Jose's Court Room on Prospect Street was a fun stop during our La Jolla graduation weekend. We grabbed a table inside to catch a World Cup match, and the atmosphere was exactly what we were looking for good energy, cold drinks, and plenty of TVs to keep up with the action. Our server, Holly S., was absolutely hustling. The place was busy, but she never missed a beat and kept the drinks flowing. We sat inside near the large glass-paneled walls that were opened up to let in a perfect ocean breeze. If that's not your style, they also have a great patio for outdoor dining. This is a solid spot to meet family and friends, enjoy a game, and relax with a few cocktails. Fair warning: you're paying La Jolla prices. Our tab was about $61 with tip for four drinks. That said, we definitely got our money's worth from the endless chips and salsa. LOL. I'd happily stop in again. read more

Jose's Courtroom - Grab a table overlooking the ocean, order a drink, and enjoy the laid-back beach vibe. - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

Stopped by after the La Jolla concour de La elegance event. I wanted some drinks afterwards; we walked inside and sat down. There was a host booth outside but no one was there. The bartender helped us before any waitress came to take our order. Our bartender was awesome. Waitresses service was just okay. I like that the restaurant had open windows and breezy. It was perfect for that day since it was warm out. Rating for drinks: 6 out of 10; house margaritas were not strong and tasted bland. Safe bet is the beers or pay extra for the good stuff. Food rating: 6 out of 10 for me; we had enchiladas and tacos. I've had more authentic Mexican food; this was just okay. Nothing to brag about. Although the portions were huge and pricey in my opinion. Overall; it's a great place to chill out and have a few drinks. Enjoy the view. read more

See all

I needed to update my review, this week we ate here again, and not only was the view wonderful, the service excelled and the food was delicious. I have never had a better margarita in my life. Go, eat, drink, enjoy LA Jolla people watching while drinking a frozen margarita. read more

An absolute charming Mexican restaurant that offers not only great Mex, but also steps away from the beach. A must try when visiting La Jolla. You surely can't miss it with ALL its colorful deco. This gem has been around for over 50 years. It's known for their fabulous margaritas, plus the atmosphere and friendly staff make for a really memorable experience. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu and the food and alcohol prices were very reasonable. Even more so, when my son and I were there for happy hour. Highly recommended. read more

Jose's Courtroom - Menu - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

We stopped here for a drink and some queso and it didn't disappoint! Great outdoor patio for people watching! Our server was super chill and great! We did a pitcher of the mango cart and a bowl of queso and it was the perfect afternoon snack! Also got to pet some super cute dogs on the patio! read more

Jose's Courtroom - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

The chips and queso dip were delicious. I ordered the California Burrito and it came out cold along with our other orders. Granted, there was a large party, but I feel like your restaurant should still make an effort to ensure the food would come out hot. The service was OK. We had to ask for utensils, more water, more chips for refills, etc. So, that was a downside to the experience. I really enjoyed the view of the ocean from the restaurant. read more

Jose's Courtroom - California Burrito - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

I came here on Thursday for the first time with my boyfriend to check out their happy hour. Great view and it was a beautiful day outside. $5 margaritas were delicious and the $11 appetizers were also very good! Highly recommend coming for happy hour and I want to come back to check out their regular menu. Our server was nice but kinda disappeared towards the end. We tried the 3 dip trio; spicy and the shrimp ceviche. Both were very good! read more

Jose's Courtroom - Dip Trio - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

Cool spot with good musical Vibes while you're eating. Portions are pretty large, the price is decent. Service was good. Bathroom was clean. Salsa was delicious. Good spot if you're in La Jolla and want some Modern or Urban vibes. Fun establishment and not formal or uptight read more

Haven't tried the food here, but they have an incredible happy hour in a great location! $5 margs and beers with an ocean view - you can beat that kind of deal, especially in La Jolla! read more

Was in town in the middle of the afternoon looking for a venue for a solemn event - and came out a little sad - walked a block tonJose's - bright and hopping - and I remembered it from living in La Jolla 30 years ago - though I don't remember courthouse in the name lol - saw a spot outside looking towards the ocean so I stopped for 1 quick margarita with an extra shot which then became two - so then I needed food - ceviche with avocado and then extra avocado. I was having a good ol' time, and I was not going to be driving so why the hell not? I had a good time but it was hard to chase down my waiter who became a waitress then another waiter - I think there was a shift change - it's all good, I got the busboy to order my third round - just a shot lol - lifted my spirits on a sunny but kinda sad day. Remember, soup of the day is tequila! read more

Jose's Courtroom - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

Had a wonderful experience here, great staff Abby was exceptional and we had a wonderful guy the night before! Such a good spot to relax and be in the "thick of it" but also have space. read more

The place can use some updating. Ambiance comes across as divey. But the beer selection was good, the prices were fair, the service was attentive, and the Cali Burrito was amazing. The selection of hot sauces on the table was a nice plus too. read more

Not sure i have ever heard of it taking 30 minutes to deliver a simple lunch order due to "a kitchen clean-up" until now. Either a biohazard spill...or our order was never entered. There were no other patrons at the time we placed our order. read more

Sorry we ate before I took pictures , we ordered the grande ensalada, not your average dinner salad it was super delicious, had 1/2 order of nachos, enchiladas sauizas & cup of albondigas soup all came out fast and hot. It's on older spot ,TVS every where we were seated right away, they have patio seating out front with a nice view of the ocean. We were served water and chips and salsa immediately. If your in La Jolla this is the spot for simple Mexican food read more

We stumbled upon Jose's after watching the cute little sea lion pups swimming around. My cousin and his family were visiting from out of state. We are both Native Texan and very much enjoyed the food. Queso- bomb. Chicken enchiladas- bomb. Chicken & mushroom fajitas- bomb. House margs- bomb. Service 10/10 Thank you!!!!! read more

Cool spot. We came on a Sunday night craving burritos and we were in town so thought we'd stop by here The service was real fast to serve us and so attentive. I got the California burrito and my bf got the surf and turf wet burrito. We both enjoyed our burritos. I think mines was a little heavy on the tortilla and not enough meat but overall it was good. We couldn't leave San Diego without getting our burrito fix. read more

Jose's Courtroom - California Burrito yummy - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

I got the veggie quesadillas after enjoying an afternoon watching the sea lions at the Children's Pool. They were delicious! Large portions and fresh tasting ingredients. The chips and salsa were good...a little spicy. Guacamole could be fresher. As a vegetarian, I appreciate that they are upfront about their ingredients...beans are made without lard, but the rice is made with chicken stock. My first Mexican meal in California did not disappoint! read more

Had a great experience at Jose's Restaurant! Everything was on point, the service, music, food, and drinks. My boyfriend and I wanted something authentic and decided to try it, and we're so glad we did. I had the surf & turf burrito with a margarita so flavorful, with big shrimp and generous portions. The chips and salsa were fresh, and the wait time was short. Definitely worth the trip from Riverside County, we'll be back! read more

A classic local spot that serves its purpose! Great views and predictable but delicious views. We came here with 2 young kids and 4 adults and they had something for everyone. Great guava margaritas that were just strong enough. The nachos were a yummy appetizer and the burrito is definitely worth ordering!! The only downside side is that there is no parking here which is the same for all of La Jolla :) read more

We stopped by on the way to the beach considering the high reviews of the place but it was definitely overpriced and food wasn't great. Food lacked flavor, salsa tasted sour and stale and the tostada bowl I ordered barely had any beans in it. It was mostly just coleslaw and sour cream. Service was also very slow. read more

See all

We were walking around La Jolla and decided to stop in. We decided to sit outside, which was the move. If you do. you will get a great view of the La Jolla shoreline. We were looking to eat an appetizer and have a few beers before we went out to dinner later. Our waiter was great. We had the platter of nachos with the guacamole and other assorted salsas ($17) as seen in the photos, which was very good. Very fresh ingredients. We tried the Estrella Jalisco lager and found a new favorite. If your looking for a spot to enjoy the scenery while having a few drinks this is the place. Overall the expierence we had was a good one. The bathroom as very clean and tidy. read more

See all

Quick,, delicious,,great experience,, good customer service i didn't take any pics because i was hungry highly recommend

We booked a large party for a wedding rehearsal dinner. The Managers, Zack and Chad, did and amazing job making sure we were taken care of. The bar service was excellent and the food was great. They even had churros for us to finish of the evening. They brought out to go containers for us to load up at the end. A very chill evening everyone enjoyed. Thanks Zack and Chad! read more

This place is amazing! Such an iconic, La Jolla classic! My favorite place in the world for a good margarita and some freshly made chips and guac. Great people watching and sometimes they have great live music. Highly recommended! read more

This place is amazing, the service was slow, but they were extremely busy but yet it's still very attentive. You can't blame them because they're so amazing. The food was the best guacamole I've had in a long time. I had some chicken tacos, and the meat was incredible.! It's a great atmosphere if you sit outside, you see a wonderful view of the ocean. The drinks were made with love, they are not stingy on their alcohol. I highly recommend this place. read more

Jose's Courtroom - Barely have anything left still taking what we have home - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

I ordered the Veggie Burrito from their menu and it was such a sad excuse for a burrito! It didn't have any rice or beans in the burrito- just straight up veggies like sweet potato and green beans wrapped in a tortilla :( I had to do a double take to make sure they didn't drop off the wrong thing when they delivered my order to the table. Turns out in very tiny font on the menu, it said no rice for the veggie burrito... but they need to make this more clear and honestly revamp this item entirely as it was not tasty. Side note, why do restaurants feel the need to have one item that lumps gluten free, vegan, and vegetarians together. Just because I don't eat meat doesn't mean I don't want rice! lol The menu was also overpriced, which I can give some grace for because of the views. But I don't think I'll be retuning here. Better to grab a real veggie burrito from somewhere else where they don't skimp on the normal components of a burrito and take it to the beach! haha read more

I don't know about you but I couldn't enjoy my lunch today when a very loud Rap music is blaring out of speakers outside "F ing this F. Ing that " The icing on the cake cake was when I asked our waitress to "lower the noise" She had the nerve to come back with some smart Alec comment Hmm wouldn't be back for a very long time read more

The margarita was OK at best. The fajitas had way too many peppers and onions and they weren't sautéed very good at all. The meat was dry and there wasn't a lot of it. The shrimp was good and plentiful, but still lacked in flavor. The queso dip was great beans and rice for mediocre the ambience was good. Nice view of the ocean great vibe Service was on point. read more

Jose's Courtroom - Queso Dip Fajitas, beef, and chicken - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

Ever have a trumpet blown into your ear before? Come here for that! I was in a chatty mood and the trumpet player was keen to me. He and his friends from the band surrounded our table and played directly into our ears (nice to cut out the middleman). (FYI BTW The quessildilla is the best thing on the menu by farrrrrrr!) The nice thing about this place is is is is is (whoops) it is is right next to an art gallery. This gallery has a giraffe statue for $10K *not joking* and an elephant statue for $5K *not joking.* Kinda the elephant in the room but whoever does the pricing for these might be anti-elephant? I get its in La Jolla so people have disposable income but apparently not rally for giraffe/elephant statues cuz they're now on sale. I messed up by buying both of these statues full price. The chips here were free but you did have to pay for everything else :/ read more

Jose's Courtroom was absolutely amazing! The food was delicious, generous, and fresh every single time -- and I ate here for 5 days straight. On Friday, 8/9/2025, I brought my special needs child, and the staff went above and beyond -- they kindly moved everyone from the bar to the side so we could be comfortable. That kind of thoughtfulness means the world to my family. Bravo to the amazing people here -- your kindness and hospitality will never be forgotten. From my family to yours, thank you! read more

We came to Jose's Courtroom in La Jolla as a group of 9, split into 4 separate checks, which was great. The atmosphere was lively and enjoyable, but the service and food fell a bit short. Our server only checked in once after the food was served, and repeatedly asked if I was done eating even though my plate still had food on it. I asked for a box but didn't get it until the very end after reminding them. My meal was warm instead of hot, and it came with guacamole even though I specifically asked for none. At the end of the night, I found out the tip was already automatically included. I don't know the amount, but it did make me wonder if that played a role in the lack of attentiveness we experienced. Overall, the atmosphere was great, but lukewarm food, a missed customization, minimal check-ins, and the automatic gratuity left the overall experience a bit underwhelming. read more

We normally go to the spot, but it was packed with wedding after party go-ers and we liked Jose's because they don't necessarily encourage the wedding drunkenness unless they put down a hefty fee. I like it because it felt like it was locals versus a bunch of people from out of town being obnoxious. We had a couple beers and if we had gotten there before 11pm, we would've been able to get something to eat. I'd say the ambience was pretty chill with the windows open. You can get the ocean air coming through and more or less the service staff was cool. The music was tight. read more

Jose's Courtroom - Cold beer and no wedding after party crashes:) - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

The food... no salt, no spice. We were highly disappointed with it. My wife's taquitos tasted reheated. Not fresh. I had the fish tacos which were far from ordinary. Won't go back... won't recommend. read more

Jose's Courtroom - The view was the best part of the meal. - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

This place is conveniently located in walking distance from the beach. We came here for happy hour and they had $5 margaritas all day. We decided to sit outside, overlooking the beach and it was a beautiful view. My friend ordered a margarita and I had a paloma. Drinks were pretty good! Great spot for a quick drink while walking around the area. Our server didn't ask if we wanted to order food so we just had drinks with chips and salsa. read more

Jose's Courtroom - Paloma - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

Don't let the crowd deceive you. Foods sub par for Southern California, excellent service but the foods just an ehhh. Alright.

Great view for outdoor seating! The food was great, although I'm used to getting three enchiladas instead of two lol still I enjoyed the beans and rice very much! And the staff is friendly and rather attentive to their customers. There was live music that day and it felt great with the sun shining. Cool place to check out in La Jolla! read more

Jose's Courtroom - Enchiladas de Carnitas - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

I'm giving the restaurant a four because when we ate there one night the chips were stale and the nachos were bland. We ordered takeout couple days later and the tacos were fabulous. The ambience is great. The staff is great, but the food is hit or miss. read more

Service was very rude and literally yelled at us on the way out for no reason. I don't have to say much else but I won't go there again, it was specially the bartender after serving us incorrectly and then blaming it on us when I can assure you we ordered correctly. Would not recommend. read more

Carne Asada was excellent. Highly recommended. Great outside views. The waiters were very accommodating. Friendly read more

Jose's Courtroom - View outside - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

The breakfast burritos were AMAZING ! The carnitas were tender and the guacamole was bomb. The portions were also very decent. I'll certainly be back again next time I'm in town! read more