The food was smacking... Very very unique flavors, almost all of them had acidity but balanced. Favorite was the carnitas with a peanut mole. The place looks new and sleek and the service was very helpful . Thanks for a great night read more

Food, service, and ambiance was top notch! We had the croquetas de jaiba y poblano, quesadillitas de short rib con mole, and flautitas de atun ahumado - all excellent. The servers were attentive and always made sure we had a great time! Looking forward to being some friends and family here! read more

Origen - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

I've only been there twice, and both times I sat at the bar. But this gem of a restaurant is indubitably here to stay. Let's start with the design, shall we? The north wall of the restaurant is a work of art; asymmetrical carves outs in the wall are punctuated by various vases highlighted by a light source that runs the perimeter of the back wall of each carve out. It truly is a site to behold. The restaurant itself, I'm honestly guessing here, is informed by marble and wood and reminds me of many of the restaurants I've dined at in Mexico City. I met the two Chilangos who started Origen, Franco and Sebastian, and they are both really nice, very down to earth. There was none of that false modesty I find about as appealing as nails on chalk. Franco told me that he hoped to wait on me one day. Franco, if you're reading this: Voy a hacer que cumplas tu palabra, jaja. Cesar, the bartender, is the shitz. The first time I went he had back up so he had time to show me some of the more interesting mezcals they had; Elote-washed mezcal, anyone? He made me the closest cocktail to a Paloma, I've yet to find in this city and it was divine (though I may start bringing my own grapefruit soda). More than that, he is very charismatic and entertaining and is almost as much fun to watch as the entire dining experience was superb. The second visit, though? Not so much. For reasons unknown, he was the only bartender that night and for a Sunday night, the place was packed. And you cannot have just one person running a bar, a service bar, restocking, washing glasses, etc. by oneself. Still, he managed to pull it off for the time I was there with his usual aplomb. On a side note: The plateware, designed by Sinoloa earthenware, is simple stunning while the silverware by Eustis matched the interior design's goals of ordered asymmetry. Though I haven't tried much, what I have tried - Ensalada de Palmitos, Tartar de atún, and the Fresas con Crema - does indeed elevate your typical Mexican fare. The hearts of palm were bathed in this refreshing yogurt-dill concoction and brought new life to the salad. The tuna was rhapsodic. And in a world filled with generic Ahi tuna towers with avocado and mango - Yawn - this Mexican delicacy was enhanced by chipotle jelly, and house made jocoque (think tangy sour cream or yogurt). The cream served with the strawberries had this lemony essence of sorts and I gobbled it down like it was the last meal of my life. I will certainly come back to this bustling newcomer on Park Boulevard to try many of the other dishes. And my guess is that by the time I make it back, hundreds of others will have already discovered the well-earned charm of Origen. read more

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Yum!! Interior was gorgeous and had an amazing vibe going. Service was very speedy and nice!! Our waiter was amazing and accommodating. The pulpo à la salsa macha stood out to me! It was so delicious. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

Origen - Tartar de atún on the left, Pulpo a la salsa macha on the right, and Ceviche de salmón con leche de tigre de jamaica on the top - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

Our party of 4 enjoyed this new Mexican restaurant in Hillcrest! Making a reservation online was a bit confusing as it gave you about 4-5 different options. I ended up booking a regular table for our party. Just a heads up that the "communal table" is a booth that can fit a larger party (around 6-8 maybe?) Environment/Service: -Loved the aesthetic and decor inside! Apart from the communal table, there were many 2-4 person tables inside, a few 4 person tables on the "patio" (which is still technically inside by just by the open window. -Service by Edgar was great and our food and drinks came out fairly quickly. Food: Their menu is meant to be shared family style and is separated by seafood and meat dishes. We ordered mostly seafood items but I wish we ordered more meat dishes. QUESADILLITAS DE SHORT RIB ($18/2 pieces): my favorite dish of the night. The short rib with the mole on top of the little quesadilla tasted great together. AGUACHILE VERDE ($27): served with tostadas; I enjoyed the spiciness and the overall flavor of the dish but that shrimp was just too raw for me and I unfortunately couldn't get past it. CEVICHE DE SALMON CON LECHE ($24): served with tostadas; this one I enjoyed and would get again. PULPA A LA SALSA MACHA ($38): octopus; again, this one was a texture thing for me. My husband who regularly enjoys octopus said that he enjoyed this dish. PLATANO FLAMEADO: served for the birthdays in our party. 2 pieces of plantain in caramel sauce with nuts. So good! Overall: I enjoyed the ambiance and the concept of this new restaurant. I'd love to come back next time and try more of their meat dishes. read more

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Holy cow. This place feels straight out of tulum. Food is incredible. Vibe is unlike anywhere else I've been. Our server Tanis was spectacular. Cocktails were also delicious. I can't say enough good things. read more

This place may have just opened two months ago under new ownership, but Franco and Sebastian are already making waves -- and let me tell you, it's not just hype. These two are some of the kindest, most humble owners I've ever had the pleasure to meet, and their warmth radiates throughout the entire restaurant. You can feel the passion in every corner -- from the evolving menu to the way their team takes care of guests. We came in as a party of six and were lucky enough to be served by *Cesar a.k.a. El Papi* -- yes, that's what he goes by, and trust me, he lives up to the name. The man's vibe? Impeccable. He made our first visit feel like a celebration, not just a dinner. Attentive, charismatic, and with the kind of work ethic that makes you want to come back just to be attended by him again. Interior: Minimalist, clean, and effortlessly aesthetic. Green aprons on the servers, sharp blue dress shirts on the bussers -- it's a simple but elegant vibe. The bussers didn't miss a beat: as soon as a drink or plate was done, it was out of the way like magic. Honestly, service across the board? 11/10. Now the food... buckle up peeps Flautas de atun ahomadas: If I could give these their own separate 5-star review, I would. We ordered one plate thinking it'd be a quick app, but after one bite, we ordered *two more orders*. Golden, crispy, savory, and absolutely addictive. (We were tempted to lick the plate). Aguachile Verde - Not as spicy as you'd expect (unless you confuse jalapeño with cucumber like I did hahaha), but the flavor is THERE. Perfectly marinated shrimp with a refreshing jicama crunch. Chef's kiss. Carnitas- Tender, flavorful, and comforting. Solid dish all around. Quesadillas de mole with short rib? YES, you read that right. Mole-covered quesadillas. Table favorite. Don't think, just order. Croquetas de Jaiba + Poblano: Think crab cakes, but elevated. Light, crispy, flavorful -- gone in two bites! The bartenders *do not play around*. You'll taste the liquor, but everything is perfectly balanced. My pick? The Carajillo-- like an espresso martini, but better. Smooth, bold, and dangerously easy to love. Street parking, so plan accordingly -- but trust me, it's worth circling the block a few times. Final verdict... dun dun dun.. This isn't just a restaurant. It's a whole *experience*. From Franco and Sebastian's hospitality to Cesar's unforgettable service and a menu that's clearly crafted with love -- it's clear this spot is going places. Already dreaming about my next visit (and yes, flautas will be on repeat). read more

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Food: cocktails, mocktails, vegan ceviche, smoked tuna flautitas: 5 stars, everything else 3 stars, and was WAY too spicy. The tacos fell apart--Instead of flour tortillas, would recommend doubling up on the tortillas or use the blue corn tortillas used for tostadas. Dessert was underwhelming & a crepe drowned in cajeta, not an authentic dobladita de cajeta. Service: 3-4 stars, understaffed, good energy, working kinks out. Ambience: 5 stars, beautiful, warm & welcoming. This is a place for drinks, flautitas, & ceviche with a beautiful vibe! read more

Food is GREAT. Drinks are FRESH. Servers are HOT. That's all. Yelp wants me to say more, but that's all. read more

Origen - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

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Such a cute spot! Came here with a few of my girlfriends for dinner. We were seated immediately upon arrival. The place was buzzing with people. The decor is super cute and aesthetically pleasing. Our server(I can't remember his name) was super cool. He gave us recommendations and we were not disappointed. One of my favorite dishes we all tried was the smoked tuna flauta with a shot of mezcal. It was excellent and I'm still drooling as I think about it. The octopus was also really good. Oh and we also ordered a salad that was really good and I can't remember which one it was. The drinks were also really tasty if you're a tequila or mezcal lover. I'll definitely return to order the flautas again as well as try other dishes. read more

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Admittedly, our group of 4 was late to our 5pm reservation by 11 minutes and only half of our party was there but they sat the two of us who were there immediately. Though, it appeared they were having a team meeting for the night as we were the first to arrive for the night and felt like we interrupted. Another couple came in shortly afterwards and it was mildly empty for a Tuesday night until we left around 7:15pm and it was packed. The drink recommended as the most popular order was the mezcalina and it was delicious. I was nervous it would be too sweet but it was nice and unique. The two of us who came early started with the crab tostada and that was my favorite bite of the night. Next time, I will order one of those for myself and not share. Once our full party came and the menu was explained, we ordered the tuna flautas and short rib quesadillas to start while we browsed the menu further. The flautas and short rib came out rather quickly - a pleasant surprise. But the unpleasant part was that they had brought a $40 short rib and mashed potato dish instead of the $18 short rib quesadillas in mole we had actually wanted to try. Then it was an awkward back and forth of should they take it back to the kitchen. Eventually, our group told them to leave it because HOW AWKWARD that they wouldn't just take it back when they realized that isn't what we wanted. The short rib and mash was the most bland dish we (didn't) order. The whole situation left me feeling a certain way for the rest of the meal. The smoked tuna flautas had great flavor and were delicious. We also ended up ordering the fish of the day (sea bass) with cebollitas (an herbaceous onion topping) which was also a table favorite. The octopus we ordered was my 2nd favorite dish of the night - only disappointment was the pita (2 half slices for 4 people with a good sized plate of octopus with delicious butter/oil) wasn't the best vessel to soak the deliciousness. I feel like a sourdough or any other regular bread would have been a better pairing. Probably because I was already mildly annoyed, but they often tried to take plates that we weren't quite finished with, but took forever to take my actually empty drink glass. Had we not ordered the $40 short rib, I think we all would have had more belly space to order and try more mains. But ce la vie, we ordered both desserts and the plates were almost licked. Overall, I'd go back if someone else chose to but not of my own volition after my experience. So many other spots with stunning food and great service to go to a place where service is subpar. read more

Many thanks to my Yelp Elite friends for this amazing find! Scrolling through my Yelp activity feed, I noticed a few Yelp Elites frequenting this restaurant. Love the desert vibe! Shout out to Alexis who was our attentive and informative waiter. What I had- Agua Santa - Refreshing drink with tomatillo. No it doesn't taste like tomato lol. Croquettes de jaiba y poblano- The blue crab was plentiful and fresh! Highly recommend! Flautitas de Atun Ahumado - I love smoked tuna and this was great in this rolled taco which def has a kick! Ceviche de Salmon - The hibiscus and raspberry sauce that they pour over the dish was absolutely delicious! Tartare de Atun - This tuna dish was fresh and loved topping it on my tostada. Camarones al ajillo - This warm dish had a savory garlic sauce which I recommend is delicious to dip some bread in. Quesadillatas de Short Rib - Tender short rib on fluffy tortilla Tortilla Clam Chowder - I loved this take on clam chowder with tortilla chips! Pulpo a la salsa mancha - This was soooo good. Highly recommend dipping bread into the sauce of this one! Platano Flameado - Loved the grilled bananas with the dulce de leche sauce! Fresas con Crema - Fresh strawberries with crème is a nice light dessert to finish off a great meal! Come early when it opens to get a better choice of seating and parking availability. Highly recommend reservations. read more

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Without a doubt, this is the best authentic Mexican food we've ever had. The flavors are bold, vibrant, and truly transport you to Mexico. What makes it even more special is the restaurant's own unique twist on traditional flavors, creating dishes that are both authentic and unforgettable. The service was exceptional--warm, attentive, and welcoming from start to finish. Combined with the wonderful ambiance, this was more than just a meal; it was an experience. We can't wait to return! read more

Origen - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

I wrote a review originally about my disappointment that there were no vegetarian options. I absolutely love Mexico and this restaurant has Mexico city vibes so I was absolutely disappointed to find out they HAD no vegetarian items because i have been vegetarian for 37 years.. For my birthday, I planned a birthday dinner with my parents, at the Italian spot next door (sadly) but I stopped at Origen to ask again in person about veggie items. To my surprise, within a week of my original review that there were no veggie items, the restaurant had added three options!! This is found impressive.. turned feedback positive. On with how it went: The decor is absolutely stunning. Minimal, earthy tones, pottery plates and open air style. The staff is more than on point. Very kind and professional. Very humble and giving all sorts of Mexican hospitality vibes. The menu: as a vegetarian I had three options. We went for the guacamole (i was very excited that the mango was not too out there) and for the cilantro/lemon sauce which i believe was hearts of palm. It was spicy but very pretty and yummy. My only disappointment with the dish is that it was basically more like a soup than a salad but the tortillas didn't help me at all. We ordered a side of potatoes but taste wise it wasn't a good pair. The dish needs some kind of consistency maybe rice so that the sauce can be eaten. My dad ordered some type of meat dish. He almost died due to spice In retrospect, I think it would have been wise of him to look out for those pepperchinis. My mom's dish was beautiful (salmon ceviche) but she thought it was more raw than she expected and it was extremely spicy so she could not have a bite. Unfortunate. Drinks were good. I was extremely surprised when the restaurant offered me a slice of birthday cake because i forgot i even mentioned it to them on arrival and how excited i was they had vegetarian options. I thought this was very sweet because i think i only mentioned it in passing to the host! The noise level though was intense and the music was noise more than beautiful Mexican songs. Overall i think this restaurant has potential to be SIX stars but it needs to edit the menu a bit in regards to spice or sauciness and find a way to minimize noise level. On the other hand, its staff could teach a thing or two to lots of restaurants out there. They are 10/10w read more

Service was good. Food was decent but a bit pricey for the portions. Was more of tapas than meals. But the drinks were good and the ambience was great. Weird that the other photos I posted didn't show up. Good date spot for light appetizers but if you're hungry I'd go somewhere else. But Definetly a nice spot for drinks read more

Origen - Pesca del dis cebollitas - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

Origen is a very beautifully-designed bew restaurant in the eastern section of Hillcrest in San Diego. Parking can be somewhat problematic, since the restaurant is located on a busy stretch of Park Boulevard directly at the intersection with University Avenue. Once inside the restaurant, I love the lighted niches holding pottery on the north side wall. There is a long row of tables along a banquette that divides the main dining room from the bar, where you first enter when you come through the front door. The actual menu is physically small in size--like a little brochure--but each dish is well thought out. There are two fish dishes offered, both of which are recommended. The staff at Origen Restaurant is unifomally pleasant. Special mention goes out to Cesar and to Manuel. read more

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Hands down one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. From the food, to the service, and even just the dining room. There wasn't a lot of room inside to wait after you check in, especially if the weather isn't the best outside ,so get ready to wait outside if you get there a bit early. Service was on top of it, from the front staff to the servers, waiters, and bartenders. Everyone was very attentive and you can tell they're really invested in the restaurant. All the dishes were prepared so well and had lots of flavors I've never really had before, but am so happy I got to try. Lots of good cocktail options as well so get ready to try a few with dinner! Love the ambiance of the place, it definitely goes with the vibes of the restaurant and the story behind the restaurant. This is easily one of the restaurants I recommend to people when they come visit San Diego. I definitely will come back myself too! read more

A m a z i n g This place is a gem... in Hillcrest The food was delicious from our apps to our dessert so so good We ordered the avocado civiche, short rib empanada mole, carnitas de cerdo and for our dessert forgot the name but it's their key lime pie version Service was very friendly shout out to our server, Edgar he was very nice attentive and friendly and he introduce to one of the owner Franco he's so nice and friendly Ambiance is a total vibe love love love the decor the lighting so cool and all the cactus and the bar cool design Def we are coming back again. read more

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We come down from Los Angeles to visit our daughter in San Diego, and ORIGEN is always a must. The food is out of this world -- modernist yet deeply rooted in traditional Mexican flavors. Every dish feels elevated but still soulful and comforting. The service is just fantastic. Everyone is unbelievably kind and genuine. We especially love Cesar behind the bar -- an incredible bartender and a joy to talk to -- and Franco and Pollo are wonderful as well. The whole team makes you feel like family. Every visit is an experience. Beautiful food, great energy, and truly heartfelt hospitality. Can't recommend this place highly enough. We'll be back every time we're in town! read more

Origen - Bar/Dining - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

Amazing food, service, ambiance and team running the place! We felt like family. Everything on the menu was incredible, like you are at a 5 star Michelin restaurant in south Beach (but in San Diego). Get the tuna tartar you won't regret it!! read more

A modern Mexican restaurant has arrived in the Hillcrest neighborhood where two iterations of a breakfast and champagne concept failed over the past couple of years. The space has been renovated with more neutral tones compared to the gaudy pink theme of its predecessor. Reservations can be made on Tock which are highly recommended as the initial interest has led to full capacity seating of about 90 customers on most evenings. I was fortunate to score an empty spot at the bar as a walk-in during the middle of the week on a rainy night. The menu will rotate frequently with my version having flautas and the "land" choices on the left and the "sea" choices on the right. Several sides and three desserts rounded out the offerings. One of my friends really enjoyed the tuna tartare. I stayed with the seafood theme and chose the Croquetas de Jaiba y Poblano to start my meal. Five croquettes contained soft shell crab with poblano bits and cilantro aioli. A small amount of mixed greens was added on top. The fritters were crispy with a creamy filling in which you could taste the crab meat. The greens appeared to be an add-on that didn't enhance the dish. For an entree, I selected the Pesca del Dia con Vinagreta de Cebollitas y Tallos de Cilantro. The fresh daily catch was striped sea bass. Two fillets were marinated with citrus-cilantro vinaigrette and served with a side of potato puree. Perhaps a stalk vegetable to fill up the plate would have been justified as this dish felt a bit lacking for the $42 price tag. The vinaigrette did provide a tart contrast to the mild flavored sea bass. I had no issues with the service from the bartender and other staff that assisted. It helped that my visit occurred on one of their slower days. My Origen dining experience was at a four star level. read more

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Should have been five-star. Was five-star until literally the last minute. We had to wait for our reservation for about six minutes and that was okay. Our server was great. She knew the menu and we wound up ordering about 80% of it. The four of us shared all the plates. It was amazing. Then the unthinkable happened. We had part of a desert left and two of us still had cocktails that were not done. We had just paid about $400 for the meal and were finishing the drinks as well as waiting for one of our guests the return to the table. The waitress, very embarrassed, told us that we needed to leave as we were only waiting for our friend and they needed the table. What in the actual "F" happened? We spend $400 and we are kicked out when we would have left in a . Few minutes anyway? We didn't get to finish our drinks or our dessert but out we went. They do not care about you. They only care about your money and just barely at that. They took a wonderful night and made all of us feel "less than " and not wanted. Hard to imagine them lasting if they dispise their guests so much that they ask them to leave. Unconscionable. Great food. Great attention from our server. Abysmal caring from the management. read more

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We tried this new restaurant called ORIGEN that just opened 3 days ago. When we arrived there , it was kinda hard to find parking, there's a lot of apartments/condos around, we almost left but we got lucky a parking spot was available. My wife ordered right away, she ordered her drink the CARAJILLO, more of Espresso Martini taste but stronger, she said it was good. I got PULPO ZARANDEADO, its adobado-style grilled octopus, it's a must-try, it's a very good one. My Wife ordered her TARTAR DE ATUN, it's a Sushi grade tuna with a delicious sauce and a side of Camote chips, my wife likes this a lot. My Son had the BRAISED SHORT RIBS, very tender and tasty. Great service from our server Alexis. The food was all tasty, just the Parking is hard to find. read more

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The service and food are 11/10 here! The staff went above and beyond with their kindness and service. They made my friends birthday spectacular and fun. The conchinita tacos were just okay, BUT I'd recommend everything off the crudo section of the menu. The restaurant itself was gorgeous. Will 100% be coming back. read more

Origen - Paloma, margaritas, salmon crudo, guacamole mango ceviche, aquachile - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

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We wanted a cute slightly more upscale date night spot and we came across origen! I love the decor and styling of the restaurant. We started with the agua chile and it reminded me so much of Mexico! It had the nice tang but it wasn't overly sour which I enjoy. I wish I could bottle up the sauce itself. We also got the pork dish and that was my partners favorite. It came with fresh, warm tortillas. And I got the beef dish, we loved the beef dish as well. It was full of flavor, we just wished that the beef slices were slightly bigger. But overall it was amazing! Drinks were yummy as well! Our waiter was so helpful with informing us on the menu and checked in on us multiple times. We will definitely come back since their menu does rotate! read more

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Originally saw this spot pop up on IG, and those can always be hit or miss. Thankfully, Origen lived up to the hype and we had a great experience. Though we had a reservation, it wasn't too busy on a Sunday evening at 6pm. We were seated right away and greeted by our waiter. I didn't catch his name, but he was a joy throughout. He had such a big personality and a great sense of humor. The food was not only beautiful, but also delicious. We ordered the short rib mole quesadillita, the tuna tartare and the pulpo. All were outstanding, although the standout to me was the pulpo. It was texturally perfect and tender, and the salsa macha made me weep tears of joy. The space itself is gorgeous with simple natural yet elegant finishes. Parking can be tough in the area but we got lucky with nearby street parking. read more

Origen - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place opened a month or so ago and the social media on IG did a great job of bringing this place to my attention. It looked great but so many places do on socials. I made a reservation through their website. Originally I tried yelp and open table but no luck. I went to their website and saw they use a different system which you put a $25 dollar hold for the reservation. I got the time I wanted and made the reservation a day or 2 out for 6:45. Origen is going to be real popular with the people who live in the area because they don't have to worry about parking. I bring that up but was able to park across the street after some circling. Checked in early and the hostess was able to accommodate us 15 minutes before our reservation. The restaurant was near full, with only 2 tables that I saw open. That was perfect because right before we were seated, someone came in with a reservation for 630. It's a busy, popular restaurant with that interesting style and ambiance. Most of the servers are in all white, so maybe don't wear white like I did. Someone did think I worked there because of my white bomber jacket for a second. We were seated inside, at the row of tables that share one long bench and then the outside side gets a chair. The waiter came over and explained about the menu and did mention the the portion sizes are meant to be shared. They refresh their menu every week. Their menu definitely is more geared towards seafood, but they have options for those who don't enjoy seafood. The waiter did highlight the catch of the day and seafood specials. Everyone I interacted with was very nice and I think the chefs are the guys in dark and they bring out food too. I ordered the elote old fashioned which was good. The food came out at a good speed and everything looked great. I made sure to snap some pics first because that sells me on food more then anything else. The quesadilitas with mole were very good. I would definitely like to try the mole on something with main entree energy. The smoked tuna flautas were delicious. The tradilitas is im guessing organ meat because of how thin it was and the seasonings. I eat that kinda stuff no problem and really liked it here. The beans were decent and the corn tortillas were fine. I definitely will come back. This is a really good date night spot if you like a little bit more lively restaurant. If you're starving and looking to crush food, this place might not be for you. I know often times people say they love Mexican food and then want to get fast and ready copious amounts. This isn't that place. I like to highlight that for correct expectation setting. I don't want people dinging this place when all they really wanted was a good taco shop. read more

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This is a perfect example of when you mix great food with excellent service, super cool vibe, young people taking care of business and beautiful people attending the place. Everything works. We were here for dinner on Saturday night. It was packed and still we had food in our table. Within 10 minutes. The drinks were awesome. I would say it was pretty inexpensive and we tried a little bit of everything but the best thing was the tuna flautas and the octopus Although I will come back to eat more of the blue crab to stop us. It's a must try read more

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Made a reservation for a Tuesday evening after seeing the great reviews. The ambience is very cool - very minimal. There is a nice long bar too. Our server was very knowledgeable regarding the menu and gave us some background on the chef and restaurant. The menu is meant to be shareable plates. I want to note that the portions are really nice. I will note everything we ate and let me tell you. We were full! We ordered a margarita and a Paloma. In the Paloma, I changed the mezcal to Fortaleza tequila. We both ordered the tequiflauta. What a fun little dish. Almost felt like a larger amuse-bouche (though not complimentary). A small shot of tequila, an orange slice with tajin and 2 amazing small flautas. Quesadillitas with short rib- it was good but I am not the biggest fan of mole. It was a heavier dish as well. The short rib was very tender. Shrimp and chorizo- oh goodness. This was so tasty. The shrimp were perfect and making our own little tacos was fun. Ceviche- this was so fresh and yummy. Richer than normal ceviche as they add the sauce. The apple slices were amazing in this dish! Croquetas- so moist and lots of crab. These were so good. Camarones Al ajilo- so fresh and light. Loved this one! So simple yet so good. Tiradito de res- this was not my favorite. The meat was a bit dry. Flavors were nice though. So we could have done with one less dish. Like I said, we were definitely full after dinner. You will be satisfied! read more

Origen - Croquetas - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

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From the jump the restaurant atmosphere is welcoming and very cozy with a modern coastal touch. This is a family run business that is reaching its 1 year anniversary in March and you can just tell how passionate these individuals are about their craft. My party was immediately welcomed with warmth by the owners brother where he sat us quick and was on top of tending to our table. He gave us a run down of how the restaurant started and the best approach to ordering off the menu. Later on the owner himself came over and told us a bit more about how the restaurant came to be and all of the fun events they host from time to time! Now into the food and drinks.... The margarita my table ordered was probably one of the best margaritas I have had in a long time. While we opted out of the mezcal, but you could genuinely taste the quality of ingredients and craftsmanship that was put into the cocktail. So good! I'll be thinking about it regularly! For food my table decided to order a few plates and share it. The Guacamole y ceviche de mango was the perfect starter. The coconut leche they add into the Mix was impeccable, I have never tasted a ceviche with so many mix of flavors that blend and pair together so beautifully! Now while the rest of the plates we ordered did have smaller servings, it worked well for our party of 3 and everything was evidently fresh and high quality. At the end of our meal they brought us over these complimentary espresso cocktail shots I can't quite remember the name of, but they were SO YUMMY! Overall, the passion and kindness of the two brothers alone is making me want to come back just to learn more about what's to come as they approach their 1 year restaurant anniversary along with, of course, their delicious handcrafted food and drinks too! (That Margarita omg)!! read more

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Beautiful space. Excellent service. Awesome food. What more can you ask for? We got the ceviche de salmon, short rib, steak tacos, and tostada del Jaiba and enjoyed everything. Drinks were solid as well. read more

Dropped by for dinner and there was an open table for two. We received great guidance from the servers and owners on how to order and what was recommended based on our tastes. The location and food all were quite authentic, you could tell they put a lot of soul and love in the food and drinks they prepare. We split about 3 dishes and it was plenty to have a filling dinner for two. read more

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This place has become one of my favorite restaurants to visit when in San Diego. The food has always been delicious. And they sometimes update their menu so it's great to come back and try new things. The staff is so friendly and attentive. Definitely make a reservation especially on the weekends because they do get busy. The architectural design of the space is very nice. read more

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Great service. Everyone comes by and checks on you. Even the owners deliver drinks and stop by. All staff smiles. Nice place for groups or even dates. Most of the menu is design to be shared, Tapas to socialize and drinks to enjoy. read more

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Probably my favorite restaurant right now in San Diego, it's that good! I came here with some friends from out of town. We saw a couple of tiktoks and were convinced this would be a good girls night out option and they did not disappoint! We had a 5pm dinner reservation for 4 which is hella early for me LOL but that was the only time available for a Saturday night - it definitely filled up by 6pm! We ubered there since we had plans to go out after, but street parking seems really tough. The service was great, we were seated immediately and always checked in on. They were super professional and had great recs for dining. I ordered a white wine and my friends got some cocktails which were delicious, each of them were a bit smoky. I don't remember all the dishes we ordered but we shared the salmon ceviche, octopus, and tuna atun! We got 1 more beef dish that was delicious. 4 shareable plates was the perfect amount of food, we had some leftovers. The restaurant is beautiful, great ambiance. They have a bar if you want to stop by for a quick drink. I'm sure it looks great later in the evening with the lighting. I will definitely be returning! read more

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I celebrated my birthday here yesterday and i absolutely loved it! The server was amazing I believe her name starts with a T but I forgot by now. A beauty as well! The food was delicious, more on the spicy side but we all enjoyed the different meals. The drinks were our favorite part! Delicious wines and cocktails Thank you for the experience and good vibes, perfect for pictures and a good time read more

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Went with some friends! We ordered some drinks, the cauliflower, and a couple more dishes. I do think the service was amazing! Everyone was very on top of things and attentive. I do wish we were asked if we were celebrating anything, as I put in our reservation we were celebrating a birthday. But no one asked about that. Anyways, the meals came at good times. For the cauliflower: I was expecting it to come out hot but it was cold. I didn't prefer it cold. The hummus was thicker and chunkier than I preferred too. I guess I'm used to smoother hummus. The bubbly wine: was good. For my dish, I got the fideo. I liked the flavor of it all and the shrimp was cooked well. I'd personally get it without sour cream. Expect the portion size to be less than most restaurants. My friends shared the vanilla cake. They said it lacked taste or sweetness, but the texture was interesting/good. It may be a cool spot to try one time. The atmosphere is trendy and a vibe. Likely around $50 a person. We made a reservation so got sat right away. Got a nice table with a half booth situation. But the booth was a bit odd with all the pillows and was uncomfortable to sit back on it. You'll be practicing your posture for sure. Also we went during the week so we didn't have issues finding street parking. Would give a 3.5 if that was an option. It does seem nicer in the pictures than in person. Maybe more of a trendy/gimmicky place than good. read more

Origen - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here on a Saturday around 9:30 PM with a reservation for Origen 32. There weren't any Yelp reviews for Origen 32, so I assumed this was the same place--it's not. That said, the staff was kind enough to accommodate us and get us seated anyway. The space itself is cute, but it's way too bright inside. Dimmer lighting would go a long way in creating a better atmosphere. There's also only one restroom shared between men and women, which made for a bit of a wait. The food was delicious, but everything leaned pretty heavily on the spicy side. It would be great if they offered the option to adjust the spice level. Also, they only gave us three tortillas with our meal, which wasn't quite enough--we needed five. Luckily, they were happy to bring more. The staff was really friendly, attentive, and responsive throughout. Overall, the food tasted fresh and flavorful, and the prices were great. Just lower the spice a bit and turn the lights down, and this would be a solid go-to spot. read more

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This spot was Baja inspired with a modern twist. Great drinks, clean plates, vibey space. Loved it. Food and service was quality. read more

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Delicious food and drinks and service was amaze! Decor is soooo prettty! Ceviche was super fresh and mole had a lot of depth of flavor. read more

Origen - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

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