Great food love this place totally recommend if California burrito and soup are the best

You know it's good when - you don't expect it and that wonderful flavor just lingers. Lunch just won't go away. I'm still thinking about going back for something so ordinary - crispy tacos. Carnitas. Seriously. Until today, Jorge's Santa Fe location was my regular spot since it's closer to work, but that's a bogus reason since reasonable distance has never stopped me from driving to get some decent grub. Today, why not check out Jorge's other location in the heart of Encinitas's El Camino Real corridor? Me and everyone else. Jorge's was busy. We were lucky to beat that post lunchtime wave. Immediately, I was excited when I saw crispy tacos on the menu - which is not something that you generally see on most menus that I've seen. I even forgot about the Texcoco soup that Jorge's is known for. Served quickly, the Carnitas Crispy Taco was excellent. The crunch and the carnitas being less stringy than one might find was spot on with the lettuce, salsa fresca, guacamole and shredded cheese. That crispy shell was good. The two (2) crispy taco combo with rice and beans, or cabbage salad is $5.95. Jorge's also has daily specials, but given Lent, the Friday special caught my eye - a $4.95 shrimp burrito, prepared fajita style: bell peppers, tomatos and onions. Fantastic. While I do enjoy my McD fish filets, this is a nice alternative choice. Catholics rejoice! LOLz My other Mexican spot has a shrimp burrito for $6.95 but that's just rice and shrimp. WTF? Another Sunday, I may consider the Sunday special: a 1/2 "special" roasted chicken, rice, beans and medium drink for $7.50. Jorge can now fully claim me to be one of its loyal fan base and Jorge can now fully enmesh itself as part of my lunchtime rotation. What are their hours? Maybe I'll go now. LOLz read more

Jorge's Mexicatessen - Delis Near Me - Encinitas, California

We went in not expecting the chicken soup to live up to the hype but IT DID! If you're looking for a bowl of chicken soup as big as your face, order the large. If you like spicy, order it spicy. The line gods graced us with no line and quick service! We were so excited to eat our food that we ate it there. Small plastic taco shop tables next to an open door -- so chilly in the winter. You bus and clean your own tables. It was what we needed....quick and yummy. If you are looking for an elegant establishment with attentive wait staff this is probably not the place for you ;) read more

One of my colleagues in my office has been swearing by the Jorge's Mexicatessen chicken soup forever. I finally went to try it with a buddy, and you know what? It totally lived up to the hype. I added some salsa, which made it even better. A little heat can turn good to great. I had it "Mexico City Style", i.e. with rice, tomatoes, avo, onion, cilantro, chicken and broth. Next time I want to try it "Texcoco Style", with chili sauce added. The salsa was pretty potent so I'm nervous the chili sauce may be on-fire-hot, but I can't wait because the soup I had was so exceptional. With the soup I had two tacos - adobada (pork seasoned with red chiles) and chicken mole. The adobada was great, topped with onions and cilantro. The chicken was dry and the mole was a bit on the sweet side for my taste but both were still highly enjoyable. The soup made my day, and I'll definitely go back. There are a lot of good taco shops around North County, but the chicken soup really makes Jorge's Mexicatessen stand out from the crowd. read more

Been coming here since I was a kid. Best chicken soup in town and everything else is great.

The best soup anywhere! ! Huge chucks of white meat with tomatoes, rice and avocado. I feel under the weather this is my feel better quick remedy. ... eating it since 1996 ;) read more

Jorge's Mexicatessen - Chicken soup with fish taco on the side - Delis Near Me - Encinitas, California

Ok it's going to sound like someone paid be to write this but I promise you I'm just a customer like I am of the many Mexican food places in the area. I consider myself a Mexican food connoisseur and can be very critical sometime. With that said I can't praise this place enough. From the food to the service it's 5 stars all around. The Food: There is a lot to say about the food but one thing that stands out when comparing to other Mexican food spots is the quality of the food - more specifically everything tastes very very fresh. I'd go as far as saying it's the freshest Mexican food in San Diego. There are two things I get here every time: 1. The Cali Burrito - again, it tastes so fresh and with their homemade sauce it's absolutely perfect. 2. The Tortilla Soup - you should know this is not something I typically order at Mexican restaurants but it is SO GOOD. Might be the best thing on the menu. In conclusion the food is fantastic. I bring all of out of town friends here and they all absolutely love it. This is a really strong statement from me but I'll go on the record saying this is my favorite mexican food in San Diego. read more

Great food at a great price. I stopped in for a quick lunch after getting a haircut next door. Based on Yelp reviews, I ordered a large chicken soup and since I like a little spice in life, I got it Texcoco style. It was the best soup I've had in a long time. The broth was rich and delicious. The addition of the chili sauce had me wishing it was a few degrees cooler outside. It was the perfect amount of kick to make me sweat a little. The soup had lots of tender white meat chicken, avocado and rice. The large bowl made for a satisfying meal. The restaurant itself is pretty basic. It's small and pretty typical of a taco shack. It's in a nice shopping center with plenty of parking. The few outside tables were inviting. The service was good and the man behind the counter was friendly and cheerful. It being my first time, he was helpful and guided me to getting the spicy version of the soup which was an excellent choice. I'll be back for the soup which was definitely good for the soul. read more

We got delivery. The drinks had to be thrown away. No syrup. That happens. We ordered tacos. The taco shells were soggy. So gross. It was dripping when we unwrapped the tacos. We also ordered California Burritos. The tortillas feel apart. We just literally threw our food out. We are going to go get food some place else and pick it up. So bad. And when I called Jorge's. The guy was rude. He made the situation a 1000 times worse. read more

Awesome awesome awesome! I've been coming here for years and I always leave satisfied. Definitely my go-to mexican place. Breakfast burritos with bacon are amazing. Chicken floutas are my favorite, it is covered in so many good toppings, when the floutas are all gone, you have a great salad leftover. Also their soup is a given must. They use potatoes in their California burritos instead of fries, I always +Guac -sour cream for the perfect burrito. Make sure to stock up on their salsa, I always ask for extras! Their staff is always friendly and patient. They recognize their regulars and make us feel welcome! I definitely recommend Jorge's to everyone! read more

I think my family eats here weekly. Our favorites are the chicken soup (obviously), chicken flautas, the chimichanga, and crispy beef taco. Always spot on for us. read more

Chicken soup is a staple in many cultures. Uncommon in most Mexican taco shops Jorge's Mexicatessen is a glorified taco shop. The menu is no greater larger than most erto's. 90 reviews and 54 mention the chicken soup. It is good, usually the small will do if your getting taco's or splitting a burrito, but the large will satisfy most anyone's appetite. Chunks of soft shredded chicken in a fairly clear broth. Rice and seasonings topped with avo. What kinda turned me off was the salsa fresco, tomatoes, onions, cilantro. I could have done with half the tomatoes and onions or just use the onions to make the broth, not thrown in at the end. The California burrito had potato's instead of fries, but was not a tightly wrapped burrito, but a floppy pocketed mess. Tasty, but they did offer me flour or corn. Can you imagine a burrito that sloppy in flour would have been twice as bad in corn. As interesting as the name is Mexicatessen implies delicatessen, which it is not. The soup is 4.5 stars and a must try, but the burrito was 3 stars. The meat was mediocre, no fries, sloppy. They should call themselves Jorge's soup and taco shop, not Mexicatessen. Since the rating is overall I can't bring myself to go above a 4 stars without the majority of the rest of the menu being as superb as the soup. This is highly doubtful as of the hundreds of Mexican taco shops, erto's, restaurants maybe just a handful are 5 star worthy, from top to bottom. read more

It's all about the soup. I've been coming to Jorges Encinitas for a Godzillion years. I've had many burritos and a few tacos too, but the soup is where it's at. It's the most amazing soup in town. Hate to say it, but I'd even pick Jorges over my moms homemade soup. Especially for those days when you start feeling like you're catching a cold...the soup is a must because I sware it cures sickies! There's always like a half to whole avocado in a large order and so much chicken it's unreal. Big, delicious chunks and it's very, very filling. If it wasn't so hot, I'd drink it with a straw! Note: let it cool...it's always served HOT, not warm. It comes with a side of tortillas and you can order it spicy or regular. The only bad thing is it seems every time I order flour tortillas I get corn and every time I order corn I get flour. Sometimes I'll order one order of each and I get 2 of the same thing...but really, half the time I forget about the tortillas anyway so it really doesn't matter. Sometimes in the winter there's a huge line for soup, so call ahead. Sometimes they answer, sometimes they're too busy. Worth the wait, for sure! read more

Jorge's Mexicatessen - THE soup. Best thing ever. - Delis Near Me - Encinitas, California

Great food and fast service. Have been coming here for years. Very convenient, love Jorge's.

Wow best chicken soup! Can't wait to go back to try more food from their menu. Make sure add this restaurant for best food.

Hole in the wall, two outside tables Outstanding chicken soup! My radiation tech suggested this as a "cure" for my oncoming cold...not sure it worked, but O my, so delicious. Loaded with tender chicken rice and garnished with avocado. Going back. read more

I just went to get a carnitas plate the meat was super disgusting, never coming back to this place

First time here, had a carne asada burrito and it was A+!!! Meat was perfectly seasoned, soft flour tortilla and a salsa that was soooo good!! Service is super friendly and quick too! read more

Just order out for my whole family. I order over the phone and right when I order i left my house to go pick up my order. When I got there I paid for my food and they had me wait another 15 min. When I got the food home everything was ice cold. When I called them to let them know she told me it was bc of the salsa on the meat, I order a taco with only meat how can that be ice cold and the soft taco was old and dry. She wouldn't give me time to explain anything. Very very very disappointed!! read more

Own is a jerk, he only gives you 2 salas for 2 burritos. owner gets all mad and crazy if you ask for more salsa. Also do not call in your order it well be ready in one hour not 15 minutes. The soup is good but not worth owners attitude or cheapness on salsa, makes me wounder what else is the owner being cheap on? read more

So good fresh and the enchiladas are to die for I also love the crunchy tacos This place is so good and excellent prices you won't be disappointed read more

Jorge's makes the best Chicken Soup around. Chunks of fresh chicken, avocado, tomatoes, onions and rice. I usually order a small soup and a couple tacos and I'm set. The large soup is huge. You can order the soup spicy or non-spicy. Their soft tacos are really good too. The place is small, so seating can be tough during busy lunch hour. It's a super popular place on cold or rainy days. read more

Jorge's Mexicatessen - Small Chicken Soup with Carne Asada and Carnitas Tacos. So good! - Delis Near Me - Encinitas, California

Best breakfast burrito ever! Owner and workers so nice too. Anyone whose been here returns- locals and visitors.

As many others do, we love the chicken soup. My husband is a big fan of the rolled tacos as well, though personally they are a little bland for my taste. Their salsa is pretty spicy and has great flavor. Their tacos are also delicious and I like that they come with guacamole on them. I wasn't a big fan of the enchiladas, but there are a lot of great options on the menu. Very solid Mexican good and never a long wait. read more

Best chicken soup in town! Always fresh, tastes homemade, and it's so good for you. Very kind staff, family owned restaurant makes me come back here often. I highly recommend this place! read more

They can never seem to get an order correct. Tasty food that I have enjoyed for many years, but after the last screw up on my order, and the were not even busy, they have lost me as a customer... And to the staff there.... so you know who I am, just ask about the guy that left his burrito on the table and left... read more

Amazing Mexican shop! I ordered the breakfast burrito with a carne asada substitution. Let's just say it was the best breakfast burrito I've ever had. I also ordered the chicken soup spicy style, it was filled with awesome veggies, spices, chicken and flavor. I highly recommend the soup. Thank you Jorge's. read more

Their spicy chicken soup is the best! You can order it with less spice, if spice isn't your thing. The soup is just the best comfort food and I love the fresh avocado included. If you are feeling under the weather, or just want some warm comfort food, get their chicken soup! Make sure to order a large; you won't regret it! Soup comes with your choice of flour or corn tortillas. They will also ask if you want salsa (on the side) as you pick up your order. Take some because it's delicious too. read more

Terrible service, the worst Mexican restaurant I have ever made the mistake of walking into. I've never received such a small serving for around $8.00. Very dissatisfied and disappointed. I asked if this was how small the rest of their burritos are, not just the carne asada and the owner with greyish/white hair basically told me "it's good enough" literally the worst place I've ever eaten terrible experience and would never recommend to anyone unless I don't like them. read more

Jorge's Mexicatessen - Delis Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Cheap but delicious, where one can smell, see, and taste the fresh chicken flavors mixed with spices. Highly recommend the soup.

Their chicken soup measures up to ALL the great reviews! I can't speak for anything else on their menu cause I can never detract from getting their chicken soup, even if I have every intention to. Their chicken soup deserves 5 stars but I knocked off a star due to their long waits. It takes 20 minutes almost every time but I have definitely waited up to 30 minutes a few times. If you're in a rush, call ahead! read more

I adore Jorge's. A friend from college recommended this place on a drive down to San Diego from LA, and I make excuses now to go to SD just to eat this food. Probably the best Mexican food I have ever had. Their soup is the best soup I've ever had. So flavorful and totally hits the spot for me. I swear it's the magic cure when I'm sick. They also make delicious tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. Everything about this place is authentic. It tastes like fresh, homemade Mexican food, and I have yet to find a place in LA that is even close to replicating it. Come here. Drive out of the way for this place. It will make you SO happy. read more

This is the sadest Huevos Rancheros I've ever had. Gave it 2 stars instead of one because the ranchero sauce did have good flavor. One egg was runny as it should be, the other egg was over hard. The plate consisted of 2 eggs covered in ranchero sauce With rice and beans. That is about as cheap as it gets. read more

Jorge's Mexicatessen - Let the picture be your guide. Ranchero sauce had a tiny bit of good taste, eggs over cooked in to much oil Soaking the tortilla. - Delis Near Me - Encinitas, California

Luis, you did not steer me wrong. This bacon breakfast burrito is fantastic. I actually like it more than the other places around here. I won't mention their names bc this review is for Jorge's ONLY. Can't wait to try the california burrito at lunch today. read more

Best bean and cheese burrito. Wife loves the chicken soup. Sometimes long wait but definitely worth it! Great prices as well. Highly recommend. read more

Love the chicken rice avocado soup. The only thing I want when I'm sick. Also, the shredded beef tacos are the best! read more

I love this place! The staff is super friendly and the food is great. My favorite: chicken soup (Mexico City style). They have indoor and outdoor seating. Tip: they are open on Sundays and they close at 8pm. ;) read more

I have been going to Jorge's since I was a little girl! Can't help but always purchase a California burrito when I go, because it is the only place I can call my favorite California burrito recipe ever. Pros: -California burrito: Great carne asada, cheese, and sour cream wrapped up perfectly. If you love this type of burrito, and don't mind that there is no pico de gallo, this burrito is for you -It is my comfort meal when I've had a long day, and am really really hungry. Keeps me full for a while. -Their service has become SO MUCH FASTER in the past couple years (they used to be pretty slow especially during rush hours like lunch) Cons: -Only critique I could give and why I gave four stars, is because my fav burrito has gotten smaller over the years. -1 out of 4 times they may not answer the phone for pick up read more

Nice place and great food. The team here is fast and friendly. People come here for the food but I'm pretty sure they are all really here for the chicken soup. Let's face it, it's probably their number one thing that they have in the menu. Just get the large soup and you'll be happy you did. read more

The best Chicken Soup ever. To die for and if you are a local then you know if you are sick or remotely feeling under the weather, then you better go pick up a large container of this soup. $9. They start with a flavorful homemade broth, add chicken, rice, carrot, avocado, cilantro. It comes spicy or not. They also give you a choice of corn or flour tortillas. They have other great soups and traditional mexican dishes, tacos, burritos, plates. They are generous with their portions too. The staff is so kind and there is plenty of parking. Small place but the line goes fast. A must if you are in the area. You will be addicted to the soup after one taste. read more