Best food and amazing Mexican taste. It's a great place for any occasion, dinner with friends, family meal or breakfast. They have a lot of options for everybody and the service is really good. read more

The food here was delicious! I ordered the Grande Quesadilla w/ Carne Asada which came with plenty of steak and cheese, side of tomatoes/lettuce plus sour cream. My husband ordered the Molcajete and let the picture speak for itself!!! Service was good and it was a nice vibe inside, had some music playing but not too loud. It was also cool to see them rolling and heating the flour tortillas from the window outside. I would definitely recommend if you're in the area and looking for a tasty mexican spot! read more

Old Town Mexican Cafe - Molcajete - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

We had one of the worst dining experiences we've had in a long time. First, we were seated at the wrong table and then asked to get up and wait again while the staff sorted it out. After waiting even longer, we were finally seated, but then sat for over five minutes without anyone acknowledging us while tables that were seated after us already had their drink and food orders taken. When our server finally came over, he immediately told us we couldn't order breakfast because it was five minutes past the cutoff time. We explained that the delay wasn't our fault--we had been waiting because the restaurant seated us incorrectly in the first place. Instead of showing any understanding or trying to help, he quickly responded with an attitude that he couldn't serve us breakfast. His dismissive and arrogant demeanor made it clear he had no interest in finding a solution or providing good customer service. At that point, we decided to leave. Mistakes happen, but how they're handled makes all the difference. Unfortunately, the poor service, lack of accountability, and rude attitude turned what should have been a simple breakfast into a frustrating experience. We won't be returning. read more

We had a fantastic meal at Old Town Mexican Cafe! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The homemade corn and flour tortillas were absolutely incredible--you can really taste the difference when they're made fresh. They were some of the best tortillas we've ever had! The Sopa de Albóndigas (Mexican meatball soup) was delicious and full of rich, comforting flavor. Every dish we ordered was outstanding, and the entire meal exceeded our expectations. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere made for a wonderful dining experience. We can definitely see why this restaurant is such a favorite in Old Town. We highly recommend it and will be back the next time we're in San Diego! read more

Service is always great I've come here since I was a kid, it's a staple spot if you're near it. It's always crowded with tourists which is fun, never buy anything in old town however support locals. Everything is overpriced. The lunch was fun and environment was nice and enjoyable only 15 min wait for 2 on a Sunday. However the Molcajete was incredibly salty, couldn't even finish it. It feels like they've changed the dish and the sauce completely. read more

Old Town Mexican Cafe - Mini Molcajete with octopus shrimp ceviche watermelon Margarita and Modelo - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

I have been to Old Town in a few years and was excited to go back to eat some good food and hand made tortillas but was disappointed in the quality of the food. The menu I don't think changed but the food wasn't as good as I expected it to be. The service was ok, our waiter was nice and attentive to our requests. There was a lot of people for a Monday afternoon but not like a weekend I would imagine. Still very large restaurant with room for any size party. read more

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This review will be based mainly on a situation regarding a lost bag. We had an opportunity to visit San Diego and decided to have lunch at Old Town Mexican Cafe. Just before we were leaving we noticed my elderly aunt TRAVELING from out of town had left her bag in the sitting area of the restaurant. IMMEDIATELY staff got together to view cameras and ask other staff members to help locate the bag. The manager Ms. Mindy was swift in her actions and within a few minutes had located the missing bag. As mentioned my aunt is traveling therefore losing her identification to fly back home was going to be a problem. We are so grateful that all the individuals we interacted with during our panic came to our aid. Regarding the food, everything was wonderful, our servers very attentive during the meal and during the bag ordeal. Thank you all! read more

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We're from North County, but was in San Diego for a day adventure. Old Town is a touristy spot, but I say to the locals, don't forget about this gem. There's a lot of places to choose to eat, and OTMC is one of the OG's. This morning, the service was a little bit slower, but it was a holiday weekend on top of World Cup watching. Our breakfast here was fabulous. For one thing, nopales. For vegetarians and for those who just love eating a cactus, choose Desayuno Azteca. It comes with chilaquiles rojo and very yummy beans. Plus, the freshly made corn or flour tortillas, you choose. My partner enjoyed his Minero Omelete which has machaca. I enjoyed their chips and salsa this morning too. Our waiter even offered a second round, which we accepted. Adding the salsa to my huevos was perfect. read more

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Looking for a place after an appointment for breakfast. Was surprised there weren't a lot of options in old town. But this place was hopping!! Food was really good. Had the carnitas hash breakfast. Super flavorful. Only downside, it definitely sat under the heat lamps for to long so my over medium eggs had the yolk run out and just cook on the plate. lol Our service was super sweet, people really were enjoying the crisp morning atmosphere here! read more

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I love this place! The food is awesome authentic and amazing! The servers are friendly nice and helpful! Very big resturant with tables and booths and bar seating! Bench's to wait outside! It is located in San Diego state park! I love the shops And the walking and the beautiful church nearby ! The street venders are fun too read more

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The food here is always good. The service is great. Dandre is our server. He makes great Mexican coffees. We are here at 8 AM so it's pretty quiet in here but getting louder by the minute and that's normal for here. read more

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I saw some abuelitas making tortillas in the window, and I had to stop in and see if I could cop. I wasn't sure if it would happen, but the nice person at the hostess desk took my two dollars in exchange for a couple of hot, freshly made flour tortillas. Nice! They were everything I had hoped they would be: warm, chewy, floury and delicious. So, I guess the moral of this review is: If you want to buy individual tortillas here, you can. Mostly, though, Old Town Mexican Cafe looks like it's a Mexican restaurant. I didn't visit the restaurant, just bought a couple of tortillas. You can watch the tortillas being made from the window, and then pop in and buy a tortilla to taste, like I did. I visited Old Town San Diego with my children, who can be very picky eaters, but after they both saw the women making the tortillas and putting them on the grill, they both wanted to taste them. Kids are easily influenced. read more

One of the many great options of traditional Mexican food in old town! Handmade tortillas, the vibes, and great atmosphere! I always love taking my out of town guests. Service is amazing and there's lots of seats. My recommendations: House specialties read more

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There was no wait for a party of five on a weekday. There was also plenty of parking in the back. I came here because I saw molcajete on their menu. We shared four dishes, which was a good amount for the five of us! We had just a few pieces of the chile Colorado left. We cleared everything else, including two baskets of the complimentary corn tortilla chips. Molcajete $40.95 - menu says it's shared for two. It is a good amount, and all five of us were able to try a bit of everything inside. We enjoyed the half avocado. Mariscada $28.95 - this dish stood out because it was cold and sweet. Everything else we got was hot. The shrimp was fresh. I liked the tomatoes. Chile Colorado $19.95 - this one was the least favorite of the group. We didn't finish it. Carne asada $24.95 - this was the favorite of the group. The plate came with beans, rice, and some salad with guacamole. We wish there was more meat. The dishes came out at once, and we somehow fit them all on our table. Our server was helpful, but it was funny that he didn't roll his r's. Credit card accepted. Lots of seating inside read more

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This place is great for large groups and sharing food. Portions are huge and service is great. Drinks are yummy as well. We had a large group with teens and everyone was happy. Take a look at what we tried. I highly recommend the watermelon margarita! read more

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First time in Old Town and visited the cafe with individuals who claim it the best. I was impressed with the size of this place and how well adorned it is. Loved the inside, the music, and the different rooms. Best chips and salad ever and I basically took down three salsa cups alone before my food. Lots of vegetarian options and I settled on a chile relleno, nopalitos, and black beans. Perfect, authentic food! Excellent service and ambiance. Will be visiting again! read more

This place is an iconic Mexican restaurant in old town San Diego. We love their breakfast and lunch. The red pozole soup was fantastic and had lots of flavor. Service was good and efficient. The carnitas plate with crunchy chunky pieces is delicious with lots of rendered fat so it's like big pieces of bacon. The tortillas here are outstanding and home made to order. I recommend a mix of both types. Red Chili Colorado was tasty and full of authentic spice flavor. It's even better second day. The restaurant was festive and fun atmosphere. We love this iconic restaurant. read more

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I've been coming here for years, the carnitas keeps me coming back. I always manage to find seats at the bar, and the place is always clean with nice service. Until yesterday... Father's Day lunch. I brought my husband here for lunch, and we sat at the bar as we always do. I've never had our bartender before so I'm not sure how long he's been working there, and I get that everyone has bad days so I usually never bother mentioning it at all. However, our bartender was a younger guy, tall, tattoos, wearing a hat (didn't get his name) - and he genuinely was one of the rudest most unhappy bartenders I've ever seen. Any time a waiter, waitress or busser would come get something or drop something off and then leave, he'd say OUT LOUD "fkn idiot" or "dumb bitch" or any other insult you can think of. At one point I asked what they did that was so wrong (someone left after grabbing their patrons margarita from the bar), and he goes "you just have to talk to them like that sometimes, you know? Keep them in their place." Dude. Okay have your bad day, hate your perfectly nice and respectful coworkers all you want, but don't say disparaging comments in front of customers like that. I've worked in the service industry and I have NEVER spoken to coworkers like that, let alone shit talked them out loud in front of customers. Whatever that dudes issue was, someone needs to humble him, quickly. Because if he's working the bar the next time I go there, I'll say something and I'll be the one who's loud about it. Literally disgraceful and so disrespectful, I'm amazed he's employed here at all. Note to management: write him up or fire him. He mentioned having another job and living in La Mesa. Tall, skinny, tattooed, maybe mid- to late-twenties. read more

Best authentic Mexican food in the area. Many other touristy restaurants on the same street but this is our favorite. Been there for almost 50 years. Friendly, helpful staff and rustic decor. They have fresh made corn and flour tortillas that are still steaming when they arrive on the table. Delicious! We're all love the carnitas plate and the strawberry horchata. Give it a try. read more

Old Town Mexican Cafe - Carnitas plate with fresh corn tortillas - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

The food came out piping hot! Loved the authenticity, originality of the restaurant. The waitress was really nice. Only thing...food wasn't that seasoned. Still good just need more seasoning. read more

Old Town Mexican Cafe - Menu - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Delicious street tacos. Great service! Casual atmosphere. Great restaurant! Always one of our go to places for great Mexican food. read more

Old Town Mexican Cafe - Menu - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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The chile verde burrito pork is delicious! It was enough for us to split. It's superb hot, juicy & is served wet w/red or green sauce. We were there for breakfast at 8am, so we had the chilaquiles w/green sauce as well. It was great, too! Chips & salsa come immediately & the salsa is scrumptious. The atmosphere is fun & authentic & always busy. Love the bar, too. read more

Old Town Mexican Cafe - Chilaquiles - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Chile Colorado Chicken steak fajitas 6/2026 it comes with rice and beans on a side of guacamole. It's definitely a must try. If you are in San Diego. Come check it out. You will not be disappointed. read more

Old Town Mexican Cafe - Chile Colorado & chicken/steak fajitas comes with rice/ beans. Old Town Mexican Cafe it's always a must if you are in San Diego - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

This was a solid place for a touristy area. Honestly, in general, old town San Diego is a lot of fun. It balances touristy stuff with authenticity in a rare way that makes it worth the visit. This restaurant is big, was crowded, but we got seats easy. Service was fast and friendly. Food was good sit down California style Mexican. Their handmade flour tortillas are definitely a highlight. They claim they are the best. Not sure about that, seems to be plenty of stiff competition in the area. I had their signature carnitas, crisped up. It was pretty basic but with hot sauce, cilantro, etc tasted really good. Price ended up being about 25 bucks a head with my family getting alcoholic drinks, so not too bad. I'd hit this place up if you're hungry and walking the area! read more

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The service was fast and no wait to get a table , went durning lunch on the weekend . Ordered the enchilada plate and the California burrito for the kids and the molcajete to share . Portions are generous and handmade tortillas did not disappoint. We sat by the dining room close to the bar and we could still hear each other talk while enjoying our meal. read more

Old Town Mexican Cafe - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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I have no words to describe how amazing this experience was. I would highly recommend coming here. We ordered the street tacos à la carte came in an order or 7 with carnitas and asada. Camarones enchiladas and a combo plate w fish tacos and chile relleno. Oh and their stretch caddy margarita that was amazing! read more

Old Town Mexican Cafe - Stretch caddy with Grand Marnier and tajin on rim highly recommend - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Parking can be rough but it's a solid restaurant. Can be pricy but the portions are large. A good amount of tequilas, margaritas, beers and related drinks. Great views from the top of the hill staff is friendly and the ambiance is worth the visit. read more

Old Town Mexican Cafe - Cool people - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Quick service, good food, a little outdated, busy environment. Drinks were ok, carnitas platter for two was my favorite even though the meat was overcooked a bit. read more

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Dropped by on my last day in San Diego before I went to the airport to get a quick bite to eat and to pick up some fresh handmade tortillas. I was able to walk in and get a seat relatively quickly for a late lunch on Friday and put in my order for a small bowl of menudo as well as a California burrito and a pack of fresh tortillas to go. The menudo came out piping hot with all the toppings on the side. While I liked it, I wish the broth was a smidge richer. The tortillas were fantastic though. They were hot and had a good amount of lard(?) in it. I brought the burrito back to the bay area with me and enjoyed it the next day and it was still really good! Overall, I would definitely come back again and try out their other dishes. The food came out really quick and the staff are super helpful. The interior decorations are super cute too! read more

Old Town Mexican Cafe - Chips & salsa - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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If you're in San Diego visiting or a native, you know about OTMC. Always a hit. Today I had the red pozole and the queso Birria taco. Both were delicious. Lots of yummy chips & salsa. Always a hit. Came on a Saturday afternoon and believe it or not No waiting for a table. Great place to gather with friends for a bite to eat & a margarita read more

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In town in business and craving authentic Mexican food. Asked my local relatives for recommendations and Old Town Mexican Cafe was top of the list. Bianca was the lovely young lady who served me and helped me with my dinner decision. The chips and salsa were fresh and delicious (order extra salsa...you're welcome!). Kicked off dinner with a strawberry blended margarita and a mini asada and adobada tacos with beans. The beans were amazing; slow cooked, creamy and seasoned to perfect. The tacos were tender and filled with flavorful meat. The house made tortillas? Home-run! Can't wait to go back again. Thanks for your kindness, Bianca! read more

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Let me tell you I didn't wanna be that guy taking my lady to a touristy spot to eat but the food was so good!!! The service amazing. They were on it. I was wrong about this place. It was legit. Ohh and those handmade tortillas like grama use to make read more

Old Town Mexican Cafe - Wifey got the taquitos I got the Machaca omelette and we shared a crispy carnitas plate. - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Handmade tortillas - enough said. Kidding. This place was pretty good. The wait is extremely long for a table though So don't come hungry. If you're lucky grab a seat at the bar which is first come first serve. The restaurant is a good size but was packed so I couldn't see all the way in. It has a an old timey Mexican vibe which is perfectly suited to the location. I came with a few friends and we were lucky to find 4 seats at the bar. The bartender was very cool and helpful. He took our drink and food orders and always checked in with us even though the place was packed. All of our dishes were tasty. I loved the pozole with handmade tortillas and the carnitas chunks. I also liked their beans which I don't normally care for. Friends had the chilaquiles with chicken which she liked. You can order red or green sauce and add meat of choice. Next time I'd like to try the white pozole. read more

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Old Town Mexican Café never disappoints! I went last night on a super busy Saturday night but surprisingly had no trouble getting seated. The place was full of energy, fun, vibrant, and beautifully decorated with colorful Mexican and Día de los Muertos decorations that really set the festive mood. The atmosphere was lively and upbeat, perfect for a fun night out. We ordered the Molcajete, which came loaded with shrimp, chicken, beef, cheese, avocado, and the most amazing, flavorful sauce. Every bite was absolutely delicious, it's easily one of my favorite dishes on the menu. We also enjoyed plenty of drinks that evening, and Duncan, our bartender, was incredible. He was super accommodating, kind, and made excellent drinks all night long. We lost track of time and were there for last call but Duncan never made us feel rushed which I appreciate. I've been coming to Old Town Mexican Café for many years, and it continues to be one of my favorite spots in San Diego. I highly recommend it to anyone, especially if you haven't tried it yet. This time of year, Old Town itself is extra special, full of Día de los Muertos decorations and festive activities that make the whole area even more fun to visit. If you're looking for great food, strong drinks, and a truly authentic Old Town experience, this is the place to go! read more

Old Town Mexican Cafe - Molcajete came with rice, beans and tortillas - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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This a must for any meal when we are in town! Service is always good, and nothing feels more nostalgic than the ambiance as if you've walked in to your family's house. Ahhhhhh... This past trip we came for lunch and then for breakfast the next day. Both times hit as expected! I had the street tacos with carnitas the first time and then had them again when I came back for breakfast. They are THAT good! My husband had the white pozole and then the chili verde enchiladas. He said both were very good. The chili verde tasted homemade like his uncle used to make when he was younger. That says a lot because of his Mexican heritage. My kids are plain, but picky! They eat the heck out of OTMC though. Beans, rice and carne asada tacos that no one else can replicate! That's what they say at least : ) Don't forget their tortillas! Oh the smell when you walk in... Corn and flour are both good, but my heart always goes with flour. Served with butter if you want to roll one up for a quick bite before your meal comes. You can even get them cold to take home, which we did! Along with a carnitas taco plate, rice and beans. All the way back to Texas! See you sooner than later hopefully, Old Town Mexican Cafe! read more

Old Town Mexican Cafe - Front of menu - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

We love this cafe hand made corn or flour tortillas Are so good you'll want more here Margaritas are excellent here, Cadillac are too We tried it all and still come back for more Service is still great every time we have delicious food here. read more

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Seriously the best Mexican food and it is authentic. Loved that they are making their own tortillas that have a wonderful taste to them. I was able to try the pico pico margarita (really good) and the homemade tortilla chips and salsa. The salsa was extremely good and was made with fresh items. The carnitas platter is a must. If you love carnitas, just go right here buddy. The beans were super flavorful and the fried carnitas with the homemade tortillas, left me not wanting anything more. I really loved this place. Tom was the waiter at the bar and he made sure that you felt welcome and made great suggestions. LOVED LOVED LOVED this place. read more

Amazing food. The special carnitas was terrific with beans and their home made tortillas and fresh cilantro, tomato, onion and lime. And avocado. Good service. My friends loved their crispy taco and enchilada and tostada. Very tasty salsa. Nice ambience right in the middle of Old Town. read more

Had a great visit to Old Town Mexican cafe. We were a large party and were seated immediately around 4pm on a Friday. They have a large selection of food and the portion sizes are generous. The service was pretty good, but the server stopped checking in on us near the end of our meal. The burritos were huge, the refried beans were really good. I loved everything I tried. I'll be back in the future. read more

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Terrible service. I walked in and waited over 10 minutes just to be acknowledged or given a menu, but no one ever came. The place wasn't even busy, which made it more frustrating. The servers were standing around chatting and laughing instead of attending to customers. I wouldn't recommend coming here if you're expecting decent service. The 3.5 rating makes sense, I should have trusted it. read more