Best breakfast place in OB. Best chilaquiles in SD! Pancakes are delicious. The French toast!! The salsas are good and they have a vspicy red sauce, delicious !! read more

La Doña - Chilaquiles with Carnitas - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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La Doña was the first stop of the evening when I arrived late Monday in to SD. This place was walking distance from the Airbnb which was a nice perk. They have happy hour all day on Monday's by the way. So I definitely wanted to check out their cocktail list. I decided to get their "El Jefe Espresso Martini" Lalo Blanco Tequila, borghetti liqueur, DropKick Espresso, cinnamon agave. This was so smooth and perfectly sweetened. 5/5 for me! My waitress was very nice and approachable; she was the one that suggested I give this espresso martini a try. I was given chips and salsa while my order made it in. I ordered the "Beef Quesabirria" Slow-braised beef, chopped onions, cilantro, queso oaxaca, consomé Had a side of refried beans and rice. The tacos were a tad bit too greasy but I just dabbed off with a napkin. 3.5/5 for me. I ended up getting full pretty quickly so I didn't finish the rice or beans. The presentation was cute went along with the restaurant vibes. A very lovely spot near the beach and super cute Mexican décor. They offer indoor and outdoor seating. Plenty of restrooms as well. Very close to the beach as well. read more

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We just needed a snack! My summer break has started and Cako said let's go to the beach...LOL! Called up Daveed and told him to meet me here since it's in his neighborhood. The staff here is always friendly and chill! There were a number of people eating already and the sign said to seat ourselves. We grabbed a table on the patio. I had to have the La Dona margarita, soooooo good! We shared the empanaditas and the creamy queso. I love their warm chips! This all really hit the spot and went will with another margarita. What can I say? It's my summer break! Cako loves it here! And as always... Cako Approves! read more

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Parking in the area is not ideal and the paid lot behind the restaurant is no better. I guess the mistake was trying to go on a weekend but the vibe was good and a casual place to hang out after playing tennis all day. The food was just okay but a bit disappointing given SD should be a Mexican food meca due to the proximity to the motherland. I probably will not be back given the other food options all over. read more

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This is definitely my new favorite and go to Mexican food restaurant. I'm addicted to the chips and salsa and the coconut margarita. I don't even really drink but Ill throw back 4 of those coconut margs like nobody's business. Loved the loaded nachos bc of the good amount of melted cheese and chipotle crema. All other food here is a solid 4/5. Only not so good thing was out chicken tinga taco and it was just because the Tortilla got drenched by the juice and was hard to eat as a taco. Happy hour is pretty solid here and it's all day on Mondays. Espresso martini will put you on your ass for sure if you aren't careful. Staff is super friendly here. Street parking only which can be crazy depending on day and time you go. read more

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Happy hour at La Dona is quite a value! All appetizers are $10.00! Drink specials too! Service is friendly and relaxed. Beach vibe is casual and the food is authentic and delicious!! Bottomless chips and salsa only $3.00! read more

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Bittersweet visit to La Doña. We took our seats at the bar and were greeted by our favorite bartender, J.C. He informed us that it was his last day at La Doña. He found his way into the world of the M-F/8-4 work week. Great for J.C. but (selfishly) bad for us. We of course wish him the best! As for La Doña, hell yes, we're still going to be regulars. You can't get rid of us that easily Kevin! We know that whoever is our barkeep is, he or she is going to be great. ...and the shrimp tacos are fire! Best in San Diego! Love La Doña! read more

La Doña - Best shrimp tacos in San Diego! - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

My son has been with his girlfriend for several years and we adore her. She's from NorCal and while she's been attending college, we've invited her out for fellowship and she's been to many of our family functions. My son has visited her family and have gotten to know his girlfriend's family. Last night was the very first time we got to meet my son's girlfriend's family and I'm thankful to her for setting up this dinner at La Doña for us to finally meet and get to know each other. I really liked the lively vibe of the restaurant, the tortilla chips and salsa were yummy, and my entree was delish and memorable, but there definitely were opportunity areas with our service. La Doña is located in laid-back, bohemian Ocean Beach just a short jaunt to the Ocean Beach pier. It's directly across the street from Raglan Public House restaurant, An's Electronics gelato, and Indie Yoga. We parked in a public parking lot that's next to the restaurant, which was convenient, but know you'll be paying almost $26 for parking. Highway robbery if you ask me. We visited on a Friday and our reservation was at 6pm. As soon as we entered La Doña, you immediately could tell it was a popular eatery. The place was packed with diners. It's a large space with indoor seating that has beautiful wooden engraved chairs and wooden tables, bartop seating with leather stools, and plenty of covered outdoor seating with picnic tables and mosaic, concrete round tables. Our waitress was friendly and patient, but there were definitely opportunity areas with the service. We had a party of 11 and when the food came out, our party's orders were mixed up and given to the wrong people, so this snafu created a lot of confusion. Despite the confusion from the wait staff, my family is so thankful to my son's girlfriend for setting this dinner up, so we can finally meet her lovely family. We've had the pleasure of her being a part of many of our family get togethers and outings, so it was a blessing to see and talk to the people who helped mold her into the wonderful person we've gotten to know. At La Doña, Mexican food is their specialty and on their menu, they serve antojitos aka appetizers, tacos, combo plates, salads and soups, plates, sides, and desserts. For appetizers, they ordered bottomless chips and salsa and crispy brussels sprouts, which my son's girlfriend highly recommended and she was spot on. Please know the chips and salsa are not complimentary, so take advantage of them being bottomless and keep them coming. The tortilla chips were fresh and tasty and the salsa wasn't too spicy. The brussel sprouts came with bacon, cotija cheese, pumpkin seeds, jalapeño vinaigrette, and pomegranate seeds. She was so right about the brussel sprouts, but I had to share with the group and I had to save room for my entree. For my dinner, I selected the steak and shrimp fajitas, which come with 7oz arrachera steak, jumbo shrimp, sautéed peppers, onions, jalapeños, rice, beans, guacamole, and tortillas. They only give you three corn tortillas, but you can ask for more corn or flour tortillas. The shrimp come with the tails, which I wish were taken off before this dish was served to me. For the price, the Mexican rice was a tease and I wished there was more of that. Despite these opportunities, the steak and shrimp fajitas are Must Order. People in our party ooh'd and aww'd when my hot skillet came out. It was delicious, the vegetables were tasty, and each taco I made with all of the components satisfied my belly. I would order that again in a heartbeat. We loved meeting our son's girlfriend's family and are thankful to her for making reservations at La Doña for all of us to finally meet. Although there were some opportunities, it truly was a blessing to break bread or in this case break steak and shrimp fajitas, with many of her family. Thank you to my son's girlfriend's family for generously paying for dinner, which we hope to reciprocate whenever we meet again. read more

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Absolutely perfect birthday celebration for my friend today! James and Edwin were top of the mark in service! Fun, relaxing time! Food so good! AguaChileRoja Shrimp picante and delicious! The new $10 taco menu was just right. Salsa of any kind at La Dona is the best! Their Chile rellenos are awesome...best in San Diego! The birthday treat was ice cream With fruit and a churro! The open atmosphere, pricing, excellent service and all round happy vibe is what We Love Here!!!! read more

Enjoyed an outdoor patio casual dinner recently. Ordered chips and salsa (bottomless for $3) mole, and a Chile Relleno. Also a side of elote. The chile relleno was really nice and light with a good melty cheese. The rice and beans sides were not my favorites. The rice is an "elote" which is a neat idea, but lacked some flavor. Didn't love the mole, but we all have diff preferences when it comes to mole, so no sweat there. I think serving it as a half chicken wasn't my favorite way to prepare this dish. The elite was really good. Would get again! Tried the seasonal margarita drink (a peachy thing - tasted like something I might have mixed up in college) and also a classic margarita, which was good, but both mixed drinks were a bit light on the tequila pour. Usually after two margarita I'm so toasty I keep ordering dishes, but I was surprised I still had willpower to turn down dessert - so make of that what you will. Hubby just a couple draft IPAs and was happy. Served brought our pup water, which we appreciated. Music was good. Server was...effective. Would definitely try again. read more

La Doña - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

This is a large Mexican restaurant. Big menu. I'd say the food is good, although for the prices, I'd expect a little more. The guacamole and street elite appetizers were good. The Brussel sprouts were a really interesting combo--bacon, pomegranate seeds, pumpkin seeds. I want to try to recreate this at home! Tacos were good. Our friend lives their chicken mole. Mocktail was tasty. Lots of outdoor seating. read more

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The food was served cold which changes the dining experience. The tacos and beans were probably good if served hot and fresh from the kitchen. They also charged me for a drink that I ordered but forgot to give me. read more

La Doña - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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3.5% scammy surcharge. Charges for chips and salsa Taquitos (app) were good. My main was not. Drinks were expensive and just kinda meh. LOUD on a weeknight at like 5pm on the patio away from the TVs, they just blare music then everyone had to talk loudly. Wouldn't go back. read more

We had the BEST experience celebrating my cousin's birthday, and it was all thanks to Jenna Devour! From the moment we walked in, she made us feel welcomed, valued, and genuinely excited to be there. She got us seated quickly and kept everything running so smoothly it made such a difference for our group. What really stood out was how she went above and beyond to make my cousin feel special. The birthday celebration she helped create was unforgettable thoughtful, fun, and full of energy. You can tell she truly cares about the guests and takes pride in what she does. Jenna is the definition of an all-star hostess. Friendly, attentive, and just an absolute joy to be around. She elevated our entire experience and made a special night even more memorable. If you're lucky enough to have Jenna taking care of you, you're in the best hands! We'll definitely be back and hoping to see her again! read more

La Doña - Group photo. Family vibes. - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Caveat for vegetarians...The rice has chicken stock. And I hope y'all like refried beans. Because that's all they serve. But the guacamole was smooth and delicious. We enjoyed our margaritas. read more

I love this place! The food and drinks are always so yummy here. I got the vegetarian taquitos which was mouthwatering. Even their salsa and chips are so good. I tear them up each time I go. They are always providing great service and servers are always fun. They have indoors and outdoors setting, but we always sit outside to enjoy the scenery. Definitely one of my favorite places to go to in San Diego! read more

La Doña - Vegetarian Taquitos - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've been coming to La Doña since they first opened, and unfortunately my Mother's Day experience was terrible. The service and food quality have clearly gone downhill. They now charge $3 for chips and salsa, which felt absurd considering what you already spend there. Our waitress seemed very new and unfamiliar with the menu, service was slow, and it took a long time to get food out. We ordered the hot rock plate meant for two people, and it came with only two pieces of shrimp and what looked like half a cup of rice and beans to share. It used to come with unlimited rice and beans, so the difference was noticeable. To top it off, I asked for plates to split the meal and the bus boy only brought one plate. When I politely said I needed two, he got argumentative and claimed I had only asked for one. Overall, a very disappointing experience from a place I used to really enjoy. I will not be returning. read more

I was visiting a close friend in OB and got hungry and he suggested this place that was new to me. Very big with lots of different seating and amazing hand made chairs and great Mexican detailed carving, cool murals, blend of classic and super modern and super nice patio. I think this would a place I want to try at night. I only had a taco and, as others have commented, service is not the friendly you would expect but at least I was not pushed to get a full plate when I only needed a little something because we had planned happy hour at another place a bit later. My friend got a drink and we had a good time there. read more

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My friend was in town and they were in the mood for Mexican. They found this place on yelp. This was in OB on a Friday night, I was not expecting there would be much parking. I dropped them off and cruised around to find a spot. This place was fairly busy, all the surrounding places were busy. I love how the restaurant is wide open facing the street, you can see people out and about enjoying themselves. There was a lady making homemade tortillas right out front! I can see how this would be a terrific spot in the summertime. We ordered a few drinks, I got the skinny margarita and my friend got the Vaya Con Dios. Both were pretty good, hers was pretty spicy. We ordered these items to share: 1. Bottomless Chips/salsa. -Chips were pretty good, not too greasy or salty. Salsa was alright. 3/5 2. Creamy Queso- Serrano-chipotle & roasted poblano cheese sauce, chorizo, cotija, chips - This was pretty tasty, I think all of us at the table enjoyed it, it was gone fairly quickly. With the different cheeses they used, it was more gritty and spicy but delicious. 5/5 3. Beef Quesabirria- Slow-braised beef, chopped onions, cilantro, queso oaxaca, consomé- -These were good, quite a tad greasy. Beef was not tough at all, it had good flavor. For the consume, I am not sure if was due to more at the end of the night and we got the last of what they had but it was thicker and insanely crazily too salty. I fall on the side of not being shy of using lots of salt but for me, it was difficult to eat. For Birria tacos, it is all about the consome. 2/5 4. Street Elote -Roasted corn, mayo, cotija, tajín -This was alright, nothing that stood out about it. 2/5 5.. Molcajete El Patron- Carne asada, pollo asado, shrimp, chorizo, salchicha picosa, tomato-chipotle sauce, queso panela, nopales, chile guerro, green onion, rice, beans, tortillas -I have never had this before, It came out piping hot, bubbling away. It had all these great flavors. Carne asada was fairly good, not really tough. Chicken was super tender. Cheese was good, I did not care of the nopales. I thought the sausage was delicious. This was a pretty spicy dish. It was temperature hot and spicy hot. 4/5 Staff was pretty good for a busy evening. I would definitely stop by again to try some other options on the menu. Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Food: 3.5/5 read more

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Decent place. It's pretty big with lots of seating. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor stuff has covers and heaters. It is a pretty nice looking place. Nice vibes. The food is ok. The pumpkin seed guacamole with pork grinds are surprisingly good!!! Really good lol. I got the giant mega taco and wow that thing was huge bahaha. Definitely the size of 2-3 normal tacos. I got the chicken tinga. It was alright. Flavor was a little odd and the crunch of the taco was a little overpowering. It was like extremely crunchy lol. The water cups are tiny lol but they at least give you your own big bottle to fill up. Decent place. Dog friendly. read more

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Thank you Jazz for your amazing service you are beautiful. I enjoyed the spacious environment and aesthetics of the business. The presentation in which every item arrived was so pretty, and insta pic worthy. I always love good content. One drink was enough. I appreciate the perfect ratio of alcohol and flavor. The molcajete was memorable. Perfect for sharing. This spot is going on my go to list! read more

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The place has cool decor and patio heaters to keep you warm at night. Service was excellent, they were able to accommodate at a party of 13. Omg the coconut margarita was amazing and so delicious. All the apps were very good. Definitely recommend. read more

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Me and my family came here after a day at the zoo. After all the snacks we had before, my appetite wasn't very big for dinner here. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed my time here. The bathrooms were clean. I loved the plant they had inside a tiled toilet. It was a cute piece of decor. I had ordered a coconut margarita upon suggestion. I like sweeter drinks and the waitress said this was the best options. The drink was strong in the beginning. I had to let it sit a bit and stir a lot. But in the end it was a pretty good drink. For food I ordered some ground beef and potato tacos. They were pretty good but the last taco I just ate the insides because the shell was hurting my teeth. The rice was very good! My favorite side. The beans were okay, edible but I have had better before. My kiddo got a kids chicken taco with rice and she finished her plate! She loved it all. The vibe of this place is cute overall, the staff is friendly, and the food is pretty good. My parents like to go here every time we are in Cali so I know I'll be returning. read more

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Obsessed with this spot. Such a fun, laid back vibe. The happy hour is wonderful and on tuesdays they have all day happy hour which I am a big fan of. Service is always fantastic. Even the complimentary chips and salsa are delish. read more

La Doña - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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La Dona is the cutest vibe and restaurant! As non locals we decided on a place with good reviews and this one was a hit! The service from our server Priscilla was wonderful! The speed of items coming out was perfect and we left full and happy! The food was so yummy! I recommend the guacamole and the tacos! I had fish and thought it was wonderful! Excited to go back and try something new next time! Ps. THE Margs are EVERYTHING read more

Great ambiance- awesome chairs, fun decorations, fire pits, indoor and outdoor seating. Nice staff and quick service. Decent food. My shrimp tacos were pretty good but the ceviche was very watery; good flavor though. read more

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Solid happy hour spot in OB! Drinks were delish and aguachile was even more delish (spicy) read more

La Doña - Aguachile - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

I really liked the outdoor ambience and taco Tuesday specials (even though, they didn't apply this discount to our check). The elote was top notch. We also got the Birria, steak, and monster tacos. Overall we were super excited for the good eats and margs. read more

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Came here Mother's Day weekend with a big group. It was easy to make a reservation and the service was great. The food was good for a busy holiday weekend and it came out fast. They have meat, veggie and pescatarian options and it's kid friendly. Most of us tried different taco options and my daughter opted for the bacon wrapped hot dog. Not a traditional thing you see at a typical Mexican restaurant but she sure did enjoy it and surprisingly ate most of it. read more

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I been coming to San Diego for the past 8 years and I always make sure I stop by my favorite restaurant LA DOÑA! I really appreciate the great service and the food!!!! So delicious sorry I I didn't take pictures of the main dish but couldn't resist it thanks LA DOÑA 8 years later and you guys still Rock ! read more

La Doña - Egg hunt for kids and adults for this Easter Sunday ! - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food 4/5 Service 4/5 Ambiance 4/5 We arrived for dinner and were promptly sat by our server Kim. The food was great, the chip and dip was great, cheese dip was ok. The tres leches cake was awesome with berries read more

La Doña - Tres leches cake - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

I'm a sucker for some good chips and salsa and this place delivered! I had the chicken flautas and they were delicious as well. the elote rice is spot on, and I'm not a fan of refried beans but even those were good. The Paloma was delicious as well. staff was friendly and I liked the open air vibes of the restaurant. read more

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Came here for happy hour! The margarita was super good, but the nachos weren't the best. The place looks very authentic mexican, but it definitely has a cali-american twist! Ceviche was not bad, I just wasn't a fan of the nachos honestly it had some sort of buffalo chicken-tasting sauce on it, and the music in the restaurant was definitely loud! The service was very sweet. read more

La Doña - ceviche and street nachos - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Five I went to LaDona in Ocean Beach last week with two girlfriends, and we had such a great experience. I've been in the restaurant business for years, so I naturally pay attention to how a place runs, and it was impressive to watch the staff working together so smoothly. Our food came out quickly, the drinks were fast, and everything felt organized without being rushed. The manager, Melissa, stopped by our table and was wonderful--friendly, attentive, and clearly supportive of her team. It was refreshing to see a manager actively helping the staff and keeping things running seamlessly. Between the service, the atmosphere, and the efficiency, it was an all-around fantastic night. We're already talking about going back, and I can't wait for my next visit. read more

Honestly I was really disappointed by this. It's a fun space if you want the indoor-outdoor feel, and to have some drinks and chips. The food and service was really lacking The chorizo mussel appetizer had good flavour, but was too salty, and the one slice of bread felt stingy The steak and shrimp burrito was a meat lovers dream, but the execution was off. The sauces for the wet burrito were watered down both in flavour and texture. The shrimp was generally well cooked. The steak was cooked in a sauce and the flavour was a bit strange It took a long time for our server to come to the table, and did not replace our empty water jug even when she passed by to check on us read more

La Doña - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Lauri was my server and she was so kind, attentive and quick with not only my brunch order, but everyone around me. James was on the bar and made the best bloody Maria. Both of their welcoming vibes and energy made my Sunday and the huevos rancheros never miss! Thank you :) read more

The food here was very good. Just moved here with my wife from Nigeria. Much respect to the kitchen staff for the food. We had some tacos and they were very tasty. read more

Great spot!! Love the margaritas,I typically get the guava which has great flavor! Sweet potato taquitos are a must try, great portion and very filling. Ceviche portion size was a little small, wish there was a little more but very enjoyable. Staff is very friendly. Also they do happy hour all evening Monday! read more

La Doña - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Excellent! Super cute chill looking place. We were sat on the back patio and had a wonderful server. The food was exceptional! You can tell only the freshest ingredients are used and the presentation is wonderful. The wine came out super cold and the chicken flautas were divine. The bacon wrapped jalapeños had the perfect amount of heat. We will be back! read more

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Food is very good. Loved the chips with that special spiced flavor. Celebrated my bday here- yummy churro ice cream dessert. Friendly attentive service. Pretty place with pet friendly, large party space. read more

La Doña - Menu - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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