The food was amazing and the staff were even more amazing. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu but the cauliflower taco, churros, and banana ice cream were top tier. I came here solo to celebrate my birthday and all the staff were hospitable, friendly, and attentive. Monica and Frank are some of the best people and made my birthday one to remember. read more

I want to give this place some love. We have been coming here almost weekly for years. They are always on point. The food is affordable and it's all fresh, homemade quality. The Cesar salad, rice and beans, fish taco and horchata ice cream are our favorites. I love that you no longer have to order at the counter. Very nice space. I highly recommend! read more

Extremely middle of the road. Very surprised that it has a star. Tacos were middling, my date and I had the pork belly tacos and the birria ones. Both were fine but nothing exceptional. They were also about seven dollars a piece. For drinks, we got horchata and the agua fresca of the day. The horchata was extremely watery and tasted like too much cinnamon. The glass was also comically filled with ice, I'd generously say we got about 3 ounces of a watery horchata for six dollars. Did I order a shot of Henny or a rice drink? Are we serious? The agua was 80% water pineapple juice. I also think that the water glass wasn't washed well, my date could taste notes of something herbal on it. The 16.50 ceviche was smaller than my closed fist and had about eight chips. It tasted good, but the portion size speaks for itself. Everything's priced like this place thinks its food tastes better than it does. A bougie, self-impressed place that shouldn't keep its star. Don't go here, you can get tacos somewhere else, and they probably won't run you 6/per. read more

Really great tacos fresh and came out hot. The Posole was my friends "best one I've ever had in my life and hit the spot" Service was friendly Great place for larger parties Ambiance: great except the smoke from the kitchen/ ventilation made a few people stuffy and runny noses. If ventilation could be fixed I think the experience would be 5 stars. read more

Elevated are the food, service, and ambiance at modern Taqueria Lola 55, as expected of a place with consecutive years of Michelin recognition. FOOD SPECIALS 5/5 Quesa Birria Taco slow cooked chuck birria (flavorful and tender), melted oaxacan cheese (lots), avocado mousse, habanero pickled onions (not spicy imo) & pasilla salt (expect grease!) 5/5 Two taco plate with chipotle rice and Lola's Beans (it's a deal when you add a third taco): 5/5 Steak Taco marinated wood fired steak (cooked well per server recommendation as this is flank), potato mash (not sure I had this), avocado mousse, (very) smokey pasilla salsa, crispy onions (nice texture and flavor), jalapeño toreado (pickled) 5/5 Baja Style Fish beer battered local fish (so tender), jalapeño remoulade chorizo-tomato vinaigrette, bitter greens, pickled serranos, purple basil. read more

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Evidently they have multiple Michelin bib gourmand awards, the food was gorgeous, Baja fish taco was really delicious and the rice and beans were really really good as well, I prefer my carnitas a bit crispier but all the food was gorgeous and delicious. Highly recommend! read more

Lola 55 - Baja fish taco on the left, carnitas taco on the right, and beans and rice. - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

I have passed this place many times saying I'd try them out for years, and I finally did. The place is part of Idea One building and is bright, with an open concept. The greenery all throughout gives it an airy yet urban vibe, so 9/10 on ambiance. Tried their fish tacos, which was filling and fresh - a 10/10. Their chips and guacamole however, missed the mark 5/10, only because the chips were a bit stale. But it wasn't a deal breaker. They have happy hour during the weekdays, so you'll see me come back for that to try out their drinks and other tacos. read more

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This place had so many michelin signs displayed, and highly reviewed, we decided to give it a shot. The tacos were just okay. The pork belly adobada was the best one, the other ones we tried were not special at all. Living in San Diego, we have way better taco places to enjoy. The interior was nicely decorated, it was not crowded, and i appreciated that the prices were not exorbitant for this type of establishment. read more

Lola 55 - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

I got the Steak, Pork Belly, Chicken, Baja Fish, Cauliflower, and Smoked Carnitas. The service was great. Jacob was a great server and bartender. The food I would give an 8.3 out of 10. Loved everything, but the Chicken tacos were ok. Very relaxed ambiance and environment. read more

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We came here on Saturday before a comedy show and were really looking forward to it based on the photos and strong reviews. Unfortunately, the experience didn't live up to the hype. The biggest issue was the service. It took over 30 minutes just to get our drinks from the bar, and they didn't arrive until after our food had already been served. That's a pretty big miss. The food itself looked great, but it lacked flavor across the board. Everything was just... underwhelming. Not terrible, but definitely not what we expected given how it's presented online. To their credit, they did offer to make it right with a complimentary dessert, which we appreciated. However, the overall service felt disorganized, and the interactions with our server were awkward and didn't help the experience. Not rude at all - just very odd. He would walk away from the table as we were in the middle of speaking to him (multiple times). It seemed like he was either new to the job or new to serving because all of our interactions were very awkward. Overall, I really wanted to like this place, but between the slow service and bland food, it just didn't deliver. read more

Lola 55 - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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The food is the main reason this place has a reputation and Michelin awards, and the tacos truly are very good. It is not the most authentic experience but it is definitely a delicious one. The tacos are great and the desserts, especially the churros, are a must try. They are by far the best I have had and simply perfect. The service is also good. Everyone is attentive and the drinks are fine. If I were to list things I do not like about the place, the first would be their lounge style seating. It is not comfortable for eating and they do not have tables that seat more than four people inside. The second would be that it is not ideal if you are in a rush. I ate my tacos in ten minutes and ordered no drinks, yet the entire visit took around one hour and fifteen minutes, even with no wait to be seated. read more

Lola 55 - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Lola 55 is a gem! This restaurant is large and spacious with big windows, open seating, a full bar and artisan tacos. Drinks start at around $13 and there are also fresh Agua frescas. Service is quick and friendly. I would love to see a HH menu here.. We ordered pork belly adobada, smoked carnita, Baja style fish taco and squashroom tacos. Pork belly adobada(7.5/10) thick slices of pork belly with lots of greens. I thought the sauce overpowered the pork belly and wasn't a huge fan of this one. Smoked carnitas(8/10): the pork shoulder is confit for 72 hours and topped with tomatillo. You can definitely taste the love they poured into making this one. It's incredibly tender. Baja style fish(9/10): one of my favorites. Fish was crispy and topped with greens and the sauce complemented this dish perfectly! Don't skip this one Squashroom(10/10): where else can you find a taco with squash blossom, battered locally grown lions mane mushroom with beet soyrizo? The beet soyrizo is smokey along with a bit of spice. I loved the textural components of this dish. I could order just 3 of these and be happy read more

Lola 55 - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

How have I not posted this??? Bottom line...eat here!! Their tacos are all amazing, and their sides are mouthwatering. Tortillas are made fresh in the open kitchen. Lovely bar as well although beer menu is a bit limited. Staff is incredibly friendly, service is quick. Ample indoor and outdoor seating with a Mexican street cafe vibe. read more

Lola 55 - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

It's been a while since I've been back and this place is still great. Got to come in for happy hour this time which runs till 6, even on Fri! The space was busy but we were able to get seated right away with our group of 4 at 5:30. We got a round of margaritas ($7) and ordered a few chicken and pork tacos (each $4) off their happy hour menu. Such a great deal, especially for the quality. Both tacos were delicious but I had a slight preference for the pork since it had a nice textural contrast and I loved the avocado in it. Service was very friendly although we did have to call our waiter over after waiting a bit to get our food order in but the restaurant was busy. read more

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Lola 55: 8.5 I can see why this place is on the Michelin guide, from fresh tortillas to pork being cooked for 72 hours, this place was worth the trip. Service: 11/10 you have to go here just to dine with Hailey - she was awesome from start to finish and even when they were sold out of the carnitas she was able to get me a portion. Aesthetic & Ambiance: 8.5/10 super chill, nice upscale bar vibes with open airy aesthetic. Ambiance was chill during the lunch time with no wait. They do smoke the meat there so you probably will leave smelling a little smokey. Masa fritas: 8/10 interesting fried little chip with a punch of seasoning and flavor TACOS: Smoked carnitas: 7.5/10 for being smoked for so long, it was good but not the star. Mesquite chicken: 3.5/10 honestly not that great and wayyyy to spicy Steak:9/10 it's one slab of steak and it's delicious! Perfectly cooked and delicious bark. read more

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I genuinely don't understand how this place holds a Michelin star. Maybe it earned it at some point, but whatever that version of Lola Tacos was, it's long gone. I arrived around 5 PM and was seated outside on a small patio. As the sun went down it got cold fast, so I tried to get the attention of a nearby server, same person who brought my food, to ask about moving inside. She was literally at the table right next to me. I said "excuse me" multiple times and she never once looked my way. It felt deliberate. I ended up just grabbing my things and moving inside myself. The same server eventually came over to ask if I had moved, like duh. My actual server, the one who took my order, never came to check on me. Not once. Not after my food arrived, not when I had a concern about my dish, not until I was checking out. I didn't even see her again. And I did have a concern. I ordered the pork belly tacos and what arrived looked nothing like pork belly. It was a thin, flat slice of protein, almost like a fish fillet. I've had pork belly at a lot of places and it has never looked like that. I had no one to ask because, again, my server was nowhere to be found. The Caesar salad was a disappointment too. Just whole, uncut romaine leaves with a light dusting of Parmesan and no real dressing to speak of. Minimal effort on the plate. I also ordered the Baja fish tacos, which were fine but nothing memorable. Bottom line: the food isn't worth the price or the hype, and the service made everything worse. I won't be back. read more

I don't even know where to start. The food is delicious but the poor service outweighed the delicious food. We decided to dine here because we found it on the Michelin guide. We had a reservation for 530pm inside and ended up being sat outside. They don't have anyone up front so we didn't know who to check in with. They pointed us to where we had to sit and it took them 30 mins to even greet us. We ordered drinks right off the bat and it took them about an hour to bring them all out, I personally didn't get my drink until after I finished eating. It was very frustrating , seeing that every other table was getting their food and drinks while we had already been there over 45 mins. I figured since we had kids they would try to get us in and out. The food was so good, that I was so disappointed with the service. I'm not sure if I would go again :( read more

Parking was a bit of a headache since it was the night of a Padres game--nearby lots were charging $10 an hour, which felt inconvenient. Once inside though, I loved the modern vibe of the dining area. You order at the register and they bring your food to the table, which keeps things simple and efficient. The menu is small but curated to the essentials. One of the coolest parts was watching them make the tortillas fresh right in front of you--those tortillas ended up being my favorite part of the meal! We ordered the Caesar salad, which I'd rate a 2/5. The dressing was just okay, but the croutons were surprisingly delicious. I also tried a steak taco and a fish taco. The steak taco was the star--perfectly cooked and flavorful. The fish taco was nice and crispy, but it didn't taste like a traditional fish taco, so I'm a little on the fence about it. Overall, the quality of food for the price makes this spot worth coming back to. They also have a great bar with a solid selection of mixed drinks. I had the Michelada, which uses a vegan mix--slightly tangy but a nice touch, especially for anyone vegan. Would definitely return for the tacos (and those tortillas!). read more

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lola 55 is something we crave every other week, but somehow I like to delay leaving a review for many of my favorite go-to restaurants. we always come here for dinner, and the ambiance is just so relaxing and laid back every time we come. the food is so tasty and balanced, you feel satiated but still energized after eating, without feeling gross like you would feel after eating at most restaurants. during one of the dinners we were lucky enough to meet and chat with the owner, who was casually on the floor, checking in on the tables and all the customers. this just reassured the fact that there is a lot of thought and care that comes with every dish out of the kitchen. even the drinks on the menu are curated to have different flavor profiles, and every single ingredient is sourced out from local vendors for both food and drinks. we always get the tacos (especially the carnitas that takes 2 days to prepare), and sometimes I'll get a main dish to change it up. you can't really go wrong with anything though. read more

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Look, I get it, they got a star. I've gone multiple times now and the service improves with every visit, so that's good (shrug). Tortillas are amazing, that's for sure. Got the steak taco cooked they way chef recommends (rare/med-rare), I'd recommend just skipping it entirely. It's under-whelming and you've had better elsewhere, promise! The carnitas was amazing! Nice crisp on the outside of the meat, smoked for 72 hours, insane! That I would order again for sure. Want something with a more fat on it, try the pork belly. Go here to try new things, especially at $7 a taco! I think it's a bit overrated but fun to try new things. The interior, pass. Lastly, I've NEVER seen this place packed. They've been open since 2018 so they're doing something right because that's a lot of real estate to pay for. read more

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I came to Lola 55 for the first time last night. For a Michelin-rated spot, there were some ups and few too many downs, but let's start with the good. The restaurant is very nicely designed and the staff are really helpful. It's comfy and modern, with super high ceilings, a fully stocked bar, and even some couch seating. Staff do their best to keep up with the rush and are always responsive. The highlights of my meal were the masa frita, rice and beans, and chicken taco. The masa frita were incredibly flavorful and memorable. The rice and beans were pretty good as well. The pickled onion in the beans was a nice touch that helped balance flavors. The chicken taco was by far the best taco, and it was spicy (but I love it hot). On the other hand, the steak, pork belly, and fish tacos were all kind of 'meh'. The pork belly had a slightly off flavor...and just wasn't all that flavorful to begin with. The steak taco was really, really chewy--like way too chewy. I felt like a dog playing tug of war. The fish taco, though, was dreadful. When you first bit in it tasted OK, but the aftertaste was extremely fishy and off-putting. Overall, I think a couple menu items are worth it here--masa frita, chicken taco, and the ice cream (which I forgot to mention)--but otherwise it's way too pricey for what you're getting. $30 for a few tacos and beans? And what are these Michelin inspectors smoking? I've had better tacos for 50 pesos at a random street vendor after a 5-minute walk into Tijuana. read more

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This place is wowowow. We ordered a variety of tacos - pork belly al pastor, steak, Mesquite chicken, smoked carnitas, and baja style fish as well as elite which was part of the daily specials. Also tried a house marg with special house salt/seasoning rim. Everything was delicious. You can tell this place really takes the time to make sure all the flavors align. It's not pretentious but impressive. I would definitely be back if I lived in San Diego. Don't sleep on this place. read more

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Came here for lunch, first time in San Diego and decided to try a Michelin Bib gourmand. Ordered elote, fish taco, steak, smoked carnitas, al pastor, and mesquite chicken My favorite was definitely the steak and fish taco. Chicken has some heat to it so be careful if you cant handle spice. Overall, all tacos are very solid. I liked the casual vibe of the restaurant. Very good and deserves the michelin bib gourmand award. Very worth it, would definitely come back again if I'm in the area as a regular. Elote was my gf's favorite. read more

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It was our first time here and we were so excited to try it! It was a Wednesday night and not busy at all. The restaurant is very spacious and lots of seatings. We came and ordered at the bar right away. Caleb was super helpful and found out if certain things were fried in lard for us because we don't eat pork. We got the Baja fish taco, steak taco and I think chicken quesadillas. Elote and churros for dessert. Everything was so so good! I thought the Elote would be cut up for us but this way was ok too! Definitely will be back! read more

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Honestly some of the best more-boujee tacos in San Diego! My coworkers recommended this place and I was not disappointed. It is located downtown so I can see how parking can be tough. Very clean restaurant and really friendly staff! I've tried their fish, steak, and cauliflower tacos. 2 tacos is a good amount for 1 person! I've dined in all the times I've visited and there's plenty of seating. The tortillas are some of the best I've had, and the proteins are well cooked. My favorite so far has been the steak taco. The only thing is that service is a bit slow, so expect to wait a bit if you come here. read more

Lola 55 - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here because it was Michelin recommended (and so did everyone else, what an unoriginal experience hahahahah). I came in around 8:15pm on a Thursday and it was very empty. There was only one other couple there. There's a lot of seating with a bar area as well. It's definitely a very aesthetic place and coming here during the day would probably be very different than the 8pm dining experience. My friend and I ordered the pork belly al pastor taco, the baja style fish taco, and the smoked carnitas taco. The pork belly taco was so unique, and the pork belly melted in my mouth! It was something I'd definitely get again and not something I've seen anywhere else. The carnitas taco had this delicious flavor/seasoning that I preferred over the pork belly al pastor. The baja style fish was also delicious! It was super crispy and the sauce was just chefs kiss, chefs hug, chefs embrace :--) As a cheapskate, I would say despite the price, it's worth trying these tacos! They're a bit larger than an average street taco. My only strange feeling about this was was the ambiance -- it wasssss a bit strangely/quiet, and the service wasn't anything special. If you're reading reviews-- just go and blow that $6 on a taco, it's totally worth it! read more

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Lola was a pretty nice place :) I came bc it's Michelin recommended; my visit was on a Wednesday around 4:30p. I ordered a fish taco and a steak taco, as well as a side of beans. One outstanding thing - the prices! I ate all that and was quite full, and I think my total was like $27? Very reasonable. And the staff were super friendly and helpful! Tons of tables available too. The day I went only 3-4 other tables were taken and there were like 20. The tacos themselves were quite good, but can't say they blew my mind. Nevertheless, for the price and quantity and good service I would def say this is a 5 star place and if you're in the area you can get a great, cost effective, and filling meal :) read more

Lola 55 - Side of Lola's Beans; my hand for size comparison (my hands are small tho, bear in mind) - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Went to Lola 55 with a buddy after several friends highly recommended their tacos. We ordered the two-taco platters and the Brussels sprouts. The platter comes with two tacos, rice, and beans. The flavors on the tacos were good--the steak and fish had solid seasoning--but unfortunately the tortillas were cold, which really took away from the experience. Tacos should be served warm, and the cold tortillas made everything feel less fresh, brussels sprouts were tasty. The rice was decent, nothing special, and the beans were actually pretty good. The Brussels sprouts were fine as well. Overall, it wasn't bad, but it was a bit disappointing given how highly the tacos were recommended. If the tortillas had been warm, this would have been a much better meal read more

Lola 55 - Taco Platter - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Omg Jacob the Bartender is the best server I ever had in my life!!!! he is so attentive and attractive and he is just the best!!!!

I thought this place was really good. It had the best Baja fish taco. I've tried. I thought their steak taco was really good and interesting. Really good cook on the meat and good smokiness. I thought the pork belly all Pastor was good. It wasn't my favorite Al Pastor in downtown but it was second overall. I'd give this place a 4.4. Definitely worth a try. read more

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Michelin recommend contemporary taco shop in East Village! Lola 55 is a great spot with some tasty renditions on tacos and the quesadilla being more similar to a vampiro. The vibe inside was laid back yet elevated and the service was fantastic. All in all a spot we'd come back to, but if you are looking for traditional street tacos try The Taco Stand or Tacos El Gordo. read more

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This is a go to place for yummy tacos! And the salad was amazing as well. Beautifully bright and cheerful restaurant with aquamarine tables can make one have a real good appetite. The following tacos were all so fresh and mouthwatering: Pork Bely Adobada, Smoked Carnitas, and Baja Style Fish. The Fall Market Salad is a must try! Full of flavors and so healthy. Our server was very pleasant, attentive and nice to chat with! read more

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I found out about this place from the michelin guide and decided to give it a try during my trip to San Diego. I arrived right when they opened on a Saturday afternoon and the entire place was practically empty. I ordered a steak, pork belly al pastor, smoked carnitas, and baja style fish tacos. They arrived within 15 minutes of ordering. My favorite was the smoked carnitas. The smokiness and tenderness of the pork meat was so delicious. The red onions gave a nice crunch to break up the softness of the meat. The steak was a close second favorite with the meat not being too overcooked. It was juicy and meaty, but still tender. My least favorite was the pork belly al pastor. There was just one piece of pork belly and it was kind of sad both visually and taste wise. The flavor was there, but half the piece was just fat instead of meat. Overall, solid tacos for a reasonable price. Aside from one taco being a slight disappointment, the other 3 were tasty. If I'm ever in the area I would come back to eat the tacos again. read more

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We swing in for the happy hour and got the cauliflower taco and beer. It was nice that they had a few vegiterian/vegan options for tacos that were unique. The cauliflower one had an eggplant bacon that added a nice crisp and smoky flavor. The beer was just okay but they arent a brewery so I wasnt expecting it to be amazing. The staff was pretty quick and friendly and had a few recommendations that were helpful as well. Overall a nice place to grab a bite. read more

Lola 55 - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Lola55 is a restaurant in downtown San Diego specializing in tacos and in 2022 received the Michelin 'Bib Gourmand' an award that recognizes good quality, good value cooking...and that's what peaked my interest to visit. The restaurant is the East Village area, limited metered street parking, indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant space occupies the ground floor of a mixed use apartment building. Interior is spacious, with high ceilings, a large full service bar and a friendly helpful staff. The menu is simplistic: tacos of various some of veggie options, soup, rice, beans, drinks and desserts. The mexican soup; Pozole Verde was presented as two bowls; bowl with the chicken broth along with the bowl of fresh greens to top the soup. This pozole verde was good but despite the toppings, still tasted bland, perhaps adding some spice ness will help... I was curious to try lots of tacos but had to make many visits. I don't eat pork and not a hugh fan of chicken, but I did try the beef steak, Baja fish, and various vegetable tacos. Each taco was of normal size, not tiny dime size, were delish and was made creatively using familiar ingredients with twist in preparation and presentation, resulting in an wow reaction, but wished those tacos were served temperature hot, not Luke warm/cold. Overall, the tacos were good just not great, but an 'A' for creative effort for deviating from the common basic tacos. The taco variations with vegetables content: cauliflower, mushroom and/or the squash blossom tasted best. In agreement with Michelin's assessment and award, Lola55 earns a Bib Gourmand and their tacos are worth a try. Recommend read more

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Order by seat type of service. Employees are nice. I never anticipated a Michelin guided place to allow me to get my own water and silverware. The carnitas, fish and the pork belly tacos were the way to go. The steak was not tender enough. This place is pretty swanky but casual wear. I love the aesthetics. I think order by seat satisfies group settings so you don't have to worry about splitting the bill, but it's difficult when you want to order more. read more

Lola 55 - Steak quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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They're great! The drinks and food were amazing. Well worth the Michelin Guide awards displayed on their walls. My only complaint is that they're closing the Carlsbad location (I blame Carlsbad for this travesty). I had the smoked carnitas taco, mesquite grilled steak taco and pork belly al pastor taco and they were all incredibly tasty! My favorite was the smoked carnitas taco. The carnitas was juicy and perfectly smoked, while the pickled red onions added the perfect acidity. We also had the masa frita which was accompanied with an avocado mousse. Unique and great to munch on while waiting for our tacos. The cocktails were also fantastic! I had the Piña Vice, which was my favorite of the 2, and also the El Camino Marg, which was very good too. Go get ya some tacos and cocktails here and help keep them around! You won't be sorry. read more

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I rarely write reviews but have to on this occassion. The food was so spectacular but the service was soooooo bad that it made it hard to enjoy the food. All the service personnel was friendly and nice but they had no idea about waitservice, customer service or food service flow. Dishes were not cleared. We had to pile our own dishes on a banister in order to enjoy the desert. Even so the table was full of appetizer plates, main plates. We had to go up to find the server on 3+ occassions for a missing drink, a missing main, more water. No check ins from services and we waited a long time before our order was taken. The saddess part was that there were only a few other customers. Food was amazing but it's more like a service and bus yourself place- eeek! read more

10/10! Just moved downtown & been exploring food spots! This place is hands down one of the best! Food was amazing and the service was even better! Will def be back when waiting to pick our kid up from school read more

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Been here twice before and enjoyed the food especially the quesadillas. Today for lunch it was so slow and understaffed that we ended up having one of our items that we waited about an hour for taken off the bill. Not sure what's going on with this place lately, but I did not really enjoy my ceaser salad much today either. The croutons were deep fried bread, totally hard and greasy looking. Chicken on it was just ok. We cleared off our own table before sitting down. read more

Lola 55 - Most delicious quesadillas! - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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