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Solid Weekend Happy Hour at La Puerta in Mission Hills! Friendly and fast service, great outdoor ambiance, and yummy half-off bites. They have a good selection of cocktails, including some with carrot, some with Olive juice, but our go-to is the spicy marg with Mezcal, all half-off. Quesadillas, cute flautitas (mini rolled tacos), chips and Guac all round out a perfect little meal. Def added to the Rolodex for weekend Happy Hours in Mission Hills.
We came by this spot since we were craving some Mexican cuisine after hitting up the little Italy farmers market earlier in the day. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We came with a pup and this place was listed as dog friendly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff were kind and accommodating and even gave our pup some treats and he was behaving well. We ordered a couple of drinks to start off - a margarita and another (I forget the name but it was purple) we got it with salted rims and I'm not sure if they accidentally mixed a bunch of it in because these were the saltiest drinks I've ever had - tasted like I was drinking straight salt water. The server was kind enough to replace these with another drink sans salt rim and those drinks were a lot better. The food itself was solid. The rice and beans didn't hit as much and the rice was on the dryer side. The salsas, tacos, and burrito all hit the mark.
La Puerta has one of the best happy hours--and it's daily, which is a huge plus! Drinks and appetizers are half off, making it such a great deal. Highly recommend the Purple Haze (a sangria margarita) and the steak quesadilla. Also, don't forget to ask for the complimentary chips and salsa! Great vibes, great prices--definitely a go-to spot.
Went here for lunch and the service was quick and efficient. Staff was great and the food was solid but I wish you didn't have to pay extra for sauces. The restaurant itself is super cute. We got: - Carne asada quesadilla: 8/10 my boyfriend got this and said it was good - Surf 'n' turf tacos especiales: 8/10 the steak and shrimp on this were cooked well. I wish there was more flavor to it but it was overall well made - Guacamole: 9/10 this was delicious! Probably my favorite part of the meal
La Puerta is a delicious eatery serving tacos, burritos, and all-around good vibes in Mission Hills. They also have another location downtown. We visited the Mission Hills spot and had a really great experience. I ordered the surf and turf one-pound burrito, and it did not disappoint. It had a nice kick of spice and was easily big enough to share or take half home for another meal later, which I definitely recommend. The drinks were well-made, the staff was friendly and welcoming, and the overall atmosphere makes it a fun spot for a night out with friends or even a casual date. Definitely recommend La Puerta. This place is seriously delicious.
[[HIGHLIGHT]]What a fun, happy hour spot![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They're happy hour deals included half off all drinks, and a discount on their appetizers in quesadillas. Food was amazing, and drinks were super tasty, I got there a couple minutes before 4:30, and half hour ended at five. They did come around multiple times prior to happy hour ending, and made sure that everybody put in their last chance orders. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I love the aesthetic of this restaurant, and the servers are also attentive and kind.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I would totally come back! Food was delicious and really hit the spot
Stopped by here on Sunday for their happy hour (yes, even on weekends!) and had a super fun time. Started as two of us but had a bunch of friends join us through our time there, and the servers/hosts were all super accommodating with extra chairs and eventually moving us to a larger table. Food for happy hour is half off all of their alcohol plus half off the starters and quesadillas too. This is really a great deal, one that we will definitely be back for. The guacamole, flautitas, and shrimp ranchero quesadilla were the standouts for me - but honestly everything was delish. Vibes were good - good music playing, good mix of people throughout...and it was pretty full!
Went here on a whim because the restaurant we had intended to go to was closed. The exterior was cute, and we were seated quickly. The girl seated us was very expressionless, and we couldn't tell if she had seats for us or not. We went in and were delighted with the decorative interior, extensive beer wall, and music themed menus. The server was quick with our food and was lovely. She brought everything we needed and checked in with us. Quesadillas were decent, but the selling point was how they cooked the carne asada. Tacos, chips, and cocktails were okay. Beer was cold and tasty. Nothing special worth noting and I don't think I'll be passing by again. Somethings were pricier than others, but being in this area, it's expected. It was very loud inside. But yes. Nothing exceptional that would make me drive down again.
We went to Mission Hills for a pop-up Christmas experience restaurant but the line was ridiculous. Instead we went to La Puerta and I'm glad we did. The place is super cute and it's has Christmas decorations up. We took advantage of the Tavo Tuesdays deals. Our server, Shawn, is fantastic. He was very cheery since we walked in, made great recommendations and checked on us often, even when it got a bit busier. To start we ordered the refriend beans and it was great and super hot (which I love). For Taco Tuesdays they have $3 street tacos. The pollo asado, carnitas, and shrimp were great options. I got a Paloma that was very refreshing and their tequila flight (as pictured). I'm not sure what tequila brand is used for the flight but it was smooth. Overall it was a great first time experience and I will certainly go back.
Good late night happy hour with half off appetizers and quesadillas. Loved my carne asada quesadilla and the queso fundido was really good as well. Cocktails were good too. Our waiter was awesome and very knowledgeable on drinks. Really spacious layout. Rock themed which is fun. Street parking only.
Suggested by two different people at the AAA office, we decided to try this place. I drove past this restaurant on the way to the AAA office, so it was dejavu to be back in this neighborhood, called Mission Hills. Right away, this place was giving a vibe us Sacramentans don't really have. Sure there are some restaurants in Sacramento that have open air from the patio to the inside, but honestly.....less than a handful. So when I saw, and felt, what I experienced when I walked up to La Puerta, I knew I was in for something special. We were seated immediately and given chips/salsa. The menus that had album covers on the front, with every one being different. The decor was inviting, fun, refreshing and lively. Our server greeted us and took our drink order. The menu is extensive and offered some dishes I've never seen before. Nonetheless, we played it safe and ordered what we know. This is what we got: Torta "La Puerta" This had pork, steak, ham, cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato, avocado, onions and jalepenos....whew! It was super tasty and definitely special. That's why it was under the La Puerta Signature Dishes section of the menu. I would order this again, but only after I try about ten other things, so I'll have to circle back around to ordering this anytime soon. Cochinita Tostaditas This was basically a tostada with pork, beans, avocado, cheese, pico de gallo, onion and lettuce. There were five of them and since it was happy hour, it was only like $6!! Crazy value!!! If I was a drinker, like many of the patrons there, I would have had several, considering the money you are saving on food. Definitely coming back for this one during happy hour. This place was amazing. I saw there is another location in Gas Lamp, so you have options. Simply Wonderful!!
Wow!!!! Love this place!!!! My high school girlfriends, we all got together and someone picked La Puerta mission hills. The decor was so cool, reminiscing of our times in high school. Our waiter Loukas was amazing!!!! Dealing with 12 women!!!! Great customer service Loukas!!!!! The food was great! The tacos looked amazing. Everyone was raving about the food. I had a Caesar salad and the churros. We had such a great time. I will be back. Our new spot Love it, must try. Parking is a bit tough but so worth it.
Review Insights
4 months ago
5 months ago
Tremendous experience for the Happy Hour. Great food, great drinks, great service (Thanks Jeremy, our new friend) and great prices. I thoroughly recommend. Don't let my 4 stars fool you. I am very very stingy w a 5 but if I could I would have given a 4.5 (Yelp, please go to a ten star system...) Enjoy, very much a local scene. Loved the Al casal salsa, very nice. I also liked this location better than the cave in downtown. Give it a try! read more
12 days ago
Business owner information
Hailey P.
So glad George was on point ! Thanks so much foe the stars and…
I really love this location. I've been a fan of the DT for years, but this has been my new fave. I love the open air of it all. A total vibe. Cannot beat their HH. It's probably one of the last legit ones in SD proper. The staff has always been great and it's a great spot to chat it up with the regulars. Absolutely love the music they play as well. Dog friendly too! Food is fresh and their green salsa is a fave. I've had the salads to the carne asada fries and not been disappointed. Came here to watch football recently and had a good time. Def in my Sunday rotation. read more
We made reservations here for my birthday and were seated almost immediately. The ambiance in the restaurant has a very cool and modern feeling to it. With all the foliage and music memorabilia, there's lots to see. The food came out quickly but tasted so fresh and flavorful. The waiter was also so kind and gave me a free order of churros with ice cream for my birthday. They even seated us in the back of the restaurant underneath all the disco balls since they knew it was my birthday dinner. This place is a great destination when you want something more upscale but with a casual feel to it. I only knocked off one star because parking is tough, but they have a small parking lot for $10 that's close to the restaurant if you can find a spot. Definitely looking forward to my next visit! read more
I was visiting San Diego on a cruise stop and a friend suggested La Puerta for lunch. There are two locations - one in Gaslamp district and we visited the Mission Ridge location. We ordered the mix & match street tacos that came with rice, beans and veggie mixture, pozole and the guac and chips. Everything was delicious! The service was friendly and the venue had good lunch vibes. read more
We loved this place for happy hour! First of all the quesadillas are absolutely delicious and massive. The margaritas and appetizers are great too. During happy hour appetizers and drinks are all half off. The restaurant has such a cool vibe as well - lots of indoor/outdoor seating. read more
1 month ago
Business owner information
Hailey P.
Thanks so much Teresa for the stellar review !
2 months ago
Business owner information
Hailey P.
Denisha is the best!!! So glad you loved our tiny dancer !!
6 days ago
EPIC dinner at La Puerta with my girl gang. The (famous) margaritas were flowing and the vibes were high. Super great salsa and the tacos are soooo good. My personal fave was the cochinita. While I took pics, phone did NOT eat first because we were all ready to hunker down on some good eats. Staple in the restaurant rotation. read more
4 months ago
The food was amazing, staff was incredible and this very nice lady was our waitress great place! would recommend. read more
KILLER Happy Hour! Came here on Sunday around 3 for 50% off drinks, quesadillas and apps. I had a spicy mezcal cocktail and a regular margarita for about $8 each. Heck, you can even get a tecate for a buck or two. The quesadillas are big and tasty! There is a lot of seasoning and flavor, you can't go wrong with your protein choice. I prefer the carnitas or shrimp. Chips and guacamole were tasty too. Service was excellent and they even brought extra staff so all of our dishes could be put on the table at the exact same time. I love their decor, especially their fireplace! read more
I was looking forward to trying this place given the high reviews online. I made a reservation in advance & let them know it was for our anniversary. Parking wasn't terrible, we found street parking a couple blocks away. We got to the restaurant and unfortunately waited 20 mins past the reservation time before we got sat. I did ask for a booth in advance, so was disappointed when we didn't get one. They also did not ask us if we were celebrating anything / did not acknowledge the note in the res :( Anyways, the server eventually comes by and asks me (specifically me) what I wanted to drink. I responded that I was personally fine with the water. The server did not ask my partner what he wanted to drink, just said "okay then I'll be back soon for the food orders" and walked away. Did not even look at my partner. Which was a shame since he actually did want a drink. So that was odd and rude. At this point, my partner was feeling a certain way, and asked me if we should just leave - I said no, since we waited this long so let's just stay & see. Once the server returned to take the food orders, we ordered a burrito each & placed his drink order at this time. We were asked if we wanted chips & salsa to come out, though unsure if it was complementary or not - so we said no. It honestly took a while for the food to come. It was about 30 minutes after we placed the order. We got the burritos wet but my opinion is that they were way too wet. Such a deep pool of sauce that it almost didn't fit on the plate and spilled. I took a couple bites before I realized my burrito had beef. I was so alarmed. I am Indian and don't eat beef for religious reasons. So I was appalled. Though, I understand how mistakes can happen.... I waved the server order who confirmed the burrito was indeed messed up. I was a bit disappointed that they did not seem more apologetic & offer to comp the order, or offer a drink etc. At this point, my partner and I decided to leave and not wait for the new order. We left cash on the table to cover the soda & left. It was unfortunately such a terrible experience. I wish I could give less than 1 star. I am telling all my friends to avoid this place! read more
9 months ago
My husband and I come here regularly because the food never disappoints. Taquitos crispy and flavorful. Guacamole with queso freso. . Queso fundido with homemade flour tortillas. The best. Mexican Lager on tap. Staff is always friendly and dogs are allowed. read more
Came here at night on a Monday night week day and it was not busy at all. We had the carne asada nachos fries, potato flats and surf and turf tacos and burrito! Loved the live plant wall. Service was quick and friendly. Its street parking so expect to look for parking in the neighborhood. read more
4 months ago
My new go to anytime I come to San Diego! An AMAZING happy hour! The drinks are good, food is great, waiter was exceptional. It was packed on a Friday because it was happy hour but with the atmosphere and service being the way it is, there's no surprise! Definitely recommending 10/10 - the amount of food that we ordered and 6 drinks, the bill was $112 - impressive read more
6 months ago
Great food! Came here on a whim and loved the easy atmosphere and great music. The chips and guacamole were great and the tacos amazing! read more
4 months ago
2 months ago
We had this cheese dip that was out of this world. It was so good. You guys should try it. read more
Business owner information
Hailey P.
So glad you enjoyed our queso Austin !
6 months ago
1st time - The food was delicious, especially the Carnitas tacos, surf & turf tacos & carnitas burrito. Drinks were great. Vibe was cool, music was great. 5 . I'll definitely be back. read more
1 year ago
Our weekend getaway in San Diego landed us at La Puerta for dinner. The service was great, the ambiance very chill. I love the decor and plant walls were the perfect touch! We had the Tostaditas and Viva Mexico burrito. Both were great! Ask for a side of their habanero salsa, it's excellent! Reasonably priced, street parking available. read more
1 year ago
Just ... WOW. We stumbled onto La Puerta as explored San Diego and of course decided to find some good Mexican food. The restaurant was popular compared to their nearby counterparts so we knew we had stumbled onto a good thing. After a short wait where we were welcomed to enjoy margaritas at the bar we were seated at a high table with a great view of the bustling street as well as the bustling inside bar. The menu featured Mexican favorites. We had the Carnitas Street Tacos, the Mix and Match featuring Steak, Carnitas and Shrimp Tacos accompanied by rice and beans. Our group also had the Flautitas and the Chicken Quesadillas. The ingredients and presentation we noticeably fresh - totally spot on! The service and the vibe were excellent. No wonder they nabbed Fodor's Top 10 Taco Spots in the US! Definitely highly recommended! read more
5 months ago
3 months ago
I had a great time here with friends. I love the look of the place. Took forever to get a table but luckily we found a spot at the bar to get drinks while we waited. We learned that they recently started taking reservations when they didn't before. It was kind of annoying sitting at the bar for 30 minutes noticing empty tables that were open when we got there and still open 30 minutes later but luckily we were not in a hurry. Their slushy drinks are so good! They taste great and felt like they don't skimp on the alcohol. I tried their Carne Asada Burrito which was huge and tasted good. I love that the dishes came with pickled red onions. My overall experience was good other than the long wait for a table. read more
3 months ago
8 months ago
9 months ago
Amazing first experience here while visiting San Diego. It was highly recommended for lunch and happy hour. Came for lunch and was so impressed by the selection of margaritas. Homemade margaritas are so delicious, a must try! Our server was ALEXYS and she was fantastic! ALEXYS gave excellent service and was so friendly and always had a smile. Very attentive and warm welcoming. The food was delicious, the Queso Fundido with Chorizo was outstanding and homemade flour tortillas were excellent. Entire staff was very attentive to everyone and always came to our table to check on us. The outdoor ambiance is very cool and the bar is huge. 10/10 for this hidden gem in Mission Hills. Hopefully you will get lucky to get served by ALEXYS. Entire staff was wonderful. read more
3 months ago
I do have to say that I favor this location better than the downtown one. Hubby would definitely disagree! This location is a bit bigger and I love the decor and ambience. Dog friendly as well so it's a plus for me! Of course their happy hour applies here as well and one of the best in sd. Love their shrimp quesadilla and the guacamole and chips. Their guac is literally on my top 5 of guacs! Service was good and friendly. read more
Popped in for lunch and overall had a nice meal. The one thing that really stood out to me that didn't make this a true home run was the amount of flies that were on our food. I feel like they need to deal with that as you truly couldn't take your time to eat and drink as they would just keep coming to the table. The food was very good though and I thoroughly enjoyed the value you got for the prices. Excellent margs as well. read more
1 year ago
Love the little details, the plant walls give it a great outdoor atmosphere. But the best part was the food, so much flavor, it was super delicious Service was all great, very attentive. read more
I found La Puerta on Yelp. The first visit was to their original location downtown in Gaslamp as we had a show afterwards. The second visit was to the Mission Hills location as we had a concert afterwards. I prefer the Mission Hills location more (newer and more space). Food in both places are delicious! Starting off - I'm a big fan of their cocktail menu, especially the Mezcal cocktails. At this point, I think I've tried almost all of them. My faves: - Jet Airline - Mezcal, Aperol, St Germain, Line - Dance Yourself Clean - Mezcal, Lemon, Grapefruit, Cinnamon, Soda - Bittersweet Symphony - Mezcal, Angostura, Pineapple, Lemon As for the food - their Street Tacos! I'm a big fan of their Carne Asada, Surf & Turf and Taqueso Carne. I've also tried their Ceviche, Caesar Salad, Shrimp Tostaditas and Flan. ENJOY!! Delicious!! read more
3 months ago
1 year ago
La Puerta isn't just a restaurant--it's a lifestyle choice. And if you haven't hit their happy hour yet, what are you even doing with your life? We're talking best in the city kind of happy hour. Like, cancel-your-plans-and-make-new-ones-at-La-Puerta kind of good. Let's start with the Cadillac margaritas--because wow. Smooth, strong, and just fancy enough to make you feel like you're doing something special with your Tuesday. Or Wednesday. Or honestly, any day that ends in "y." Now, the potato roll taco... Listen. If carbs on carbs is wrong, we don't want to be right. It's crispy, it's flavorful, it's everything you didn't know a taco could be. Whoever invented it deserves their own statue. Maybe a national holiday. And don't even get us started on Taco Tuesday. They don't just do it--they own it. The taco tray is basically a parade of flavor, and you're the grand marshal. Pro tip: don't come with people who "just want one." You're not sharing. Service? Absolute pros. Fast, friendly, and somehow still chill even when it's packed. It's like they know you're there for a good time, and they're 100% here for it. Whether you're powering through the week or celebrating life with a tray full of tacos and a marg in each hand, La Puerta is where you want to be. Doors open, vibes up. read more
4 months ago
More info about La Puerta
4020 Goldfinch St
San Diego, CA 92103
Mission Hills
Directions
(619) 876-5200
Call Now
Visit Website
https://lapuertasd.com
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Ask the Community - La Puerta
Do you have any Taco Tuesday Specials?
What does your Happy Hour include?
I just called, 50% off appetizers, quesadillas, and bar drinks.
Are we allowed to make reservations for a party of 8?
No reservations- just come on in!
Do you take reservations?
We've always just walked in and had no problem. I've also never seen a empty table with a "reserved" sign on it.
Do you have Taco Tuesday deals?
$3 street tacos, tj dogs, and Tecate starting at 3:00
Do you have vegan options?
I checked the menu and decided to call and ask since I wasn't 100% clear. The gentleman on the phone said there are not very many options available. Things can be adjusted and they can make it work but it's limited with most items containing cheese…
Can I reserve space for a large party?
Email full details to HP@lapuertasd.com to request
The online menu says "must be 21 yrs of age after 3pm". So family can't eat dinner there?
That’s only for our downtown location - mission hills has no age restrictions. However, if you’re downtown under 21 may eat on out patio
Do you offer a gluten-free menu?
Our tacos are served on corn tortillas which are gluten free. The marinade and sauces are gluten free as well. The chips, tostaditas, and flautitas have a very small amount…
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La Puerta - mexican - Updated August 2026
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