Marieta&#x27;s

I live very close to Old Town San Diego and like trying many different family style Mexican…read morerestaurants. In fact over the many years I've lived here, I've tried most of them. Today I found myself in Santee running an errand and stumbled across El rancho cantina and grill. Since I was hungry I figured I would give it a shot and while am I glad I did! I ordered the chicken mole with flour tortillas and it was the best mole I've ever tried. And I've tried a lot! I'm still thinking about it and I literally licked the plate clean, if you don't believe me see the pictures! I don't make it to East county very often but I'm already thinking about making the trip back for more food, I was planning to order the chicken chimichanga but decided to go with the mole instead and wow!

Horrible customer service! We stood there waiting over 10…read moreminutes. The hostess and server saw us walked by us multiple times and did not acknowledge us. They are not even that busy right now. I will never return to this restaurant. Absolutely horrible customer service.

Bar

Fajitas

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Menu 1/2025

Bad Hombres Good Mexican Food

4.2(604 reviews)

0.0 mi

Food is great but the drive through line takes forever. Even if there are only a few cars ahead of…read moreyou it can take upwards of 30 minutes.

Went golfing at Carlton Oaks and found this place nearby. Lots of people ordering food inside and…read moreat the drive-thru. Mexican restaurant run by non-Mexicans with tasty and generous amounts of Mexican food. We shared the nachos carne asada with half no cheese because of my dairy free son. Lotso food and tasty meat. Chips stayed crunchy all the way to the bottom. Also had the machaca burrito and taquitos. Yummy. Great service. Friendly and very accommodating! Plenty of inside table seating. Glad they have a self-serve soda fountain. Next time we're in Santee, we'll be back.

Surf and turf fries, and tacos

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Surf and Turf Fries

Roberto’s Taco Shop - Santee

4.2(56 reviews)

1.3 mi

The burrito was huge, the rolled tacos were heaping and the beer was ice cold. By far the best we…read moreevery had.

On our most recent visit to Roberto's, I ordered the Grilled Shrimp Quesadilla while Becky chose…read morethe Carne Asada Rice Bowl. Two items we had not yet tried in our many visits to Roberto's. We sat at the little bar and each had a pint of Pacifico while we waited for our to-go order to be prepared. The quesadilla was a large flour tortilla stuffed with shrimp, Pico and melted cheese. It was cut into four large pieces. The shrimp were plump and perfectly grilled. The cheese was melty with that great cheese pull, and I really liked the addition of the Pico. The portion size was generous for the price. I got two meals out of it. The carne asada bowl was huge. It fed Becky four times. It was packed with flavors. There was a lot going on in the bowl. Generous helpings of carne asada, beans, rice, Pico, and guacamole. I was pleased to see it served in a tin rather than Styrofoam as my quesadilla was. That's really my only complaint about Roberto's, the use of Styrofoam. It is just not conducive to hot foods.

Carne Asada Fries

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Carne Asada taco & Adobada taco

Cotijas Taco Shop

3.7(502 reviews)

0.3 mi

Heading back to San Diego. July 6th through the 13th, 2026 this will be one of the first places I…read morehit. They have such great food here. Miss it. You will not find anything like this in Tennessee that would compare to this food. You can find Mexican food in Crossville, Tennessee, but it's nowhere close to California Mexican food.

It was just Ok. The Boss Lady and I were hoping for great food, since we don't get this in East…read moreTexas, but it was somewhat disappointing. We miss SoCal Mexican and wanted to love this joint. The cheese on some of the plates was cold and not melted. The flavors were great and the salsas were on point! I had the fish tacos, which were good but I wish that they had a grilled option. Probably won't be going back

Comedor

Carne Asada Fries

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Carne Asada Chips

Sayulitas Mexican Food

4.2(232 reviews)

1.8 mi

Actual abysmal service from the front, but I can't lie the food was fire. The inside has a lot of…read morehandwritten signage but it was nice and quaint.

Absolutely a good bang for your buck kind of place. Portions ginormous. Customer service excellent…read more Food very very good. Salsas are amazing. Restaurant is sweltering inside so be ready for that. Probably will be back again if I'm ever in town again.

California Burrito and Carnitas Burrito

California burrito

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California burrito - seriously the size of a newborn baby

Cazadores Mexican Food

3.7(426 reviews)

0.1 mi

Surf in their Surf & Turf options is slackin. The shrimp would possibly be frozen shrimp or need to…read morebe cooked more. Also, I'm surprised the Surf & Turf burrito didnt have rice in it to soak up the juices.

I've been coming to Cazadores for well over a decade. Even after having moved out of San Diego I…read moremake a point to drop in just about every time I visit. The food has always been incredibly delicious, fresh, and consistent. The staff are also always helpful and friendly, even when I often come by late at night not far off from closing time. The restaurant is always clean and there's ample seating. Their salsas are some of the best I've had and are honestly a huge factor in what keeps me coming back. Can't wait to visit again and get my California burrito fix!

Fish tacos - delicious!

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Drive Thru

Los Amigos Mexican Food

4.0(155 reviews)

1.7 mi

Had Los Amigos on Tuesday night for dinner. Very nice Mexican Food place on Mast Blvd. I had a…read moreCarne Asado burrito that was huge! I finished the whole thing but it is plenty big enough to save for the next day. My wife also had the surf 'n turf burrito which was excellent as well.

The food is always great - fresh and delicious. The service…read moreis friendly and fast! One of our favorites

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Current menu with prices as of September 15th 2024.

Mr.Birria

4.4(705 reviews)

0.1 mi

food so delicious great service by lucy love the ambience very clean and nice place to take your…read morefamily and friends

We came here yesterday because of all the 4.5-star Yelp reviews, and I can honestly say they were…read moreabsolutely deserved. This place completely lived up to the hype! The birria was incredibly delicious--full of flavor, fresh, and perfectly prepared. The restaurant was clean, the service was outstanding, and Jose made our experience even better. He was friendly, welcoming, and genuinely took great care of us. We enjoyed it so much that we're actually coming back again today! If you're looking for amazing birria and excellent customer service, I highly recommend Mr. Birria. We'll definitely be back again and again!

Carne Asada Fries - San Diego style with cheese, pico & crema

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Cheesy Birria Melt - dipped and loaded

Estrada's Mexican Food

3.6(199 reviews)

0.4 mi

Food is consistent and delicious!…read more Service is very friendly and they don't complain or charge extra when you want more salsa Ambiance is your typical Mexican shop. It's clean and the AC is working well on those hot days in Santee The only gripe I have is I wish they would open on Sundays

3.5 stars Came and got a carne asada burrito. They asked if…read moreI wanted it Mexican or American style. He told me the difference but I was still confused he said the Mexican style came with avocado and pico de gallo so I went with that. The burrito came on a nicely grilled tortilla, the meat was high quality and tender. I liked that it came with slices of avocado rather than guacamole. But there was something missing then I realized that it didn't have sour cream and cheese. After looking at the menu I noticed that I should have ordered the "Classico" which comes with sour cream, cheese and black beans. My fault, I guess that's what he was asking when I ordered. The place is casual and has about 8 tables inside and its own parking lot. The burrito was good but they have more options than I'm used to. Next time I'll order the "Classico" This place has real potential, just gotta try more stuff or look over the menu closer next time. Next time maybe crispy beef tacos, chimichanga or carnitas.

Cozy interior

Shrimp burritos

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Menu 1/2

Ferny's Mexican Grill

4.1(413 reviews)

1.3 mi

I love this place. If you're looking for the best crispy potato tacos, this is it! Also I love…read moretheir habanero salsa! So good! The people are nice and they've given the place a facelift. The only downfall to this place is the parking. But overall, everything I've ordered from there was good! Now, if they made an avocado salsa, they'd really be all set!

lol wut Ordered a…read moresteak & egg burrito at 9:47. Finally received my food at 10:08 when I went to ask what was going on since several other people ordered after me and left with their food before me. Now I am home with a cold burrito and IT'S NOT THE RIGHT ONE. Ordered Steak & Egg, received Chorizo. To add insult to injury, young boy that needs a belt busted my balls for asking for more than the allowed tiny hot sauce cups. I also asked for carrots and didn't get those either. What happened to Ferny's? Used to love this place for Taco Tuesday. It's all bright inside now since they remodeled. Maybe owner change? At least the Orange Bong is good Major bummer. Wish I would have spent the extra to order via Doordash. At least I could report the errors and recoup a little.

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Clear shot of their most current menu

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Orange Bong & Chorizo Burrito

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34 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Craig R.

Elite 17

1795

662

147

10 months ago

I've been a patron of Marieta's in Santee for years, and it consistently delivers a wonderful dining experience. The moment you walk in, the staff treats you like family, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that makes you want to return again and again. The food is delicious and consistently high-quality. The chips and salsa are some of the best I've had, with the salsa offering a perfect kick. Portions are generous, and dishes like the chicken fajitas and carne asada are always flavorful and served piping hot. The service is attentive and friendly--shout out to the excellent servers who always make sure your needs are met quickly and with a smile. It's a true local institution that maintains a cozy, authentic feel. If you're looking for great Mexican food in East County with a side of genuine hospitality, Marieta's is the place to go! read more

Martha F.

0

1

0

13 years ago

ABSOLUTELY LOVED this place!! Took my mother in law when she was in town and she loved everything as well!!! We all had an amazing time while dinning there. The servers and busboys were all very curteous and funny. I order the Mar & Tierra...so deliciooooooooso!!! The camarones tequila were very crunchy, just how I love them! My suegra ordered the carnitas plate! She said they were very flavorful. They reminded her of the ones she once had in Mexico! She had also had a Tamarindo margarita and she said she could really taste the fruit in it, which was also very good. Something else that really complimented our night was the guitar singer. His singing truly brought the fiesta into our visit to this restaurant! I loved everything this great family joint offered us this great night!! :)) read more

Brian W.

0

1

0

8 years ago

My favorite Mexican food in all of Santee! They have amazing, food, albeit with a longer wait than usual, but the wait is worth it. Decently sized plates and a bar in the back if you like that. The waiters have personalities and are very helpful. If you have a bigger caravan of people, they can and will move tables around to oblige. Overall, I have no complaints and have gone there around 10-15 times so far. Most of the menu is exceptional, but my go-to is their burritos and their nachos. Both are made well and taste delicious. Obviously, everyone has different tastes, so if you're in the neighborhood and want to try a different Mexican food place, I highly recommend you give this one a chance. read more

Martha F.

0

2

0

12 years ago

Marieta's is back in Business!!! So, happy to see that because I was dying without my Chorizo Beans and Salsa!! Been going there since I moved to Santee in 1997. I have never had a bad experience there. Vermin Infestation? Let's be Real, it happens everywhere. You either get caught or not. I'm glad they have re-opened....which means that the manager and shopping center are taking care of that!!! And will continue to do so. And for now, I'm off to get my Chips and Salsa! Oh....and my Chorizo Beans!! read more

Ronda R.

0

1

0

13 years ago

Found this place last night, holy moly it was awesome. My husband is picky about hot sauce he had no complaints last night. I had the Enchiladas Rancheros and Oh My they were good. The beans and rice were the best tasting that I have found in San Diego. Hubby had the Chicken Carna combo with a Enchilada. Let me not forget the guacamole was delicious.The prices were a lot cheaper than we expected. The serves was great nice people. We will be returning read more

Zain S.

1

4

0

9 years ago

A weekly visit to our favorite Mexican restaurant. The food is always excellent and served by our favorite , Luis. Service is always the best right down to their cashier. Always a good time here at Marieta's. My only problem is occasionally the inconsistency with the strength of the margaritas. read more

Cohen V.

3

6

0

9 years ago

Very friendly atmosphere. The best part is the free unlimited chips and salsa you're given through your meal!!! Best chips and salsa I've ever eaten at a restaurant no competition. And occasionally they will give you bean and cheese dip or vegetables for free too. Margaritas are great too read more

Martha R.

0

1

0

12 years ago

We love this restaurant!!!Wonderful place, the food is the best, omg great margaritas, chips and salsa are bomb.We've been costumers for more than 15 years, we don't change our sunday brunchs for nothig read more

Renee C.

0

3

0

14 years ago

We love it!!! We seem to go at least once a week. Everyone is so friendly. The staff seem to recognize us now and always treat us well. The food is great and the salsa is one of my favorites. read more

Brian M.

70

141

12

2 years ago

Always a good meal to be had at this place. Always fresh made. Service is quick. Ambiance is that of a typical sit down Mexican restaurant. Worth a visit if you like sit down Mexican food. read more

Brittany S.

0

3

0

10 years ago

My favorite Mexican restaurant in San Diego for sure! The waiters are all so friendly and sweet. I have never been disappointed in the food and the margaritas alone are worth going for! read more

Kid T.

0

65

14 years ago

GARBAGE FOOD! Went there on a friends suggestion. I am no longer friends with this "person" and am contemplating setting his car on fire... (not really, but you get the picture) read more

Saul T.

0

3

0

11 years ago

Good food, good prices, and overall good service! Shoutout to our waiter Oscar for being attentative and making sure we were taken care of. Definetely recommend trying it out. read more

Rene M.

73

5

2

11 years ago

Took my girlfriend Patty there with her familia and had a great time. Food was great and the drinks. Service was excellenta and our waiter Oscar did a great job ! read more

Liz R.

0

1

0

12 years ago

The food is outstanding and the people who work there are extremely nice and outgoing. :) I definetly recommend it. :)

Heath S.

1

5

0

9 years ago

Good place for family dinners. Large menu and food is generally good. Service is good. Restaurant is usually busy.

Suzi R.

0

3

0

9 years ago

Everytime I visit San Diego, I eat here. Love their enchiladas! Can't find anywhere in the northwest that compares

Felisha M.

0

3

0

11 years ago

Yum this place is so good get the appetizer flautas, bomb I wish I was old enough for margarita ha ha! Fun place

Jeff G.

0

6

8

11 years ago

Awesome service, very friendly staff. Good quite atmosphere. Not over priced Large portion. Food is really good read more

Joanna L.

59

15

5

7 years ago

Just love this place. Food is great and the staff are amazing. Not my first time here and will not be my last.

Marieta's - mexican - Updated September 2026

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I've only ever experienced joy here. Or is wonderful and extremely delicious and they are super…read morenice.

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Horrible customer service! We stood there waiting over 10…read moreminutes. The hostess and server saw us walked by us multiple times and did not acknowledge us. They are not even that busy right now. I will never return to this restaurant. Absolutely horrible customer service.

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