We had Mexican Bar cater a meal for 50 men and they had nothing but rave reviews. The carnitas were slow-cooked & lean. The grilled chicken tacos were marinated and served with lots of condiments. The refried beans were yummy. The enchiladas were even yummier. We appreciated the friendly attitude and service. We'll do this again. read more

The margaritas are excellent and the establishment is dog friendly. We love the fajitas. I wish they would improve the rice and beans. The rice is very dry and the beans have little flavor read more

It was my pleasure to recently visit one of Poway's newest Mexican restaurants! MexicanBar is a peculiar name but such a beautiful establishment. Opened just a few months ago in the space formerly occupied by MexiCocina off Oak Knoll. I ordered the "Four Flautas" from the appetizer menu and really enjoyed it. Crispy fried flour tortilla flutes filled with your choice of chicken or pork. Artfully topped with lettuce, cheese, sour cream and guacamole drizz. On my second visit I tried a Chile Relleno and it was excellent! Also included a tasty carne asada enchilada. The relleno really impressed me. Nice sized chile that had a distinct smoky spice to it, cheese that did not spooge out and not overly sauced. It was quite skillfully prepared. MexicanBar features an impressive selection of draft beers, tequilas and cocktails which I appreciate. Chips & Salsa service was very good. The restaurant is spacious, clean, and classy yet modern. Split into two halves, there is a vibrant bar area filled with high-top tables and an adjoining dining room. Ample outdoor seating as well if you're into that. Service was thoughtful, friendly and genuine. This place offers Happy Hour every day of the week! Including weekends, from 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm. I look forward to visiting again soon to try some more of their great looking, elevated Mexican dishes. Highly recommended! read more

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The food was delicious, very good service, our server was very friendly & attentive, the place is tastefully decorated & accommodating. Great place to try . I will recommend them to friends & families. read more

...wanted this place to be good but sorry can't recommend. everything you see on this plate was dry af. food was lukewarm - someone forgot to run my plate out on time. lighting was poor and the tables are too close together. sit-down mexican restaurants up in north county inland are mostly shyt. stick to jalapeños, yesenia's, serrano's, or takeout joint. skip this one. read more

MexicanBar - Steak & Enchilada Combo - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

Never been but invited to DAR fundraiser tonight. Was very surprised. Had the Barria and pastor tacos. Plus ceviche and guac. Chips were light and crispy. Salsa good but not spicy. Priced inexpensive. Recommend read more

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Aidan our server was very friendly and helpful. It was our first time there. We shared a 3 item combo; chile relleno, carnitas taco, and carne asada taco. It came with beans and rice. The meal was $22. Chips and salsa were served and the chips were warm..bonus! The salsa was very mild, but tasty. It could've used a Serrano pepper. The beans were extremely good. The rice wasn't as fluffy as I like. As for the tacos, the carnitas taco was delish! It was juicy and flavorful and the corn tortillas tasted handmade. The carne asada taco was a little too smoky for our taste, but tender. My husband ate the chile relleno and he definitely gave it a thumbs up. I didn't take pictures, but there are already plenty in other reviews. It's been remodeled since it was Mexicocina and under new management. It's got a very nice, clean feel to it. Overall I'd definitely recommend you give it a try. read more

The Surf & Turf Burrito is out of this world! We absolutely love the rice and beans, and the Chile Relleno is the best one we've ever had!! My husband said the beers were nice and ice cold. Love the vibe and decor of the restaurant, it's adorable and fun for watching the game in the bar section. Our server, Sydney, had the best customer service, she was very polite and cute as a button! read more

Good food and good service. We ordered Veggie Burrito- it looked so good and was big. The flour tortilla I was told was very fresh. Enchiladas no cheese chicken and carnitas. The corn tortillas were delicious and the beans were really good. Chips and salsa were also fresh. I would have given 5 stars but the water and the Iced tea tasted like faucet water so they were hard to drink. Will definitely go back. read more

MexicanBar - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

MexicanBar replaced Mexi Cocina which I loved for the past 20+ years but it tanked the last few years. Came to MexicanBar for lunch on a Tuesday. They offer a taco Tuesday deal of $2 off $13 two tacos or $3 off $21 trio taco plate. You can add rice ($2), beans ($2), salad ($3). I got two tacos of Baja fish taco and shrimp taco. Also flour chicken flautas. Flautas are my all time favorite. Rarely see it on the menu. I tend to associate an authentic Mexican restaurant to having flautas because most of the time places offer rolled tacos. I was excited but disappointed with the flautas. From the look of it, I could tell it was going to be hard not crispy. I took a bite and it wasn't airy fluffy crispy and tasted like rolled tacos. It was deep fried too long, the chicken was bland and dried out. It was topped with sour cream, cheese, creamy guacamole that doesn't seem house made and drizzled with not so fresh cilantro. I wish it had pico de gallo. The tacos had flavor in the sauce and pico de gallo but the beer battered fish taco was overly fried making the batter hard and crunchy. Had more batter than fish. Parking here can be tough on days with Orange Theory and the dance studio going on at the same time, along with Harney Sushi. For the most part, you'll find parking. It's modern and clean. Lots of seating in the dining area, the bar side and patio seating. I can see coming here for drinks to have a good time with the complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa could be a bit more spicy. The food needs more TLC and the service. 2.5 round to 3. My friend ordered a Baja fish taco and carnitas w added rice. They forgot her rice and gave her Baja shrimp taco instead of the fish. Not sure why they couldn't remove the charge for the rice, instead, gave her 20% off. read more

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Great service. The food was really tasty. The corn tortillas are hand made. I had ahi fish taco, black beans and rice. All very good and fresh. The rice was not mushy or clumpy. My partner had carne asada taco w refried beans which was also great. Refried beans is one measure for a good Mexican place and they met the mark. Looking forward to coming back. Lots of good choices to try. read more

Unlike what's shown in the photo, the Cali Poway burrito didn't come with any of the items advertised. When I asked the manager about it, he told me that rice and beans are only available for an extra charge. The whole experience felt misleading and disappointing. read more

MexicanBar - Cali-Poway - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

First visit to this restaurant and came for the Taco Tuesday special. This is a newer place and has only been open a few months. We arrived near closing time but was told the kitchen was still open. We were craving some Taco Tuesday specials. We got the Adobada, Shrimp and Chicken Tacos., cost was @ $20 for the three tacos. Tacos were all very dry. The chicken taco had some type of coating on it that you could not tell if it was chicken or pork or ?, just didn't taste good. The Adobada was so dry it was almost inedible . The tacos were street taco size so I understand they were small, they also didn't taste good. On the positive side, service was friendly. When you advertise Taco Tuesday Specials you almost expect it to be a lower price than the menu regular price. Overall, very disappointing . read more

Fun place, friendly service, great food and drinks!!!! Love it here!!! Great place to meet up with friends and family!

Yelp kept recommending this place so I finally decided to give it a try. It's in the location that used to be MexiCocina, a Poway staple for decades. My wife and I each had two tacos. Prices seem high but they are big tacos, not street tacos. I had al pastor and carnitas. Al pastor was on point and had extra little bits of pineapple that added a flavor pop. Carnitas had good flavor but was more like pulled pork as it wasn't fried so it missed the mark from a texture perspective. My wife had a pollo and a birria taco. The chicken was super flavorful. The birria was just ok, I'm not an expert but have had better elsewhere. Tomatillo salsa was a good accompaniment for all of the tacos. Chips and red salsa were addictive and we had to hold back from a second basket. Service was great and all of the staff are super friendly. We will definitely come back and explore more of the menu. read more

Great atmosphere Met owners and they are very nice and welcoming Food was great , margarita was excellent. Many TVs and warm cozy patio for outdoor dining read more

MexicanBar - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

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I would have given 4 star for the dine in portion but ordered a burrito to go and when we got home the tortilla was burnt so had to down grade the rating. Tried to send a message via their website and it doesn't work read more

MexicanBar - Burnt burrito - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

I love Mexicanbar This place rules The rice in particular is so fucking good. Great flavor read more

We just recently discovered MexicanBar. I made a reservation since we had 5 people and we were seated right away. Our server, Josh, was very friendly and attentive. And everyone enjoyed their meals. I ordered a carne asada taco and mahi mahi taco and both were great. We will definitely visit again! read more

Ugh, the food was so bad!!! I can't remember the last time I bad Mexican food, even the guacamole was salty and didn't even look fresh. Everything was lackluster, including the cocktails, which barely had any alcohol. I'm giving them 3 stars because the server was nice but the food and drinks really need to be better for the price point. read more

Solid place for delicious and fresh texmex food in Poway! Came on a weekend afternoon and it wasn't busy at all. We ordered the 3 taco combo. It was delicious, fresh and filling. We also ordered the carnitas burrito which was just as tasty. For dessert, we ordered the fried tres leches bites with ice cream. It was decadent! We loved the tortilla chips and salsa was yummy! Service was good too! We would definitely return. read more

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I've gone to this establishment several times with friends for happy hour. The service at the bar leaves a lot to be desired. I had to ask for a glass to go with my beer, I had to remind the waitress that I ordered a shot of chilled patron, and the margaritas were nothing special for the price. It's a nice concept, but they need more professional staff. What I did like was that it was close to home. read more

My husband and I snuck out for a quick afternoon date. Bartender did not disappoint. I had a fish taco and a Mango margarita, both were excellent! We also asked the bartender for a shot that he hadn't made before and it's like it was his specialty! We 100% recommend this spot. read more

MexicanBar - Mango Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

Tried to eat there at 12:30p today. Waited 10 mins to be seated. Appeared to be really no one working. All the tables seemed agitated and without food. Finally someone said pick any table, but didnt give us menus or anything. After being ignored for a few more minutes, we just walked out. in the 20 mins we were there, never saw anymore get served food or drinks or any actual employees wait tables. Went down the street to a better local mexican restaurant and got sat immediately and had drinks within 5 minutes. Wont be going back to Mexican Bar, suggest you avoid also if you hungry or thirsty and dont have endless time to waste. read more

This place is amazing! I've been in San Diego for 20 years, and one of my favorite burritos of all time is their Carne Asada burrito. The cheese is extra crispy and steak is so tender! Great margaritas and beer selection, and there was even live music! Total hidden gem!! read more

Tried this place for the first time and love it! Sat in the bar area and our bartender Josh was awesome. Margaritas were on point and the home made salsa was really good. Carnitas tacos were also awesome. Great to see a good local Mexican restaurant. We will definitely be back to try some Happy Hour! read more

Brunch at this adorable local spot! Great service and fresh food served with warm chips and salsa. Definitely recommend checking them out on the weekend for brunch! read more

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Great food and service!! I really like their carne asada tacos and tostadas! Their margaritas are really good too!

Usually a good spot for decent food, but tonight (July 21, 2026), a definite miss. We walked in around 5:15 pm and two tables were occupied: a couple and an employee eating on break. A guy in a San Diego jersey seated us, all good. Normally we get chips and salsa within a minute, but not tonight. We watched the couple at the table have two servers tending to them, 4-5 trips (a trip for 2 waters, [oops, another trip for no ice], another trip for sodas, another trip for straws, another trip for a menu clarification, plus something else), all the while we're waiting for our first visit by any server. The guy with the San Diego jersey came out of the prep area with two bowls of chips and we thought finally we get a visit. Nope, he took those around the corner to the bar area. The main server for the couple already there came out with more chips, but also went to the bar area. Finally we motioned to the people standing around in the prep area indicating we were waiting for a server and they just shrugged their shoulders. That was enough for us so we left - had a good meal at Lienzo Carro, always dependable. Obviously no manager or owner on the premises tonight. Not a staffing problem - plenty of staff - but a definite recognition problem. read more

Great food and atmosphere. It has a great vibe, is family friendlly and has indoor/outdoor seating. The food was fantastic.

A new, hidden gem in Poway! I recently dined at Mexican Bar in Poway and had an absolutely delightful experience. The food was delicious, fresh and great flavors. The service was excellent; the staff were attentive, friendly, and made us feel right at home. The ambiance of the restaurant is warm and inviting, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. It's a perfect spot for a casual meal or a date night out. The decor adds to the overall charm, making it a great place to relax and enjoy a meal. The Mexican music in the background was perfect--not too loud nor too quiet--and added to the charm. For the area, this place is a fantastic find. The prices are very reasonable, especially considering the quality of the food and service. We had a carne asada burrito that wasn't huge but just right, and I subbed carnitas in the chicken bowl, which came in a fried flour tostada bowl and was fantastic! Reasonably priced at $14, the dishes featured fresh ingredients. The warm, crisp chips with mild red salsa were a nice touch, though I would prefer a thicker salsa. The green salsa with the burrito was citrusy and yummy. We also shared a large Spicy Pineapple Margarita, which was good with lots of Tajín on the rim. I also appreciate that the entrees are reasonably priced a la carte, with only a small charge to add rice or beans. We had a wonderful time and will definitely be returning soon! read more

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First time here. Really nice place. Great food. Plenty of TVs for sports. The bartender, Hunter was first class. Definitely good service , this is definitely my place to comeback . read more

MexicanBar - Delicious skinny margarita - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

Two stars because the food was good and the ambiance was fine. But I don't believe restaurants like this should be rewarded with your business. I took my family here last night and they had the World Series playing on every tv in the bar and restaurant (great!). On every table in the restaurant, there were table signs clearly saying "$6 pints during baseball games!" with a picture of an Alesmith beer. I asked the waiter if the promotion only applied to that specific beer and he said yes, so I ordered it. Fast-forward to the end, we got the check and I was charged full price for the beer. After asking the waiter to update the bill, he checked with the manager and returned to say the promotion was only during Padres games & only in the bar area (despite neither of those restrictions being printed on the sign) and apologized as it was his first day. I didn't make a big deal of it, we paid and left. It's inconceivable that a manager would A) not acknowledge their mistake, B) would make his new waiter deal with an issue created by poor advertisements, and C) think an extra $2+ (on a $70+ check) is worth losing a customers support. I will certainly think twice before returning and wouldn't recommend this place to any of my friends or family. Wild. read more

In visiting from the East Coast and stopped in after reading the reviews from YELP. All I can say is wow. The food was fresh and delicious, one of the best Mexican meals we ever had. Ambiance was nice and relaxed, and the service was very good. The guac was fresh and we ordered a variety of dishes and they all were fantastic. Highly recommend this place and the prices were very reasonable too. read more

MexicanBar - Steak and Shrimp Fajita - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

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I came to Mexican bar in part because I thought the name was so daft. I expected a place called Mexican bar in a predominantly white upper middle class neighborhood to be well plated and untraditional. I wasn't too far off. The restaurant and patio were nice. The staff were friendly and attentive. I got the veggie burrito which was good but the addition of beans would have improved it. I assume they don't put beans in it because the beans aren't vegetarian. I do appreciate the vegetarian option. Overall it was a fine experience though it felt maybe a little less authentic than some places. read more

MexicanBar - My wife's chile relleno and cheese enchilada plate. - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

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This place has the best cocktails in Poway. The atmosphere is modern, and the staff is friendly and provides excellent service. "The Caddie Margarita was so good! Highly recommended! Can't wait to come back!" read more

MexicanBar - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

We visited this restaurant for the first time last night after hearing one of the bartenders of another restaurant talking about it. The food was amazing and the salsas were the best we ever had. I had a chile rellano that was nice and crispy and a chicken enchilada that was moist and flavorful. All I can say is the food was a flavor bomb Shout out to Amy, our server, she made great recommendations on the food and was very attentive read more

My friend suggested this newly opened restaurant, and I was surprised to find it full on a weekday night - certainly a good sign. I loved the ambiance and relaxed atmosphere. The owner was very friendly, coming to our table a few times to check in with us, which made us feel very welcome. I ordered my usual fish taco, and the portion was large. I appreciated the texture and freshness of the fish. Living in San Diego and being a foodie simultaneously can make one a taco snob, but I have to admit, this taco passed the test! My friend, who is a Poway local, also really enjoyed the restaurant. She believes Poway deserves a few good, authentic Mexican restaurants. We'll definitely be coming back here. read more

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We shared ceviche and a burrito - both were excellent. We also liked their salsa and both margs we tried (regular and spicy) - delicious. It was cinco de mayo so it was super busy but the server was still friendly and doing the best he could. We will be back ! read more

MexicanBar - Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

Tried this place for the first time and was pleased. The salsa reminded me of my beloved and sorely-missed Chevy's salsa so I was immediately a fan. The chips were warm and everything on my plate was delicious and fresh-tasting. I built my own 2-taco plate since came asada wasn't included but the price ended up the same anyway. I'll definitely be back! read more

MexicanBar - Southwest bowl, carne asado taco on flour tortilla, and baja fish taco on corn tortilla - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California