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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Only,when to have drink a conversation with my friend. Services was excelente. We eat some tacosxand Chips. Familiar place. read more

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

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

My friend invited me to Kalaveras the other day and I'm addicted. I love their delicious quesabirria, blue tacos and party vibes. It feels like a Saturday or Friday evening in the club at Kalaveras. Service has been great each time I visit and there is plenty of parking at the plaza around 5 pm. Price: $ Recommendations: Happy Hour (Monday-Fridays from 3-7 pm) & quesabirria tacos read more

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I have a problem with the $1.99 Taco Tuesday "special". The tortillas are small. How small you ask? So small that if your not careful you will bite your finger. Secondly, they are so thin that when you load them they fall apart! Thirdly, the portions are miniscule. Be sure to ask for double tortillas. On a more positive note, the servers are very nice. The female servers very attractive. The ambience is cool, open space, patio seating, music videos with the latest pop Latino music. It would be nice if the played more of a variety of music. They have turned down the volume which had kept me away. So, Double Tortilla for your tacos or you will be eating with a fork. Happy hour 3 to 7. $5 draft beers. Sunday brunch $27 not including alcoholic beverages. Enjoy fellow dinners! read more

I don't know why this place has a low rating. We went here yesterday for happy hour and it was BOMB' The restaurant is really cute and its big. Our server (isaih??) was excellent. The shrimp tacos were delicious! All of the food we ordered was good. And those margaritas were big and tasty. The presentation of the drinks was fun as well. The whole ambiance of the restaurant was fun. I will definitely be back read more

Kalaveras - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Vinimos a un brunch para festejar un cumpleaños. El desayuno estubo super rico, el omelette de barbacoa estaba bueno. Tubimos excelente servicio. La comida llego a tiempo. Fransisco muy atento con nosotros. Las mismosas nunca faltaron. Tuvimos buen ambiente buena musica. read more

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

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Went on Monday, the food was good, they got our party of 7 ion right away! Loved the music and the TV screens with the music lyrics! Large location with 2 rooms and a patio area. We had the Happy Hour and I would totally recommend it! Great prices and yummy options! The virtual tacos in the happy hour menu were a hit! Hector the manager checked in us and even took our pictures! He was super friendly. Our server brought all our food but never smiled. A bit more personality round face matched the fun atmosphere. We will be back! The guavita margarita was tasty and not too sweet. The cucumber margarita sadly had an odd after taste. Check the freshness of the cucumber puree. Parking was easy on Monday they gave a small lot attached. Tip call ahead to reserve a table. Our server said Friday and Saturday it gets extra loud like a club! We asked our server for a Shirley Temple and she said they do not make it. This seemed odd but if it's true please add it to the menu. read more

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Great place to sit down and have delicious Mexican food . They also have live music which was a surprise it really makes this place fun as you eat ect. Service is great very helpful with any questions on their dishes and food came out quick . Will definitely be coming back soon. read more

We've been here a few times and overall the experience is a bit hit or miss. Sometimes service is quick, drinks and food orders taken right away, and other times we end up waiting and needing to flag someone down. The staff is always friendly, but consistency and attentiveness could definitely improve. They also don't always bring chips and salsa automatically, so you have to ask. The restrooms could use more attention. Each time I've gone, the floors were slippery and things felt a little grimy, maybe from the type of cleaner used, but it doesn't leave the best impression. The ambiance is lively and fun, but the music can be loud, which makes it tough to have a conversation. It's not really a romantic spot, but it's great if you want to watch a game or hang out with friends. The food, though, is consistently delicious. Some favorites I've tried: Green enchiladas - Creamier than usual with less tomatillo flavor, but very filling and tasty. Pasta a la diabla with shrimp - Perfectly cooked shrimp, you can get chicken as well. It had just the right amount of spiciness that it was still enjoyable. My 9yo son ordered this and loved it! It also comes with cheesy bread (so good!). Albóndigas - I've ordered this twice and the flavor is so good. The portion is good and would honestly go perfectly with a side of red rice. Quesabirria tacos (happy hour menu) - Amazing flavor, definitely worth ordering, it may not be filling for some people since there are only three tacos but they are delicious! Horchata colada (non-alcoholic) - definitely a must have and I'm sure it would taste great with alcohol. Guacamole & chips - Loved the queso fresco on top. I've had it with chicharrones at another location in LA, which was even better, but it was still good with the chips. Overall, the food makes this place worth visiting, but the service could use more consistency. On our last visit, we waited about 15 minutes before anyone came by, and a few tables seated after us were helped first. Small improvements in attentiveness would make a big difference, because the food really is great! read more

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Food is okay, service is not great, music is good. A group of friends and I went in for brunch on a Sunday. Apparently they offer only a buffet option before 2 pm. They had a large variety of options (chilaquiles, tacos, enchiladas, ceviche, fruit, eggs, pancakes, sausage, bacon, desserts, etc and bottomless mimosas for $50). It was a struggle to get a refill after my first drink. The servers aren't very attentive to the tables after they seat you/greet you. Most, if not all of them were very dry and not friendly. This is a good place for good music and drinks (if you can get a waiter that's more attentive). read more

Kalaveras - Red chilaquiles, eggs, rice, beans, bacon. - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Good food and nice atmosphere. My steak was not cooked as I ordered I like it RARE, shrimp was perfectly cooked. Chips and guacamole were a perfect start. The mariachis were very loud and it made a conversation difficult. Parking is difficult and it took a long time to get our bill. read more

Cute place on 3rd st in downtown Chula Vista. Food was ok, drinks were delicious. Service was meh: we had to ask 4 times to get a glass of water! read more

Kalaveras - Fajitas steak - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Bad customer service. The staff is very rude especially all the waitresses. The food is expensive and it sucks . Kalavera's needs to hire new people with better customer service. Also hire new cooks You need improvement! read more

A nice spot to enjoy food and drinks with friends. Wasn't the best but worth trying. Fun, upbeat vibe, great music. read more

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Great food and great service!! The Sunday Breakfast Buffet is an excellent value for the price.

I was introduced to this amazing Mexican restaurant in the South Bay through my recent experience with Taste on Third! Nestled in Downtown Chula Vista, Kalaveras prominently sits at its heart! Recommendations: Definitely try the Happy Hour M-F 3-7pm, prices were cheaper than most. Tamarindo Margarita - Didn't taste much of the tamarindo, unfortunately. Potato and Chicken Taquitos - These were pretty good and crunchy. Quesabirria Tacos - I was hoping this was tastier, but this was okay for happy hour. We asked for water and got the bottled water. This was cool in the aluminum cans, but we didn't get the option for regular water, so we were surprised since this isn't free. Service was a little slow, but I can see they were busy. They do have live music but it's later at night around 9pm. Like the colorful vibe and many photo ops to take your selfies. I'd definitely return! read more

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I thought this place was great! We went to the bottomless champagne brunch. The food was very good. You can get made to order chilaquiles which are delicious. There are lots of food items to choose from. The champagne is only for 90 minutes but they keep your glass full. The service is really fantastic and the ambience is great. I'll be back. read more

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We've been here a few times and the service, drinks and food is always good! I would definitely recommend. read more

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

We walked in to music bumping about 10 decibels too loud. We were practically yelling at each other from across the table. I'm sure others complained because it was eventually lowered down a bit. The music was good and had a variety of dance hits, but it was very loud and you're unable to have a conversation without leaning in or yelling. The inside is pretty big, plenty of inside seating, and good for large groups. There are music videos playing, full bar, and club like vibe. The food was mediocre, lacking flavor, oily/greasy, and overpriced. Ordered the Lomo saltado w/steak, the quesabirria tacos, and an appetizer -esquite (street corn). Took a long time to get our food and everything arrived together, even our starter we would have liked to enjoy first with our drinks. The corn was bland and lacked flavor. I didn't think you can mess up corn but it was undercooked and watered down. I've had better from the street cart vendors in front of Walmart. The quesabirria tacos were greasy and made the tortilla soggy on the bottom. There was more fat than there was meat and kinda grossed me out. The Lomo saltado was different, but lacked flavor and steak. The service here sucked. We were seated right away and given menus. But it took forever to order. We kept looking around and our server was no where in sight. We finally ordered drinks and an appetizer but made the mistake of not ordering our food. Had we have known the wait would be long and our server would disappear we would have done all the ordering at once. We were never checked on and only saw our server a total of 4 times, I mean it wasn't busy, and he seemed to only be helping us out. Dude was nice but provided terrible service. Overall below average experience and I can't see coming back anytime soon. read more

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"Ever went over a friend's house to eat and the food just ain't no good? I mean the macaroni's soggy, the peas are mushed, and the chicken tastes like wood!" Went over to have $27.00 brunch buffet. The drinks were good. Cheers to the bartender. The service was excellent! But the food needs a lot of improvement guys! The pozole was decent. But everything else was very bad. Too dry, no flavor... not how Mexican food should be. Not even the deserts were good. ok maybe only the chocoflan but that's about it. The $27.00 pozole and chocoflan. Needs improvement. Make us proud again. read more

With its Dia de Los Muertos-inspired decor, Kalaveras opened a month ago in the building that was originally a Fuddruckers on Third Avenue in downtown Chula Vista. Parking spaces were available in an adjacent surface lot and a multi-level parking structure shared with a housing complex. The inside was massive with a stage up front for live performances. A long bar was to the right side when you walked in and then the rest was all tables that were spread across two rooms. Be forewarned that if you come in the evening, the place will likely be LOUD with music curated by a DJ. You're dining in a nightclub environment with lots of neon lighting to go with the Day of the Dead theme. The menu was enclosed inside a narrow binder with two pages of food and two pages of alcoholic drinks. Complimentary chips and salsa were brought to my table while I was deciding what to order. A couple of sushi rolls were the first platitos (little plates to share) as a homage to the previous business which had a Mexican-Japanese fusion menu. Tacos and entree plates were the other main categories. I selected the Lomo Saltado with beef as the protein and corn tortillas. This classic Peruvian dish was presented as slices of steak accompanied by a bell pepper medley, sweet potato fries, aji verde, rice pilaf, and chimichurri. The version here was more like steak fajitas without the sizzling cast iron platter. The menu prices were on the high side as the tacos ranged from $5 to $7 each. The majority of the entrees were over $20. On Tuesday, there was a taco deal for 99 cents each which was a bargain. Weekend brunch was offered with a Sunday buffet that included bottomless mimosas ($35 per adult). If you like a noisy club atmosphere with lots of glitz while dining, then Kalaveras will be to your liking. It would be a cool hangout if you want to do a girls' night or a flashy birthday celebration. For me, the food quality and price for my dinner were at a three star level. read more

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Everything from customer service will never return they suck..you have to keep asking for thing take them 30 /40 min to return to your table read more

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The space is vibrant and full of energy, with a mix of traditional Mexican decor and modern touches that give it a fun, party-like atmosphere. It almost feels like a club, especially later in the evening when the lights dim significantly. At one point, we felt like we were eating in the dark, which was unexpected and a little distracting if you are trying to focus on your food. I had the aguachiles and they were absolutely delicious. Spicy, fresh, and full of flavor. The portions were generous, and the presentation of the food was beautiful. The service was friendly and upbeat, and the music added to the lively vibe. Parking can be a bit challenging, especially when it gets busy, so I would recommend giving yourself a little extra time. Overall, Kalaveras brings great food, a strong atmosphere, and a memorable dining experience. I would return to explore more of the menu, especially if I am in the mood for something bold and exciting. read more

Drove by and saw HH banner and decided to stop after work. Had HH jalapeño margarita and cheese nachos. They were both great. I was surprised how busy it was, but I figured out it was taco Tuesday. $1.49 Street taco bar. I asked a very attractive server if it was busy on the weekends, and she said they have EDM (house style) DJs. I'm definitely going to come and check that out soon! read more

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Came here for happy hour with my coworkers and I think we found our new spot. I had the guava slushie margarita, quesabirria tacos, and ordered loaded asada fries for the table to share. I enjoyed it all. The slushie margarita was strong and filling for me, only needed one. Loved the quesabirria tacos. Perfect crunch, and did not skimp on the meat. The fries were great as well, just a little messy to share since it truly was "loaded" with many toppings. I also tried the nachos that were ordered for us to all share. Delicious as well, had some of the same sauce as the loaded fries, next time I may opt for these instead because they're easier to share and pick at. The nachos and fries were pretty big considering it's only 7.99. A steal. Music was playing the whole time, music videos in the screen. A small stage that they didn't mind people going up there to dance. They also play different types of music. I was there for 2 hours, 5-7. Seemed they have different themed music for each our since it switched out at 6pm. Would love to go back! Great for forums and plenty of room. Service was attentive and friendly. read more

Kalaveras - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Went for the Sunday brunch...food was mid but what was really disappointing was the flight of drinks. Either super cheap tequila was used or the bartender had no idea how to mix drinks. Couldn't finish them because the taste was horrible. Service was mid as well. The guys running the chilaquiles bar were super sweet tho. read more

This restaurant looks and feels like a club! Don't come here expecting to be able to hear the other people in your party very well. The music is very loud. I loved the decor though and it felt "very Chula Vista." Came here for happy hour and got 2 margaritas (the chamoyada and guavarita). Both were okay. I got home and felt horrible though. I suspect cheap tequila is used for these HH margs, but to be expected. Complimentary chips and salsa were good! The quesabirria tacos were delicious and had a lot of flavor. The steak soft tacos were bland and dry. The queso fundido wasn't what I expected; it was hard, not melted down at all, and lacked flavor. I would not pay full price for anything here but I'd return for HH and to try their michelada. I plan to try the other HH food items on my next visit. read more

Kalaveras - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

First time to the restaurant I was curious because in social media food looked so delicious. However did not meet my expectations neither the drinks I ordered. Our server was super nice and other were checking how we did. The decoración was nice great for halloween season. If is your bday they shower you with cheer and dance. I liked the only suggestion is the food need more flavor. read more

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So we were walking around after brunch and found this spot to be interesting. We dropped in for some drinks and I must say I was impressed. The whole vibe for brunch was amazing. We took a quick spin of the buffet and the food looked amazing. We weren't there for long, but I am itching to go check it out one Sunday. read more

Kalaveras - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Horrible service and bad communication. Taco Tuesday is not price what's listed online either. No one cares whether you come or go. read more

Wait time to receive food was horrible! Place is not full and it's been 40 minutes since we placed order. All we get is thank you for your patience as the waiter zooms past. We actually ended up leaving! I don't know how this place has four stars. Total waste our time. read more

Kalaveras - Not full. Just slow kitchen. - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

I tell you this place was so much fun the servers were lively great for birthday parties and gatherings. The servers were like live. There was music. It was pumping in the happy hour was great. We'll be back. read more

This is the second time I've been here. I can say both times I haven't been disappointed. The food is great! The servers here are great! Beto Q was our server on both occasions, I can say not disappointed at all. Serves was a plus. I've had been here for their happy hour selection and brunch on Sunday. read more

Kalaveras - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Perfect spot for happy hour after work! Love the ambiance and happy hour menu. Thank you Fernando for the great service! read more

Kalaveras - Nachos and beer - Mexican Near Me - Chula Vista, California

Great food! Asada and carnita tacos are bomb. Service is amazing, luz was an awesome person!!! The ambiance was so much fun! Great music read more

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First and foremost Orlando is the best! He is very attentive and provided the best service on Mother's day! The staff is exceptional in a wonderful atmosphere! Thank you for making our visit special! read more

When I tell you to please avoid this place just listen ! Went in on a Sunday to try the brunch. When I tell you the lady sat us down with a menu after that it went downhill. No one came to our table. I had to stand up ask for a server and ask questions. Eventually 20 minutes in a server came and said they will bring napkins and drinks. Did He? NO! Had to get up again and ask for napkins from another person and ask for our drinks. No it wasn't packed or busy- the food was okay. They had options for pozole and there wasn't even bowls beside it. There was aguas frescas no cups beside them so the whole time felt like I chasing someone down. We got mimosas and there were BLACK specs inside - he brought new ones and by that time I was just over the restaurant -the only thing that I ate that was okay were the chilaquiles that they make fresh but it lacked flavor - overall just save your money and go elsewhere - read more

Showed up on a taco Tuesday during happy hour. Staff was friendly, service, food and drinks were great. Check this place out. read more

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