yum! - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

How have I never discovered this place before an OB! Their beer taco is sensational. That's an understatement. The taco Thursday is incredible for three dollars. We had El Pastore tacos. Their sauces are incredible which normally a lot of Mexican places are lacking due to the lack of flavor. This one has some really good sauce options. There's one in a creamy sauce, which is extremely hot and I like heat, but it was really intense. Take it for me. You're gonna want to check this place out!! read more

I stopped in at Johnny Mañanas for Taco Tuesday after it being recommended to me by some locals. The atmosphere was open, inviting, and staff was very friendly! Although there was a line, orders were being taken quickly and I didn't wait for long at all! I ordered myself two of their world famous crispy fish tacos, along with a crisp and cold topo chico. My tacos came out within a few minutes and they were hot, fresh, smelled DELICIOUS, and were tasty too. I loved the addition of a salsa and lime bar to fulfill ALLL my salsa needs. Next time I come here, I'll likely opt for the grilled fish, since the beer batter of the crispy fish taco was a bit too hearty for my liking. Note: for folks who are looking to drink beer and cocktails, there are options for you too! Overall, this was a joyful and delicious experience! I recommend stopping by for a quick bite, a refreshing drink, and a good time! read more

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Three reasons to go - 1. Large and very tasty $3.50 fish tacos 2. $2.00 draft beers 3. They carded my wife! Their carne asada taco was also great - tons of flavorful meat and a pile of guac. Had a quick "snack" here but it left a really strong positive impression. Definitely coming back when we're in the area. read more

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Went to Johnny mañanas tonight, ordered the surf and turf fries. For a 23 dollars shrimp and steak are a deal. Outside of this the portion size was absolutely mountainous. The shrimp was fantastic, the steak was juicy and overall the meal was fantastic. I love spicy food and often struggle to find good hot salsa at Mexican restaurants, but the habanero salsa here was on point. Spicy and flavorful. read more

Johnny Mañanas - Ocean Beach - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Some of the best fish tacos I've ever had. Was recommended this spot by a friend, who told me to go here because of their fish tacos. We each got 1 fish taco and they were amazing ! I got the surf n turf taco which the shrimp was spicy. We shared the Cali burrito which was yummy and delicious. Their guac tasted so good,probably some of the best guac I ever had. Looked and tasted fresh! We got some brews, they have beer on tap and bottles and cans ! We finished off a to go order of pollo asado nachos and they were huge ! We took them home and they were still yummy! Definitely coming back here! read more

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Alright, I had a stay in Ocean Beach for a week and let me start by saying that I visited Johnny Mañanas almost daily. It's THAT good. I felt like a true local and was welcomed with kindness at every visit! The crispy fish tacos are priced amazingly well and your tacos come loaded with perfectly battered hot fish and fresh, crunchy cabbage and tomato toppings. I honestly couldn't get enough of these tacos. And then, I tried the shrimp tacos and was equally -if not more (if that's possible)- blown away! Plump and well-seasoned shrimp with crispy tortillas to hold... yeah. You all get the point. If you're reading this and you're local or just visiting... this is a spot that you can't afford to pass up! It was a delight to stop in and get my Johnny Mañanas fix. I will definitely be back my next San Diego trip. read more

Johnny Mañanas - Ocean Beach - tables and chairs in a restaurant - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've got to say, my expectations were not high enough when I went here. We were drawn in by the siren call of $2 draft beers. Where in San Diego can you get a an icy cold craft beer on tap for $2??? Literally only this little spot on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach. What goes with a craft beer? Obviously tacos! I got two of the crispy fish tacos and my man got a crispy fish and a grilled fish. WOW! Both were delicious but the grilled fish was my preference. It was a huge portion of fish and super tender, perfectly seasoned. The gentleman from the counter came out and checked on us a couple times and even got us another beer. I asked if this was a happy hour special, and he said it was just a seasonal special to help to get the word out about this restaurant. "We get you in with the beer prices but you will come back for our food" he said. Well here I am delivering the word to you. Really freaking good. read more

Johnny Mañanas - Ocean Beach - Crispy Fish Tacos and $$2 Draft Beer FTW - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

These Tacos Are Fire, The Sign said some deal, that's what made me stop in. The customer service was on point. The Gentleman that took our order came to check to see how we were doing , which I appreciate a lot. read more

Johnny Mañanas - Ocean Beach - A Fish Taco accompanied by two Veggie Tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

We had an excellent lunch that was brought over to us (after ordering) while we were sipping tasty suds at Ca. Wild Ales. A big YUM for the excellent burrito & quesadilla. The chicken was VERY tender too P.S. Sign outside said they offered $3 pints @ Johnnys! read more

Johnny Mañanas - Ocean Beach - YUM burrito & quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Such a great time! Fun vibe and a fantastic happy hour. Margaritas and sangria were fantastic! Staff was also super friendly.

Johnny Mañanas has come down from North County and opened a branch where Ortega's Cocina used to be located on Newport Ave. The interior has been painted over with lime green walls. The tables were well spaced apart with bright colored metal chairs. I sat at the bar in front of the kitchen preparation area after placing an order at the service counter. The menu was fairly standard for a Mexican cantina. I did notice a lack of homemade traditional items such as tamales and pozole. I selected one of the five entrees which came with Mexican rice, refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, salsa fresca, and corn tortillas. Carne asada was my protein which used Angus steak as the cut. The plate was well put together including a tortilla chip "basket" used to hold the refried beans. The portion size was good while the food quality was average. I didn't use the salsas that were available at a self service station in the back of the dining area as the meat had sufficient seasoning. Compared to the numerous Mexican joints in the OB neighborhood, Johnny Mañanas fell in the middle tier. Therefore, I rated my dining experience between three and four stars. read more

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This place is amazing best Mexican by far in OB. We got the cali burrito and carnitas tacos 10/10

Pretty good place right on the sidewalk in OB. We chose it mostly because they had an open sidewalk table with an umbrella for shade. We had our Golden with us. I wanted carne asada nachos but my bride mistakenly ordered carne asada fries. They were still very good. The portion is huge so I had to get a box. My bride had the fish tacos and she raved about them. The quality and portions are above average I would. read more

Johnny Mañanas - Ocean Beach - Johnny Mananas - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

We visited for lunch and tried the fried fish taco, quesabirria, and carnitas. All the tacos were excellent, with generous portions for the price. The birria meat in the quesabirria taco was outstanding, though I think I'd prefer it with less cheese next time. Ordering is done at the counter, but the staff were friendly and our food was ready in under 10 minutes. We enjoyed $3 draft beers while we waited. I initially had a michelada, it wasn't my favorite and would not order that again. The restaurant is quite simple but clean, and it was nice to see the food being cooked and prepared. We definitely enjoyed this place and will be back soon. read more

Johnny Mañanas - Ocean Beach - Crispy Fish Taco and michelada - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Massive burritos! And the appetizer rolled tacos are huge and could definitely be a full meal. We got the carne asada, shrimp, and fish burritos. They were all pretty good. The fish and shrimp ones were a bit spicy. They also had too many black beans. Overall, I would say they were a bit watery so they definitely made a mess. We also got the rolled tacos which came with a bunch of lettuce and veggies and sauce on top. They got a little soggy with all of that added on. We took everything to-go and went to the beach. read more

Johnny Mañanas - Ocean Beach - Shrimp burrito - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Tasty food overall with chips and guacamole, shrimp and asada tacos definitely repeatable. Next time we plan to try the nachos. Very reasonably priced and casual atmosphere. The tables were not cleaned consistently but this was a minor area of improvement. Staff worked hard making the food and serving the drinks. read more

Really awesome carnitas here, so flavorful, get the carnitas fries! I went right after the OB Christmas parade so of course it was super busy, the people working there were hustling their tails off and I still received friendly service and my food didn't take very long. read more