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    Pepita's Cafe

    4.4 (22 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Open 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Pepita's Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    PEPITA'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Pepita's Cafe

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    Lucy D.

    Stopped by Pepita's Cafe to grab a quick snack before a doc appointment. While we waited we were offered chips and salsa, the chips were warm and crispy, as though freshly fried. The salsa is spicy and well flavored. The restaurant is small and cozy, we were invited to sit while our snack was prepared. As we waited, the sounds and yummy fragrance coming from the kitchen were tantalizing, I cannot help but think of my abuelita and mama's cooking based on the delicious smells. We ordered a simple carne asada quesadilla and it came with salsa. The carne asada was well seasoned, peppery, and was cooked to perfection. The tortilla was slightly crispy with little bits of crunchy cheese...it was delightful! Highly recommend Pepita's Cafe, the food and service are wonderful.

    chile relleno plate
    Ann P.

    I love dining to this small restaurant the food is always on point... the owner is always nice and his daughter Alejandra is awesome... we like coming here in the weekends!!!

    Chorizo con huevo frijoles and a cup of coffee.

    My food was delicious, simple Mexican food, and affordable price considering the economy. I'm happy to finally visit this place. I've been super busy, but timeing is everything. This place is quaint and decorated with plenty of Mexican heritage items, and it feels like a little bit of Mexico inside. Come by the family owned restaurant, they made it through covid and still thriving through this economic change, Si Se Puede, adelante! Pepitas if you know you know come by.

    Small bowl of Menudo Rojo
    Perla P.

    This is our second visit here. I opted for the chilaquiles this time because I love their beans and just wanted to try something i normally wouldnt get. Most places serve beans that are dry. These are creamy and have that homemade fresh taste to them. Was supposed to be spicy, but it wasn't and that's ok because it had a good flavor to it. Menudo was much better this time around, which says alot because I thought it was delicious the first time around. I highly recommend this place to eat. We will be coming back again. Each time I'll try something different.

    Chilaquiles and beans

    We picked our baby girl up from her first day of preschool and wanted to celebrate with chilaquiles. My husband found Pepita's and we had such a sweet time. It felt like enjoying a family meal in someone's (clean) home. They brought chips and amazing spicy salsa. Everything seemed to be done with great care. The food was yummy and the owner let my daughter pick out a pastry. We'll be back.

    Huevos Rancheros with beans

    Good authentic Mexican food. Cozy environment and a great atmosphere for breakfast or lunch

    This place is great! Authentic Mexican Food and Feel. Albóndigas are my favorite
    Manuel G.

    Love this place! Authentic Mexican Food! Albóndigas are my favorite. Family ran, which makes it special.

    Pepita's Cafe... a cozy respite in bustling National City
    Merrily C.

    Pepita's is a small pink brick restaurant on Highland Avenue. There are tables with umbrellas out front. It is family owned and operated. Service is attentive and friendly. I found it to be absolutely charming, although I didn't take the owner/waiter's hint to order the caldo de res. Instead, I opted for the chile relleno, which was, well... not that great. But later I saw a regular with the caldo that looked and smelled wonderful. I'll go back to try that. The nice part about Pepita's is its charm. It is small and cozy. I tucked myself into a corner booth with a book and had a nice little lunch. Plus half a star because when I sat down, their radio station played a song by my favorite band. Its got street parking, but every time I've driven by, there are always spots available. I parked right out front. I'll update this review when I get the caldo de res, or if I try breakfast (word around town is breakfast is their forte).

    Chorizo and beans

    Authentic and delicious family owned Mexican food restaurant. I love that there are white and red menudo available every day.

    El menudo

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    6 years ago

    FYI they are offering a meal and soda FREE OF CHARGE to help those in need. Check it out if you are in the neighborhood.

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    7 years ago

    The food here is really good. My grandma showed me This place a bunch of years ago. The chilequillas are really good.

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    La Lomita Mexican Grill

    La Lomita Mexican Grill

    3.8
    (408 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Best Rolled Tacos in the Game! Hands Down. 6/5…read more It's been tried and it's been true. Where else can you get fresh AF, juicy, beef rolled tacos that are rolled and fried to order? I'm waiting.... I'll put La Lomitas rolled tacos up against anybody's, ANYBODY'S! Covered in freshly made, still green guacamole, tomatoes, and shredded cheese, these bad boys are smackin'! $9.25 for 5 rolled tacos isn't terrible, but you might as well phone a friend on some Who Wants to Be a Millionaire type ish and order that 12 pack for $16.99. Ya feel me? If you don't, you will. And don't forget to peep out all of the accoutrements at the salsa bar-4 different salsas, pickled red onions, limes, radishes, and hot carrots, all gratis my amigo. Say whaaaaaat!? Yes, they kindly ask that you don't go overboard and request you take only 2 salsas per item, but just don't be greedy and you should be fine. The salsa bar was super clean and the salsas were delicious. I've also had carne asada fries here (always ask for extra crispy) and they're delicious as well. If you're not asking for your carne asada fries to be extra crispy at any taco shop, you're just doing it wrong. Enjoy my friends! Thanks to La Lomita and crew for coming through again. You guys really shine.

    Love this place. Their Surf & Turf burrito is always my go to the adobada is really good too and…read morethe tacos are solid. Service can be a little hit or miss depending on who's at the register but nothing horrible. The area itself isn't the greatest and you'll definitely get that classic hood taco shop vibe but honestly that's usually where the good food is at. Overall the food keeps me coming back

    Photos
    La Lomita Mexican Grill
    3 tacos del pastor
    3 tacos del pastor
    Inside

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    Inside
    Tacos El G

    Tacos El G

    3.5
    (1.2k reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $

    I came to Tacos El G around 9:30 PM. They're open until midnight, which I appreciated, and when we…read moregot there it wasn't hectic. The place was clean, and there was plenty of seating. You order and pay first, then they call your name when everything's ready. Service was nice and straightforward. The salsa bar was clean and stocked with fresh limes, two salsas, and radishes. There are a few tables inside plus a bigger table, but we chose to sit outside on the patio. It was clean, comfortable, and the weather made it easy to eat outside. Cabeza: $3.69. Super juicy and packed with flavor. If you like cabeza, this one hits. It came with onions and cilantro and didn't need much else. Lengua: $4.38. Lengua is usually my go-to, and this one was cooked really well. Not greasy at all, which I appreciated. The texture was right, and the flavor was solid, especially with extra lime. I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't order more than one at that price. Adobada: $3.69 each. These were my husband's favorite. They come with a creamy green salsa that isn't at the salsa bar, and it pairs really well with the pork. Probably the safest order here. I'd come back to try other items since they have a lot of different cuts and styles, but the prices do make you pause a little, especially if you're ordering multiple tacos.

    Tacos El Gordo has always been my go-to spot when I come home, and the food is still good, but some…read moreof the changes have turned me off a bit. The biggest change is the ordering process. You now have to pay first, then wait for your food to be made. I actually preferred the old setup where you could walk to the different stations, pick your tacos, watch them prepare everything fresh, get it packed up, and then pay at the end. It felt like part of the experience. We also have to talk about the pricing. I remember when these tacos were around $1.25 each. Now they're over $4 for a mini street taco. I understand this is California and the cost of goods has increased, but that is a drastic jump. That said, I don't want to take away from the food because the tacos are still excellent. I ordered two buche tacos and a quesadilla, and both were 10 out of 10. They don't miss when it comes to seasoning and flavor. The service is still quick as well. My only real complaint is the price. It feels overpriced for what you're getting, and honestly, it may explain why there weren't many people there when we visited. There were only a handful of customers inside. The food is still worth trying, but be prepared for some serious sticker shock.

    Photos
    Drive thru
    Drive thru
    Tacos El G
    Adoba or al pastor same thing the best

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    Adoba or al pastor same thing the best

    Pepita's Cafe - mexican - Updated July 2026

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