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Mama Cruz

4.5 (2 reviews)
Closed 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Mama Cruz Photos

MAMA CRUZ ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Good for kids
Outdoor seating

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Los Portales de Garcia - New York Steak

Los Portales de Garcia

3.0(70 reviews)
0.2 km
$$

We stopped at Portales de García on our way down to Valle de Guadalupe, and honestly, it's one of…read morethose places that's all about the setting. The building itself is beautiful! kind of castle-like architecture perched right on the coast, and the ocean views are absolutely stunning. I only had a drink here, so I can't speak much to the food firsthand, but I did read quite a few reviews beforehand and noticed a pretty consistent theme: people seem to love the views and atmosphere, but the food is often described as underwhelming. That was part of the reason we kept it simple and just stopped in for a drink break. For me, it worked perfectly as a scenic pause on the drive -- grab a drink, take in the coastline, stretch your legs, and enjoy the view. If you're expecting a full standout culinary experience, it might not be the place. But if you treat it as a beautiful roadside stop with incredible scenery, it definitely delivers. Worth it for the views alone, just manage expectations on the dining side.

The parking was relatively easy. They have a designated spot and it's free if you bring the parking…read moreattendant the receipt. The restaurant is really aesthetically pleasing with plenty of Instagram worth spots to take pictures. The service is pretty good and they're quick with clearing the table and bringing out the drinks. The food is just OK for the price. We ordered aguachile, bacon wrapped shrimp, the mixed plate, and chimichurri shrimp. The flavor of the aguachile was good, but it was odd that there was a mix of jumbo shrimp and regular sized shrimp. It also didn't seem like they allowed the shrimp to "cook" in the lime. I also wasn't a fan of how chunky the cucumber was cut. The bacon wrapped shrimp was good as well. The chimichurri shrimp was more like shrimp in butter. The mixed plate was decent, but only came with a little bit of salsa. The portions of the octopus were pretty big (unappealing to some). The drinks were great though! We'd likely come back just for drinks!

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Los Portales de Garcia
Los Portales de Garcia - Lobster dinner

Lobster dinner

Los Portales de Garcia - Paloma

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Paloma

Encanto - Hot molcajete

Encanto

3.9(331 reviews)
0.1 km
$$$

Encanto somehow just keeps getting better. The views alone are worth the drive, but they've really…read morebuilt up the patio area and it is gorgeous now. There's so much seating, so it feels open and relaxed even when it's busy. It's one of those places where you immediately want to grab your phone and take a few photos. The food is still just as delicious as I remember, and the service is unmatched. Everyone is attentive without hovering and you feel really taken care of. Honestly, it's worth stopping in even if you just go for a drink and soak in the scenery. Great cocktails, stunning backdrop, and such a good overall vibe. I'll definitely keep coming back.

I recently visited Encanto in Ensenada and unfortunately had a very disappointing experience…read more When the bill arrived, I noticed that one of my dishes was priced incorrectly. I politely pointed it out to our server, Daniel, expecting it to be corrected. Instead, he casually dismissed it and said, "It's only 100 pesos more," which I found unprofessional and disrespectful. It's not about the amount it's about accuracy and customer service. Because of this interaction, I decided to remove the $20 tip I had initially left. When I did, he took the receipt to his manager and claimed that I hadn't tipped at all. I explained the situation, but he responded with a smirk, which felt mocking and made the situation even more uncomfortable. Additionally, the service overall was slow. We asked for water multiple times before ordering, during the meal, and even after finishing and it still took a long time for it to arrive. Unfortunately, this experience left a very negative impression, despite the setting. I hope management takes this kind of behavior seriously and works on improving both service quality and professionalism.

Photos
Encanto - Second story seating- the views are beautiful

Second story seating- the views are beautiful

Encanto
Encanto

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Medio Camino Restaurant Bar - Back deck

Medio Camino Restaurant Bar

3.8(6 reviews)
0.7 km
$$

3.5 stars. On the…read moredrive down to La Misión I saw the sign for this place & thought it was an actual halfway house, but turns out its name is a reference to the fact it's located halfway bet'n Rosarito & Ensenada. First things first: ignore the menu, just ask Chef Johnny what he's got & let him do his thing. A lot of times they don't have what's on the menu so you're kind of wasting your time by choosing. We had had ribeye with a red wine demi-glace that was quite good, and fish "mojo de ajo" (with butter & garlic) that was better. Each came with a small baked potato (just the right size) and some veggies that were OK. Dinner included a tortilla soup that I was told was OK and a Caesar salad with very fresh baby Romaine and an eggy dressing. The made-to order guac was OK, but I think they put mayo in it so the avo taste got kind of lost. The chips were tasty (freshly-made) but the "salsa" was a ton of tomatoes with a few onions, not really notable. Chef Johnny once cooked for the President of Mexico; these days he lives in a trailer next to the restaurant with his wife and cooks mostly what he wants. He came out to our table & I had a great conversation with him; he's very passionate about being happy and doing what he wants and it seems to be working for him. The dude can sing, too; he's got a terrific voice & if you ask him he might croon you a tune or two. He's certainly a character and a good guy. There's a full bar and first thing you notice is they allow smoking, unlike in the States. The room is nice but nothing spectacular, and the service is attentive and friendly. Worth a visit if you're in the area.

I had hesitated to go in as it looked deserted. The food was wonderfully simple and fresh and the…read moreback deck is great

Photos
Medio Camino Restaurant Bar
Medio Camino Restaurant Bar
Medio Camino Restaurant Bar - The view from the back deck isn't too shabby!

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The view from the back deck isn't too shabby!

Mama Cruz - seafood - Updated July 2026

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