Love having happy hour here, especially with out of towners. Feels like vacay! St. Patty's Day - and it was going to be mobbed in a lot of bars - but was quiet, sunny, and serene here! We had a great time enjoying the patio as the only folks at 4 (happy hour is 4-6 pm). Eric was a very nice server too. I didn't like the happy hour wine choices last time, so today I got a mojito. It was not a happy hour special so not cheap - but it was perfection. (and green, which I wasn't thinking about LOL). The baja halibut taco for $12 was tasty and a good value for getting to pretend you're staying here at Estancia without paying $500 a night. We also got yucca fries, which were $8 for a plate and extremely delicious. Not the cheapest happy hour in town - but one of the classiest. Happy hour staycation at Mustangs & Burros is a-ok with me! read more

Since we stayed in the hotel, we wanted to try the restaurants here. Unfortunately there were a few things that we did not enjoy. Three of the four plates set out when we arrived were dirty with some sticky sauce. Although the lamb shank and seabass were delicious in themselves, there was little substance to the dishes besides meat. I'd definitely recommend ordering to share, and with some side dishes or appetizers. The "salad" on the lamb shank was more like a garnish as the stems and leaves were bitter and hard to eat. Even after the $46 lamb shank, I was still hungry and ate fast food takeout. Ordering more would have been much too expensive. For 2 dishes it was $115 post tax+tip and we were disappointed. read more

Mustangs & Burros - Braised Barbacoa Lamb Shank - Lounges Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

I was really looking forward to checking this place out with some friends to get it the holiday spirit. They advertised hot coco and pictures with Santa outside and option for smores in an igloo. When we arrived there was no one attending to the hot cocoa station and poor Santa was just sitting there in the cold. The igloo seating looks pretty, but it was extra and since no one was around to assist we decided to check out the restaurant 1st and then meet Santa after. Once in the restaurant it went down hill. The lady at the host stand didn't seem to know what she was doing, and sadly found out later she was the manager. We asked to sit by the fireplace and waiting til they cleaned the tables. Once sat, we were quickly given waters, and then another person came by with menus. A 3rd person introduced themselves as are server and yet we NEVER saw him again. We had some questions regarding the menu and the host lady somehow made her way to us so we asked her. She claimed she would check with the chefs and Again, sadly NEVER came back. After waiting, and waiting and waiting we gave up on the idea of eating as the only thing we were able to order were drinks which also took an extremely long time. Plus to add to the already annoying evening we were sat by a group who thought it was ok to constantly yell and be inconsiderate of everyone else around them. The only highlight of this dreaded evening was when Santa walked in, came and said hi to us and also took pics with us by the fireplace. This is the only reason I am giving 2 stars because I'm still a kid at heart and seeing Santa really helped cheer are gloomy mood. Based on my experience, it's safe to say I will not be coming back here again. read more

See all

One of the many great restaurants in Estancia La Jolla. Their menu features Mexican sea bass, lomo soltado steak and fries, and the vegetarian Calabasa en nogada. Family friendly with kids menu and desserts. Service was friendly and options for indoor seating or outdoor by the fireplace. read more

See all

Thank you Santa for showing up and putting a smile on my face after a disappointing experience at this place. It was my first time and last time for me. Because of Santa, I'm giving only 1 star. Rewind...We got seated and it went downhill from there. Three different staff came to us and we finally figured out who was our server. It wasn't that busy for the exception of a large party keeping the staff on their toes. I'm not sure why it took forever to get our cocktails. We wanted to order some food and had a few questions but the hostess/manager dropped the ball by going MIA. It was a wraaap!! read more

See all

While the food was decent and the ambiance spectacular, the prices were unexpected and the food was not worth the cost. My friend chose this spot for her birthday dinner and I was excited to try a new Mexican restaurant. We were greeted by our waiter and asked if we'd like chips and salsa to get started. Not only did we not realize that they charge for chips and salsa, but they charge for refills. As this typically comes complimentary at Mexican restaurants, being charged $12 for the initial basket plus an additional $6 for refills was over the top. $9 tacos are also a bit steep for basic tacos. There are just too many better Mexican spots in San Diego to come back to a spot that charges these ridiculous prices. read more

Mustangs & Burros - $12 for chips and salsa!!! - Lounges Near Me - La Jolla, California

This is a quaint and cozy Mexican restaurant located on the Estancia hotel property. It has both a small indoor portion and an outside portion with colorful pillows and decor. It's super close to the beach and we enjoyed a sunset stroll that took about ten minutes after we ate. It also fun to walk around the property which is really quaint, has great places to sit, and has a very earthy California vibe. I was a little surprised to see such low ratings at this place after I enjoyed an absolutely delicious Mexican dinner. When I investigated a little further I heard they recently hired a new chef and I think that change must be doing a lot of good. The guacamole was divine. The pomegranates in it were such a nice pairing and everything tasted super fresh with it. It also came with so many chips! I had to take some home, but they were crisp and good. I loved both the fish and birria tacos and was happy that we got to enjoy them at happy hour price (it just came out as one taco for happy hour but the portions were bigger than I thought). The yucca fries were just okay to me, slightly bitter but I had never had them before so that may be just how they taste. Would definitely be back for more! Especially that guac again!! read more

See all

Was super excited for the Xmas bar (The Frosty Saddle) they set-up plus the Santa Suite experience. May have been a misinterpretation, but the santa suite experience was just a photo op outside of the restaurant. It was not inside the restaurant and will need to make a separate reservation for the Xmas bar/restaurant. From the start it was disorganized and slow. Once we told the host how many in our party we had to wait as another party was being helped (who got there after us). We were able to get a table (by the fire) and it took forever to get someone to come and take our order. We had different individuals approach us for different things, but it took time to get our menu questions answered. Asked the manager about dairy on some of the dishes and she never came back. Based on how long it took just to take our drink order we opted out on food. The drinks were delish! We ordered the California Christmas and Chocolate Manhattan highly recommended. Luckily for us Santa walked into the restaurant and we were able to take pictures with him. Please note Santa is there for photos on select Fridays. Unfortunately the service did not leave me wanting to come back. The resort is beautiful and love the Christmas bar idea, but some things still need to be worked out. FYI: they do parking validation for self parking make sure to ask the host for the validation sticker. Happy hour is from 4-6 pm. read more

See all

Old fashioned was perfectly balanced. Wagu sliders were delicious. Service was friendly and unobtrusive. We came during the holidays and they decorate well. Give yourself time to sit in the hotel lobby and listen to live music. My only hang up: self serve parking is $18 for 0-2 hours!! That seems outrageous when you're coming for the restaurant. They should validate or something. Not sure I'd come again because of that. read more

See all

I will start off by saying I didn't walk into Mustangs & Burros in La Jolla expecting much. The place looks sharp--upscale, dimly lit, with that polished wood-and-candle vibe that screams "you're paying for ambiance." I braced for overpriced mediocrity: a $50 steak that tastes like it came from a gas-station freezer. Boy, was I wrong. The food is stupid good. That tomahawk ribeye in the center of the table? Perfect crust, rosy medium-rare, juicy enough to make you forget your table manners. The sides--truffle fries, charred shishito peppers, whatever that mushroom-onion situation was--punched way above their weight class. Even the little ramekins of sauce (chimichurri, I think?) were bright and balanced, not just garnish. Drinks matched the food step for step. The cocktails were strong, creative, and didn't taste like they were hiding cheap liquor behind a $20 price tag. Our server--shoutout to the guy who knew the menu like he cooked it himself--steered us right without hovering. Attentive, not annoying. Rare. Yes, it's expensive. Like, "I'm eating this steak and silently calculating my rent" expensive. Thankfully, my brother had a discount voucher that softened the blow. Without it? I'd still go back, but maybe after selling a kidney.(jk) If you're in La Jolla and want a meal that actually justifies the hype (and the bill), hit Mustangs & Burros. Just bring a rich friend. Or a voucher. read more

Mustangs & Burros - Lounges Near Me - La Jolla, California

It's definently for convenience. I will never come here again! Patio seating and we were the only ones there this day. Had the place to ourselves.... Then I saw why! In the land of Mexican food nothing is good here. Let's start with why is chips and salsa almost 20 dollars when that's usually a free app?! I ordered it and it was chips with some Costco salsa. Sad. Got a taco and it was so so small. Friend ordered a taco and one drink (non alcoholic) and the total Bill for two tacos and a drink with chips and salsa was 62 add tip and 75 for two mediocre tacos(I can get at taco shop quality) Don't go here. Staff gets a star for being so laid back and laughing at my shock. The staff gets it and knows better. Rich people you are getting ripped off! Lol read more

We really enjoyed our stay at the hotel. This restaurant which is also connected to the hotel Offers some of the best level up Mexican food I enjoyed the salmon and we also had the chicken with Mole, so damn good... The chips and salsa fresh baked delicious. They've got a very impressive outdoor patio with a fireplace. We decided to eat inside as it was a little chilly very dog, friendly very kid friendly they've got a beautiful fireplace on the inside as well. read more

Mustangs & Burros - Lounges Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

Summary: paid parking ($7/$10), dog friendly, food price ranging from $11-$130 (not including desserts), nice indoor and outdoor seating, good portions, good seasoning Parking: follow the self parking on your right and park in the hotel visitor parking. It will be $7 with restaurant validation. Get the sticker and scan the original ticket and then the sticker barcode to drop the fee. Valet parking is $10. Enter the lobby and go past another double door to the outdoor area where you will see the restaurant. They have plenty of tables and chairs to lounge if you have to wait or hang out. It was not busy on Monday at 6:30pm. The food portions were pretty good. Even the shareables were enough as a main for a regular portion eater. I had leftovers from the Taco. They were all pretty well seasoned; not too salty and enough sauce. The Mole was really good! Ask for some extra and they will gladly provide more. It has a great spicy kick with the cinnamon noticeably which reminded me of the Mexican hot chocolate. Sitting outside was really nice. The bench chairs were a bit dirty looking as they are outside furniture so wish they covered or washed it? Other than that, the regular wooden chairs were fine. Service was great by all the kind staff and the mood was nice to celebrate the birthday of our family member. Nice place to visit for a mixture of steak and seafood lovers. Not too upscale feeling but also not cheap. read more

See all

We picked this place as it was across the street from school and we needed a place that was open late for dinner. I wasn't expecting much as I read some of the not so positive reviews, but we had to pick it based on the convenient location.. We were very pleasantly surprised. We ordered the ceviche which as really good and decided to try our luck with the Tomahawk which was served with chimichurri sauce and very delicious corn relish.. It was perfectly cooked and plenty for 3 to share and we paired it with yucca fries. Everything was unexpectedly fresh and good and exceeded or expectations. Service was good and the place virtually empty at 8:30pm and it has a very nice outdoor area, although we chose indoor because it was a chilly evening. read more

Mustangs & Burros - Tomahawk with chimichurri sauce. Sides of cheese, corn relish and charro beans. Delish! - Lounges Near Me - La Jolla, California

The restaurant location is great. The grounds of the hotel make you feel far removed from the bustle of the city. The food was good. The standout was the cauliflower frito starter. The queso fundido was pretty good, but I'm not sure I would get it again. It was served with pork rinds instead of chips. I had the birria tacos, which were pretty good, but still not better than the best I've had - at a food truck in Santa Cruz! And for the price I would like it to come very close to those! I'm sure some of the other tacos are probably quite tasty as well. This is definitely an "elevated" Mexican food place, which can be a nice change, but just know that you're getting the experience and not your neighborhood taqueria experience. read more

Mustangs & Burros - Fireplace outside of the restaurant/hotel. - Lounges Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

This place has fine food and cocktails-- but buyer beware, you will pay $12 and $13 a taco, and $25 for average margs. We stayed on this property for two nights and the Estancia is fine-- but the food on property is WAY overpriced. Take it from two world travelers-- the restaurant is WAY over rated. read more

The indoor ambience is cozy and nice. The service was on the slower side, but I think it may be because the food comes from a different building and/or they were serving a large event outside. As for the food itself, it was pretty good. Nice homemade chips with the guacamole. The kids burger will definitely fill up your young one (and the parents too). Octopus flavor was good but a little bit tough. Overall a fine experience! read more

See all

This is a fancy restaurant with clearly no clue about basic best practices in culinary terms. I had a fish dish containing quinoa, and although I avoided eating the quinoa after I tasted the bitterness of the quinoa and realized it had not been washed beforehand, I still had awful stomach cramps for hours afterwards from the little bit that I did eat. An expensive meal that made me sick. read more

Delicious food. Sat on the darling patio with a beautiful mural. The owner waited on us and was very welcoming.

Terrible service and mediocre food. We had to flag down servers for cutlery and to order drinks. They couldn't stagger the food to give us salads and soup before mains so we got everything at once. My meal was sad. We were really surprised by how bad the service was. Waste of money. Go somewhere else. read more

I stopped by this restaurant due to convenience since it was located inside the resort I was staying at. I sat down immediately as there wasn't that many people there and it was towards when they were going to close. Service was great but I think the food lacked flavor. I had an order of the sopes and an al pastor taco. The sopes were good but the taco had a weird seasoning that I just could not eat at all. I ended up leaving most of it because I didn't like the flavor at all. read more

Mustangs & Burros - Chicken Tinga Sopes - Lounges Near Me - La Jolla, California

I've had Mustangs & Burros bookmarked for years. While our meal was good, I just can't imagine coming here if you aren't a hotel guest. Ambience: With both indoor and outdoor seating, there are beautiful cozy spaces for all. The decor, like the rest of the hotel, has a beautiful hacienda feel. There is a fire place outside and we got to enjoy a live musician playing guitar. Drink: I always love seeing a clarified drink on a menu. The clarified melon margarita was perfect. It had the silky smooth finish of a clarified drink with a sweet melon inside! I loved it. Food: We had hits and we had misses. The chips and guac were a HIT! But at $19, they sure as heck better have been! At first, we were astounded by how many chips came out and thought there was no way we'd eat them all, but... they were great. You could tell they were homemade and fried fresh! I was little disappointed that when I asked for salsa, I was told it was a different menu item and I'd have to pay separately. Then, the table next to us got some complimentary salsa on the side... I thought my burger was absolutely delicious. The meat was so tender that the whole burger just melted in my mouth. On the other hand, my husband got the hanger steak and he was disappointed that it was tough, even cooked at medium rare. We had a $100 dining credit with our hotel stay, but the bill for these items with tip came out closer to $150. I definitely feel like the menu items were pricier because of the dining credit provided with the stay. Again, I cannot see someone coming out of their way to come to this restaurant if they weren't staying at the hotel, but as a guest, it felt like a great option in a nice dreamy oasis stay. read more

See all

Pretty solid Mexican eats for a hotel restaurant! Since the hotel gives some credits, we thought we'd stop by for dinner. The patio area is quite lovely and the vibes were phenomenal during sunset hours. We got the Chips and Guac, the Steak, and the Pork Belly Cazuela. Prices are on the steeper side for what you get -- I don't think I've ever paid $19 for guacamole! My favorite item was the Pork Belly Cazuela. The pork was tender, flavorful, and I really liked the blue corn tortillas. The steak was okay too, but a relatively small portion for what I was expecting. I will say though that did really load up on the chips and salsa at each table LOL. Service was decent and the servers were all very kind :) Overall, a very decent, convenient meal. read more

See all

Wasn't expecting much based on the reviews and limited menu option on their website but we decided to go anyway and I'm so glad we did. They had a pretty decent happy hour menu, and the tacos I got were huge with fresh toppings and lots of limes & radishes on the side. I was full after 2 of them and gave the third to my husband. You do basically have to pay for everything, including chips, but everything was really fresh and they didn't skimp on quantity. The service was also really fast and friendly. read more

I have been at the La Estancia hotel several times but never at the Mustang and Burros restaurant...this name did not even sound familiar to me! (I was kind of embarrassed with my date as I am always bragging of knowing everything:). The night was marvelous and perfect blend of breeze and warm and this Spanish revival style restaurant was perfect place to be for a drink and dessert time (on a fun-not so fun note, there was a couple fighting, she yelling at her guy for not proposing to her). We were spectators of a semi-tragic moment while sipping delicious wine and listening to oldies from Rocio Durcal (loved the music there!). Very cozy and very few people which made the moment more intimate. I enjoyed the atmosphere a lot but even more that flan. Oh my, the flan was super delicious, not thick Mexican style not fluffy like Spanish style. A blend of both styles crowed with some Liquor 43 (secret formula for more than a century, from Spain!). That was the liquor I used to drink when as teenager hang out with girlfriends. I forgot all about it but this dessert made it unforgettable. Super recommended. read more

See all

I had high hopes for this place. The Estancia is a beautiful, service-oriented spa resort so why wouldn't the food live up to the resort's reputation? I started with the tortilla soup, which promised the unique addition of crab. The scarcity of crab at the bottom of the bowl could not make up for thick, dense, under seasoned "broth". Next up, tacos and veggies. Had the generously portioned fish taco and the chicken al pastor taco. Both were very tasty, with good heat from the chicken al pastor. The accompanying sauces were also very well done. It was a chilly night so I also ordered the Vegetarian Guisados. A warm vegetable stew seemed perfect. No ma'am. What came to the table was a beautiful cazuela filled with undercooked, bland, squash and tomatoes. I dug deep to find the broth, which wasn't there. So disappointing. Besides the tacos, the best part of dinner was my lovely server. He was so kind. I'll be going back to The Estancia, but heading off resort for dinner. read more

See all

Came here a year ago and fell in love with tacos and atmosphere. Actually came here 3 days in a row it was so good! Fast forward to yesterday, no tacos and overly expensive entrees. Atmosphere was ok, cheesy holiday decorations don't work well. Bring back the tacos and I'll be back. read more

Server was not attentive. We had a party of 12 people for my birthday. Server did not ask one of the guest for their drink order. Waters were not refilled. Food was a long wait. One half of the table got their appetizer order before the other half of the table and they mixed up the order. Was not a great experience for the amount of people that were there. read more

I got food poisoning I think from the Caesar salad. And the food was not good to begin with.

My coworkers and I ate hear after work. It was a big group of 18. We made reservations for dinner and we got seated right away. I really like the ambiance. It had a Spanish/Mexican decor and they had live Spanish music playing from a solo artist. The food was very good. My favorite appetizer was the fried cauliflower...so delicious! My main entree was scallops and it was very nicely done. I didn't feel the texture at all and it was seasoned well. The chocolate cake dessert was also very good. Prices were ok but I also didn't pay so that was good :). Definitely would come back if I'm in the area again. read more

Mustangs & Burros - Scallops - Lounges Near Me - La Jolla, California

In the Estancia Hotel. Mustangs and Burros serves somewhat middle of the road quasi Mexican food. The setting is beautiful. Right in the middle of a wonderfully landscaped courtyard of the hotel. The food is OK. I had the chicken mole. It was rather bland and unappetizing The Chips and Quac was the highlight. I should have known when most of my collogues ordered the burger. The Empandas were very good! Dessert was awesome!! read more

See all

They charge an astounding fee for chips and salsa so BEWARE. This is as Gringo as it gets, but I enjoyed my shrimp salad. Yep. Gringo.

Wished I liked my meal more because this resort is so amazing. I'd say the best part of the meal was the queso and the SUPER fresh margs. My tacos were really greasy. But the portion size was good. Overall it was $120+ for two people, and definitely not worth that. read more

Mustangs & Burros - TACO DE PULPO A LAS BRASAS - Lounges Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

Overall: 4/5 this place was very good. Staff was extremely friendly, ambiance was very nice outside. Had a fire going and live music another night. Nothing to complain about. Food: 4/5 I ate here a couple of nights. Had to try a couple things on the menu. The guacamole was delicious. As we're all the drinks. Burger was ok, standard, nothing special burger, only thing elevating it was pretzel bun. But again, it was a good standard burger. The tacos were good. Tried the chicken and vegetarian options. The vegetarian was better in my opinion. They are corn tortillas, which I know most people prefer, I'm the odd one out who preferred flour. Price: 4/5 was a price I would expect to see at this resort. read more

See all

Been here a few times. They have in and outdoor seating. Outdoors is good as long as you have space heaters. The food is Mexican in style. Very tasty and they know how to handle big parties. Good staff read more

Cool place for food or just to hang around. Actually there are not many places to eat inside of Estancia, La Jolla. Two evenings in a row I had fish tacos and margaritas. Excellent food and friendly service. read more

See all

Terrible customer service with mediocre overpriced food. The ambiance on the patio is the only reason it deserves any stars. Our server seemed nice at first but while we were still looking at the menu, he casually asks us "start you guys off with some chips, salsa, & guac?" as if included like other Mexican restaurants do. When the servings came, I knew it was too generous and proceeded to see on the menu that these items were actually TWO separate orders suggested: the chips & salsa were $14 and the guacamole was $19. I stopped the waiter to confirm if these were complimentary and he said "no you ordered them". We hadn't even placed our actual orders yet... he eventually agreed to take half off of the bill. After he actually took our orders, he only came back to our table a total of 1 time to close out the bill, meanwhile he checked in and refilled waters for every table directly around us. He also didn't secure the lid for our leftovers so sauce poured out in our bag. I have no issues with a restaurant charging for chips & salsa because at those prices I personally never would have ordered them. However, I do have an issue with the staff's misleading practices into tricking their customers and then not taking accountability for it. Save your money & time and go to the hotel's other restaurant Greenfinch (10x better in quality and service) or literally just any place you can think of other than here. read more

Great service and ambience. Good cocktails and guacamole. The entrees are very pricey and only mediocre in quality. Wish they would add some more basic, tasty options, then this would be a go-to spot! read more

Go here if you want to get scammed. The food's nothing special--overpriced and bland. They sneak in a surcharge and don't even show it on the receipt you sign. Straight-up shady. Might even be illegal. read more

Pretty pretty pretty pretty good. I really enjoyed the crab tortilla soup and the birria tacos had a lot of flavor. Service was great. Ambiance was perfect with the outdoor seating read more

Mustangs & Burros - Birria de Res Tacos - Lounges Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all