We went to Kalaveras for Happy Hour and we really enjoyed it! This was the Chula Vista location on 3rd Avenue, used to be the old Fudruckers. Parking shouldn't be an issue, they have spots in the front but then there's the big garage right behind it, and it's free. There's also street parking but you might have to pay. The place itself is very spacious and clean. They also have an outdoor patio for dogs. I do know later in the evening it gets louder and more like a club vibe, but it's not bad. Service was perfectly fine. I had no issues at all. Staff greeted us with a smile when we walked in. They were always checking up on us when we needed things. No issues at all. I thought everyone was doing their jobs. Happy hour is so worth it here. $1.99 tacos! I had the carne asada, birria and Chicharonnes tacos! While the meat portions look small, y'all need to realize this is happy hour street tacos! Adding some salsa from the self serve bar, it was so worth the price. We had 11 tacos, cheese nachos, 2 beers and 1 margarita and it was about $50! So worth it! I highly recommend Kalaveras for Mexican food. Great vibes. Great happy hour prices. I think this place is good for large groups also. It may not be kid friendly later into the night but it's very worth it! read more

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Was visiting San Diego for the weekend and my friend recommended Kalaveras for Sunday Brunch. They opened at 10, and we were one of the first to get there. The brunch buffet is definitely worth the price. The food was excellent, the service was attentive and fast and the music and indoor area was cool. I can't wait to be back in San Diego to have brunch at Kalaveras again. Authentic Mexican food, friendly service and great vibe. read more

Kalaveras - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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Kalaveras Cantina Urbana continues being the best brunch deal for $27.99 in Chula Vista, CA. This is a perfect brunch to try for people who want to experience authentic Mexican cuisine or for people who can't decide what to eat. The brunch has a bit of everything such as Mexican chilaquiles, tacos and an omelette station. The brunch also includes; Aguas frescas, pancakes, French toast, bacon, pork sausages, enchiladas, tamales, Mexican pork ribs in green salsa, menudo, pozole, ceviche, aguachile, desserts and a lot more! Alcoholic beverages are not included. There's free street parking behind the building. It's a fun restaurant to celebrate a special occasion check out their weekly specials. We had great service and restaurant had good Mexican music. Give it a try! Happy Yelping :) read more

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Went in for Paloma's and walked into a live music party the drink I got was a Jarrito's Loko a Mexican cocktail with tequila and Jarrito's soda with tajin. Our server was very fast but that was because my gf speaks Spanish lol. They have live music every Friday yall should come and feel the vibes read more

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got this place after work one day when we were really craving tacos. Got the quesabirria tacos and they were delicious. The restaurant was super cute inside and had the cutest neon signs near the restrooms. I loved the drinks and food and would definitely eat here again when im back in San Diego! read more

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Second time coming here. I don't recommend the all you can eat tacos kinda bland. Drinks are good some of the drinks are about $15 so we figured for $5 more why not get a flight which we're very tasty I'm more of a visual person so I did some research on the food and noticed some items were a little bit small portions for my liking for instance the ceviche was small for its price $20 You really can't ever go wrong with a California burrito and it did not disappoint for $23 I would say it was worth it had shrimp, meat and fries. If I was to come again this would be exactly what I would order. read more

Kalaveras - Margarita flight - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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I previously had an issue with the Whittier location but was unable to revisit prior to moving. Fortunately, I visited this location and had an amazing time. I came for brunch and enjoyed everything I had. I had small portions of tacos, an omelette, chilaquiles, and enchiladas, and none were lacking. The gentleman preparing the tacos, omelettes, and chilaquiles stand out. They are friendly, attentive, and conversational especially if you try to practice your Spanish like I did. There were a few large parties that were having fun, and I loved seeing them greet each other and have a great time. Give this place a shot if you haven't been here. You'll be taken care of. I'll definitely come back! Gracias! read more

Kalaveras - Tacos de brunch. - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

$40 drink pitcher.... Yes, please! The music really set the mood and the service was great! Food was okay, bit overall vibes made the experience fantastic. read more

Kalaveras - Pitcher - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

I love Kalaveras so much that I not only dine in here but also at their LA locations. Everything is delicious and authentic Mexican cuisine. I can't even pick a favorite dish because it's all so good. You can tell the authenticity by their impeccable rice and beans. I also appreciate they use high quality grade meat. So tender and juicy!!! I tried their brunch at this Chula Vista location and I was impressed with the presentation of the mimosas!!! One was literally on fire and was fire haha I definitely recommend Kalaveras for the good vibes and good food!!! read more

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My nephew mentioned to my wife, his aunt, that he wanted to hang out with us by grabbing brunch with us during Resurrection Day aka Easter. I knew it would be tough to find a brunch place especially during Easter. Fortunately, my brother-in-law found a brunch spot called Kalaveras and after he told me that it was All You Can Eat (AYCE) for less than $30, we were looking forward to spending quality family time with them. This was my first time visiting Kalaveras and I thought the food selection, the quality of the food, the addicting agua frescas, and the quality customer service by the employees I interacted with made this brunch restaurant a value for your money must visit. Kalaveras is located in Old Chula Vista specifically on 3rd Avenue where the old school shops are located. I grew in the South Bay, so I'm very familiar with places that many people who grew up here know about. La Bella Pizzeria is across the street from the restaurant. 7-11 is also across the street and Domino's Pizza is on the same side as Kalaveras. There's a free parking structure next to this spot and there's plenty of parking. We visited Kalaveras on Easter Sunday and in the park that is across from the restaurant, there was a Farmer's Market. You won't miss the restaurant with the colorful mural of skulls adorning the outside. As you enter, you'll immediately notice how spacious it is with black tables/chairs, booth seating, bar seating, and outdoor umbrella seating. Inside, it's visually appealing with foliage roof tiles, murals of Mexican culture such as skulls and Frida Kahlo, neon lighting, geometric frames, and there are televisions all around. The customer service from our server, the employees making the food, and the staff I interacted with was exemplary. Kalaveras is a chain restaurant where there are locations throughout SoCal with two locations in San Diego, specifically Chula Vista and Escondido. It specializes in Mexican cuisine and the main reason Kalaveras was selected for our family Easter brunch excursion was its under $30 AYCE price tag. We were blessed that my nephew treated our family to our brunch meal and I thought what we ate was value for my nephew's money. The highlights for me were the omelette station, the grilled taco station, the breakfast sausages, the pozole, ceviche, the Piña Colada agua fresca, and their dessert station. The cooks behind the omelette and taco stations stood out by making a delicious omelette packed with fresh ingredients and my carne asada and pork tacos were so tasty. The breakfast sausages were hearty and ate well with their fried rice. The pozole was hot and packed with meat. I loved eating the fresh tasting ceviche also packed with shrimp on top of a tostada. I was addicted and couldn't stop drinking the self serve piña colada agua fresca. I really enjoyed the variety of desserts they served, but my faves were the cinnamon sugar chips, the churros, the sweet rice, and the flan with chocolate. I wished I had more of an appetite to try more, but I got stuffed from everything I ate. For its price tag, food options, and customer service, I'd give Kalaveras a solid 4.5 stars. This Mexican restaurant was a great spot to enjoy quality time with my family. read more

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We have walked by here several times and had often wondered. There was always fun music playing and it sounded like a big party. Well, one Sunday evening, 3rd Street was blocked off and since we parked on a side street, we thought we'd check them out. There was a worker at the front door, but I don't think she understood much English. Then the hostess came and walked me through the dining room to a table on the patio. Nice space and much quieter but you can still hear the music. They also have bands playing some evenings as well. David came out and introduced himself and took our drink order. Might as well have the Kalavera margaritas which were very good! I ordered a queso fundido to start. This actually came out with the meals, but that was okay. I had the Barbacoa plate. Nice tender beef, so good...and Scooter had the also tender and flavorful Carne Asada plate. Both came with traditional rice and refried beans. Beautiful presentations too! One of the nice things about Kalaveras is the doggy menu. We ordered Cako the Polito & Rice, which she really liked cause she ignored us...LOL! The food and drink runners were friendly, and David came and checked in on us. They all said hello to Cako which was really nice of them too! We had a great time! Great place to come to! Cako Approves! read more

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How did I start my Labor Day weekend, you ask? Well, I'll tell you...by ducking out of work early, picking up my son from school, and catching the the tail end of a Mexican restaurant's lunch special! Thrilling! I know! But you haven't seen the inside! I suddenly had Rosarito Spring Break flash backs...you had to be there. Love the decor! As usual, I have to try the chilaquiles with red salsa & added grilled chicken on the side (I skipped breakfast. Don't judge me!). And they did not disappoint. Salsa picante indeed! My son had the Cantina sandwich. Sorry, no pics of that, as he wolfed down 1/2 of it before I could snap one for the Gram. Teens are savage! Anyway, he ordered an horchata & they brought him what looked how I imagine a fluffy cloud off the Baja coast at sunset would taste (sans alcohol). I had a Mexican Coke, because I was ill aware they decorated their drinks so colorfully! I am so basic. The service was excellent. From our hostess who sat us down, asking if everything was ok, to our server who asked if we wanted anything else. Very attentive. I believe I will frequent this place again & maybe dare an exotic looking drink! Friday is just around the corner! read more

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We were in the area and decided to go here for the Sunday Brunch Buffet. It's $40 and comes with bottomless mimosas. The food was actually pretty good for being a buffet. As part of the Sunday brunch buffet they have a taco bar, omelette bar, and chilaquiles bar. The chilaquiles were very yummy! At the taco bar you can also get Quesabirria tacos and they were so delicious. They also have ceviche as part of the buffet too. They also have aguas frescas as part of the buffet too. I think $40 is a bit pricey but with bottomless mimosas and the tacos, chilaquiles, and omelettes it is definitely worth it. The service was also very good. The staff kept our glasses full with mimosas the whole time too which was great. read more

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Great menu. Marg options made it hard to choose and went with the spicy chamoy. Yummm It was Tues taco night for $1.99 each and the. A choose your own topping bar. Tempted. But I love Quesabirria tacos and had to have those. Wonderful. The place is vibrant and service is fast and friendly The only downside. It's LOUD. Like dinner in a club loud. I'd still go back! read more

Updated review 12/2025 - Not much has changed from my early review in 2024 - customer service is severely lacking in this establishment! Yet, we keep giving them chance after chance. From not being greeted when standing in the door way, to being ignored by every server or employee working after being sat down. Your business is literally customer service (and food) A quick "hello, be right with you" or "will get someone" goes a LONG way. Especially when the restaurant isnt even full and every employee does there absolute best to not even acknowledge you, let alone everyone else waiting in line to be sat. Or not even look your way as they pass by. This last time, after being sat, my husband went to the bar to order our drinks and the bartender brought our drinks to our table. We've come at different times, thinking its a timing issue. No, its a not having good customer service skills issue, not training staff issue. We couldn't sit at the bar as we had our son with us this past time but even at the bar, there is room for ignoring newly sat customers. The vibe just isnt welcoming here at all. Does everyone here hate their job? They act as if they are super busy to acknowledge anything happening around them. If you look around the customers are waiting menus in hand and looking around. As we were not the only ones who had come to the bar to order drinks for our table. There is also some 168 reviews that have not been allowed, they also align with what we have experienced. Some weight should be given to those reviews. BUT the food isnt half bad and the drinks are made extremely well. It definitely hasn't been as packed (not even a little packed) as it use to be and that speaks volumes. We would like to enjoy coming here and be met with the same welcoming service for having our patronage being located in downtown Chula Vista and nearby. read more

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Was famished and craving ceviche after going into TJ to get some foods to bring home. Service was great in the beginning and then they got really busy so my 20 minutes meal turned into 45 minutes waiting for the check. The ceviche and street corn both delicious and satiated by craving and left satisfied. For sure will be back but not late at night when they are trying to clean up and get out. read more

Kalaveras - Ceviche and street corn - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Ordered QuesaBirra Tacos. They're good. Had better though. Great atmosphere! Alcholic drinks are tasty! Service was well. No wait time. read more

Kalaveras - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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Tried this place, was hopeful. Nope, the food was not good at all. Husband got the chile verde enchilada and let's talk about non-authentic. I ordered aguachiles and all I could taste was the lime juice. It was missing cucumbers. They need to chop up the pieces as it was hard to cut through the shrimp. The kicker was the 3% surcharge they added for using a credit card. Nowhere on the menu did it say a surcharge would be added. My recommendation is to SKIP IT! read more

Went for the first time for Cinco de Mayo and had a great time! I've been looking EVERYWHERE for soft serve margaritas and I came across this place on TikTok; they were soooo good and only $16! They also had happy hour from 3-7pm, so we also got some loaded asada fries. Everything on the fries tasted fresh and we ended up getting a second order of them!! Even with it being super busy, our waitress was very attentive and took the time to consistently check on us. Will definitely be going back! read more

Kalaveras - Loaded asada fries - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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Had a few lunch/dinners here. Good food, drinks are dangerously delicious and there's always a good vibe. Friendly atmosphere.

Been here twice for their Sunday brunch. Price is around $50/adult and it comes with bottomless mimosas, coffee, horchata, etc. You can find a massive offering id really good Mexican food here. Some items I've tried: Carne asada tacos El pastor tacos Pollo asado tacos Chilaquiles with red and green sauce with over easy eggs Pancakes Bacon Pozole Menudo Tamales Fresh fruit Rice and beans This place is definitely a great spot to hang out and eat great food with friends. The have plenty of TVs to watch football or baseball. Most of the food items are really good. The menudo last time was a bit too salty for my taste. Also, the churros tasted stale, like they were sitting there for a minute. But overall experience was good. I recommend the Chilaquiles with over easy eggs and add some carne asada. The pozole was really good as well. Parking is plentiful and you can walk around the farmer's market on Sunday to burn off all the calories afterwards! read more

Came for a friend's birthday on taco Tuesday. They have happy hour specials 3pm-7pm(drinks and food). I ordered a pineapple slushy margarita ans the 3 queso birria tacos. Drink was strong and sweet. It hit the spot. The tacos were tasty along with the console. The reg meat tacos are on the smaller side. But they looked good. They had tvs playing the baseball game and music playing. The restaurant is huge! read more

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The drinks were way better than the food. There were quite busy during Taco Tuesday and everyone seemed to be sipping on a tall glass too. They have $1.99 tacos on Tuesday along with their extensive list of happy hour items. Service was on the slower side but food comes out quickly when the order is placed. I was a bit concerned about the cleanliness as there was an enormous bug on my menu and I was sitting next to the exposed sauce bar. We also weren't offered the usual chips like other tables. *Carne Asada Tacos: rather skimpy on the meat. All tacos came plain in order for us customize at the sauce bar. There was a good selection of sauces and vegetables to apply. However, certain items such as their pico de gallo were low and I didn't see anyone refill the station during my 2 hour meal. The tortillas were on the oilier side and the meat was on the drier side. *Carne Asada Fries: the fries weren't the crispiest but there was a solid saltiness. This plate had more tender meat than those in the tacos. The guacamole was citrusy and light. The cheese was mild and served more as a glue for the fries than flavor. The pico was refreshing although there wasn't much. *Guavarita: had a choice of slushy or regular form. The server recommended the slushy as it was stronger and boy was it strong. Loved how sweet, sour, and floral the mix was. The single serving was also huge. *Kalavera: their classic margarita mix. It was on the sweeter side and I would have enjoyed a saltier or tangier finish. Needed a better ratio of lime. The pitcher was enough to pour 6-7 people a glass. The vibes were good and fun. It definitely wasn't the best Mexican food ever but it was decent along side a hefty margarita. Good place to drink and supplement with food. read more

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Friendly staff. Their brunch has music and plethora of options and is family friendly as well.

I am TELLING you! Ya'll need to check out Kalaveras and make it a brunch day! For $39.99 AND bottomless mimosas- you can NOT beat this! With many locations in SoCal- this Chula Vista location can't be beat! And if ya know where the old Fuddruckers used to be, you'll find Kalaveras! This is my second visit for Sunday Brunch here- and it never disappointed! With the loss of immediate buffet options in San Diego (ahem, Soup Plantation)- Kalaveras has YOU covered! Look at all of their business pictures and the Sunday Brunch videos I've included. Our first visit was Father's Day Brunch 2024 and we made sure reservations were made because it was a packed house! I didn't include video of the chilaquiles station. Every staff member is attentive. Either happy to take group pics, make sure food is stocked, beverages are flowing... you name it- it's a beautiful colorful vibe inside! I think I made 3 plates of a variety of breakfast. I can never stray away from creamy refried beans, tasty fresh cheese enchiladas, menudo (piping hot), and some sugary sweet Buñuelos. read more

Kalaveras - Bottomless mimosas for Sunday Brunch - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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We've dined here before for happy hour and our experience wasn't as good as today's brunch experience. It's very loud during their happy hour, but their Sunday brunch is a completely different vibe and they have nice music playing at a very comfortable listening volume. We celebrated our son's 23rd birthday here with family, and their Sunday brunch is one of the best deals going! The AYCE (all-you-can-eat) brunch includes all the street tacos, omelets, chilaquiles, ceviche, soup, salad, pancakes, typical breakfast items (even fruit loops cereal), churros, etc. you can eat in 90 mins. It cost $25.99, or add AYCD mimosas for $39.99! Most of the food was very good, nothing I ate is worthy of complaining about. The quesabirra was AMAZING! Drinks included your typical Mexican beverages (horchata, jamaica, watermelon juice, pineapple juice), coffee, water, sodas except Coke. One complaint was they ran out of their horchata BEFORE noon, and no more would be served the rest of the brunch. It took over 30 mins to order a beef patty & rice for our dog, but overall, the food, our server Luis, atmosphere, all the servers working the buffet, etc. were a lot better than we expected. NOTE: we're also very happy Kalaveras is a very dog friendly establishment allowing well behaved leashed dogs inside their dining room area. They also have a beef, chicken, or vegetarian doggie plate for your 4-legged family member. read more

We went for the breakfast buffet and I was pleasant surprised. Prices were good and the ambiance and music were a 10. We will be going back

Very good food and portions are great u recommend the à la diabla camarón and interior was super pretty read more

Kalaveras - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

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*Great ambiance great music *customer service was great *great for Sunday brunch * Endless mimosas * great happy hour time * great for large parties + birthday celebrations This place is great for celebrations. Love the atmosphere. Food is also good. I really enjoy coming here for happy hour this is my fourth time so far kinda hooked on the margaritas flight. The brunch is a must try you get a little bit of everything, they have chilaquiles made in the spot made to your liking as well as tacos. Happy hour must try is the 3 quesa tacos and loaded fries and buffalo spicy wings. Great portions for happy hour. Big screen to watch football or soccer, When in season. Stop by and try. read more

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The little boy working the chilaquiles station on Mother's Day at 10 am had horrible attitude. I spoke to him in Spanish and he seemed offended and responded with " I speak English too you know?" With attitude . What does that have to do with the fact that I'm speaking Spanish to you just like most of the other people in line will be doing? Horrible attitude from the little boy working the Chilaquiles with the New York Yankees hat. read more

My husband and I came here for dinner after I'd previously visited for a girls' happy hour. I remembered really enjoying the tacos and drinks, so I was excited to come back. The space is huge, and the atmosphere stands out right away--the artwork and décor are beautiful and add a lot of character. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and we were greeted and seated promptly. We ordered the Burrito Mojado with chicken and the pescado tacos. They started us off with complimentary chips and salsa, which is always appreciated while waiting for the food. The salsa was delicious--mild in my opinion, though my husband thought it had a slight kick. The portions were generous. The Burrito Mojado was massive and packed tightly with flavorful filling, and the sauces it was drenched in were especially tasty. The pescado tacos were also a good size and flavorful, though I would have preferred the breading to be a bit crispier. Overall, we had a great experience. The food was solid, and we'd definitely come back to try more items on the menu. read more

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This place is alright at best. We have tried it twice, once went for Taco Tuesday night and the other time for Sunday Brunch. I am glad we went on Taco Tuesday because I would not pay full price for these tacos. The drinks were watered down and just not good tacos. We got all the tacos except for the Pescado and Hongos. Didn't think it possible to mess up a taco. Meat was either too salty or not enough salt, there was hardly ANY meat on the tacos and the camarón was way to over cooked. Service was not that great, server got my drink wrong and brought us the wrong flight of tacos. The ambiance is chill with banda music. It's like eating tacos at a nightclub in the middle of the day with all the lights on. read more

No Soft drinks on Friday night. Really loud music playing Had 4 women dancing right next to our booth. Ordered pasta a la Diabla should be renamed to pasta en cremada. Only good thing was the cheese bread. read more

Food is great 10/10 , service is always amazing! Ambiance is nice and chill During the week and the weekend is a little more packed but not once have I had a bad time read more

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Went at 2:30pm for lunch with friends. Got an asada taco. It was really good. My friends ordered asada fries and some other tacos. They loved everything they ordered. Glad I was asked to give this establishment another chance by a friend. Service was friendly as well. Most music is Latin which is fine but the volume could have been just a little bit lower for lunch. Parking was right in front at this time of day. Don't bother paying metered parking they have a free structure as well. read more

Kalaveras - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Went there for Easter Brunch with the family. Had a great experience. Very colorful and relaxed atmosphere. Casual and fun. Great price and above all it deserves a five star rating for the food alone. Will definitely be back. read more

There for Taco Tuesday and the food was amazing. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were great and knowledgeable. Great neighborhood feel

The happy hour is reasonably priced but the portions are small. It's not served with salsa and if you ask for some it's an up charge. The drinks were good but I realized after I left that I was overcharged. read more

Kalaveras has brought an exciting energy to downtown Chula Vista, filling a once-empty building with a vibrant Mexican restaurant that's always buzzing. It's great to see such a lively venue in this area, and their constant flow of customers speaks to the appeal of their atmosphere, food, and specials. Speaking of specials, Kalaveras offers something enticing every day of the week. Their happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 PM, featuring $8 appetizers. Taco Tuesday is a standout, offering $1.50 TJ-style tacos--served on a single small corn tortilla with just the meat, keeping them simple and authentic. One of the best parts is their salsa bar, where you can customize your taco with toppings like chopped onions, cilantro, salsa verde, and a variety of salsas and toppings. The asada tacos were particularly flavorful, with a great charred taste, and the barbacoa was juicy and rich. However, the carnitas taco, while generously portioned, lacked the crispy texture I was hoping for--I'd probably skip that one next time. Beyond tacos, they also offer a $12.99 lunch special Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 3 PM. If brunch is more your style, their bottomless mimosas and brunch buffet make for a fantastic weekend treat. With deals like these, there's never really a bad day to drop by and explore the menu. I also have to mention their margaritas, which are fantastic. I ordered the tamarindo margarita, and it was the perfect balance of sweet and sour. The Tajín rim adds a candy-like kick that I absolutely loved--it's a fun touch that makes each sip even better. What truly sets Kalaveras apart is the energy that fills the space. You'll often hear the rhythmic clapping of a wooden noisemaker, followed by enthusiastic birthday shouts from the staff. A DJ booth is sometimes in action, adding to the lively ambiance, and music spills out onto the street, drawing people in. Sports fans will appreciate the huge projection screen TV, perfect for catching a Padres game or a Champions League match while enjoying drinks and food. The service is generally solid--the staff is young, attentive, and always on the move, making sure tables are well taken care of. However, there are a couple of small but noticeable service hiccups: tables are often not pre-set with napkins and flatware, and water is never offered automatically. It would be great if these basics were handled proactively. Overall, Kalaveras is a happening spot with a fantastic atmosphere, great specials, and a fun, energetic vibe. If you're in the area and looking for a lively Mexican restaurant, it's definitely worth a visit! read more

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We came for lunch and the decor is awesome. Had a margarita for cinco de mayo and the taste didn't disappoint. Carne Asada plate was on point and the portion was great! Not to mention the chips and salsa Our server David L. was very attentive, nice, and hospitable read more

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