Fantastic find in San Marcos! My oldest son has a new…read moreobsession...Portuguese and Brazil, so when I found this store on yelp, I knew I would be mother of year...but only for a few minutes. Teenagers! ;) O Prego reminds me of little corner stores/bodegas I would find in Brooklyn- half market, half deli. We browsed the aisles, found a few things to buy, and then went to the deli/bakery section. There's plenty to order here. We settled on a few small bites. Everything was absolutely delicious. My fiancé and I will definitely be coming back for their coffee and pastries on a weekend morning! The owners couldn't have been any nicer to my son as he practiced his Portuguese- ordering for us and even chatting it up with him. This warmed my mama heart! Family owned and operated, Support them! 5 stars!

We stopped by on the way to San Diego. We wanted to get some sandwiches. Our fault for not reading…read morethe website,they only open the kitchen on the weekends. The place is well stocked with item from Brazil and Portugal. What shocked me was this store is located in a business area,not near a residential neighborhood. They seemed to do well enough to stay in business. We ended up just getting some nata's. The custard had a nice egg flavor. Since it wasn't crowded the lady was able to answer questions and help us.

Delicious paella and Spanish tapas!…read more The paella was seasoned well with hefty portions of seafood. $59 for two people (minimum) and two tapas plates were plenty. The interior is decorated very casual and homey, it was a fun ambiance with excellent service! The flan dessert was so rich and creamy too. I would come back to try more of the hot tapas plates!

Costa Brava offers an energetic, lively atmosphere with dark woods and soft lighting. Owner Javier…read moreruns a bustling spot with tons of people. It does get a bit loud, including some street noise from car exhausts outside. It makes for a fun experience, especially for a lively group dinner. THE FOOD * Pulpo a la Gallega: Sautéed in olive oil and paprika. Tender, thin slices. The fresh lemon adds a bright acidity that balances the dish. * Gambas al Ajillo: Garlic shrimp treated very well. Tender, juicy, and highly flavorful. * Patatas a la brava: Hot potatoes coated in a creamy ali-oli. * Choricito frito: Delicious sautéed chorizo sausage. * Pinchitos de solomillo: Grilled filet mignon skewers. While the cook made them quite tender, the beef flavor was a bit off. I would recommend sticking to their phenomenal seafood instead. * Paella mixta: A classic presentation of saffron rice, chorizo, chicken, shrimp, and mussels. * Spanish creme brulee: A perfect finish. Wonderfully creamy underneath with a crisp sugar top. THE SERVICE Michael was our server and provided great service. He was attentive, knew the menu details inside and out, and provided excellent recommendations to guide our meal. OVERALL A solid tapas dining experience with great service and standout seafood.

To be honest, after reading a number of the reviews for this restaurant, I had mixed feelings about…read moretrying it. I'm very glad I did! I've tried Brazilian steakhouses all over and this one was one of my favorites! To start with, everything on the produce bar tested very fresh and delicious. My server was very efficient and friendly and from Brazil too! Anyway the service was great, servers kept coming around with the various meats on skewers. The side dishes for freshly prepared and very tasty. Really I had no complaints at all about anything. Note that this place does get very busy at times and that can be frustrating I am sure, but if you are looking for a unique, delicious Brazilian steakhouse, look no further!

I had been here before about two years ago. It was really good. But this time I was disappointed…read more The meats were not flavorful and one of the meats was chewy. I brought my daughter here for her first time and she was not impressed. Mainly for the amount of food one can eat compared to the price one pays. Our server was a sweet young lady that tried to make sure we were happy. I mean it wasn't bad but I was just disappointed. The restaurant itself is clean and inviting. And like I said service was excellent. The meat was just disappointing. And the sides were just okay.

TL;DR: Great seafood, great service, great vibes! What an awesome pocket of North Park for whatever…read moreoccasion! Must visit in SD! Stopped by after coming home from a work trip to get a late night meal and was so glad we did! Service was top notch! From the minute we walked up to the door to the dish recommendations, everything was so warm and welcoming. Drinks, both alcoholic and NA, were well-balanced and refreshing. Really opened our appetite to crush a bunch of fresh seafood ...speaking of... Wow. Just wow. Everything was so fresh and you could taste the ocean in each bite. - Oysters were freshly shucked and delicious without any of the add-on sauces/dressings - Carpaccio: not to say that it wasn't delicious. It's just that compared to everything else, this was just good. skippable tbh - Sardines on toast: another banger! such thick whole pieces that just melted away with each bite. yum. - Mussels (MVP app): wowwwww so good. Underrated. So glad our server recommended them. If I had to redo our meal, I'd have ordered 2 and skipped the carpaccio. MUST GET MUSSELS. - Beets were a refreshing change from the seafood. Open to other salads but def order one as a palette refresher from all the ocean - Octopus: perfectly cooked and not chewy at all - Potatoes: too heavy to end with. Not bad in any way but I'd skip this next time. Really only want a half bite. All in all, Mabel's smashed it and we'll be back 100%. Cheers, Mabel's!

On a casual walk around the neighborhood since I had parking which can be tricky. I found myself on…read morea very important mission: dessert. Mabel's has been on my list for a while I just hadn't made it in yet. The soft, intimate lighting and lively crowd pulled me in like a moth to a very chic flame. The hostess was warm and welcoming, and since the place was buzzing, we opted for the makeshift patio seating prime people watching territory. Inside, I noticed the layout has two distinct rooms, with one acting as a waiting area where guests can mingle and sip a drink before being seated. A nice touch if you enjoy a little pre-dinner social hour. Somewhere between scanning the menu and spotting all the seafood options, dessert quietly exited the chat. We decided to lean into the moment and see what the hype was about. After a quick chat with our waiter, we went with the octopus skewer and grilled swordfish. Now, fun fact I completely missed: it's a gin bar. This realization came after I confidently ordered a dirty martini like I knew what I was doing so I pivoted and reordered a glass of wine. Smooth recovery... mostly. The octopus was nicely cooked tender with a good char and the swordfish was... fine. Not bad, just not something I'll be dreaming about at 2 a.m. Overall, the dishes were executed well, but flavor-wise, they could've used a little more personality. A pinch of salt might've gone a long way. That said, I know their menu changes frequently, so I'd absolutely come back and give it another shot. And next time, I might actually stick to my original plan... you know, dessert.

Walked in here expecting a bakery but it's ... an import store? Literally. They sell a couple of…read moregrocery items like canned goods and wine, and it was honestly quite confusing. Regardless, I don't know where the cashier got the egg tarts or if they bake them in-house, but they are phenomenal. Cashier walked into the back room and came back with these warmed delicacies. I scarfed down two in my car and debated on turning back for more. They're on the sweeter side, but they are elite. Pricey, but worth the "treat yourself" moment.

Portugal Imports is a small market in Fountain Valley, that's full of Portuguese items. You can…read morefind Olive Oils, cured Ibercan pork, chorizo, Portuguese sausage, sardines. What brought us in were their egg tarts. I've never been to Portugal, but I was happy to come in to have some savory croquettes and their egg tarts. Their portuguese egg tarts have the custardy flavor balanced by nice sweetness. We had a ham and cheese croquette and chicken croquette. The savory treats were breaded in bread crumbs and the ham and cheese tasted like it was filled with a cheesy bearnaise, while the chicken tasted like a crispy, chicken pot pie. This is a small store and it's a great place to find items for an authentic Portuguese meal. I would come again for these egg tarts, which has sweetness that's completely different than the Taiwanese variety I grew up with in the San Gabriel valley.

Love portuguese food and the culture is so welcoming, the ambiance and vibe did not miss the mark…read moreat all. Not sure the ethnicity of the team but they were also very welcoming and kind. We sat at the bar and recieved great service. They also remember my brother from visiting so often. We tried the Piri Piri Chicken, it was half a chicken, perfect for sharing. The seasonal snap pea salad with tarragon and mint leaves was refreshing and a great start. They do run out of pastel de natas, I believe it was once only served on the weekend but now weekly, They offer ginja and green wine, and they def didn't forget the iconic tiles you see everywhere in portugal. Shrimp was my favorite !

came here last night and thought it was pretty delightful. I forgot to take a few pictures but…read moreoverall I enjoyed my time here. I thought the service was pretty on point and they would always come around to check on us and always come over to fill our water and wine when it was empty. We ordered the special of the day steak, charred cabbage, head on prawns, starter(all four) with olives, cheese, cured meats and bread, calamari toast, and fritters and another bread dish to dip it into the prawns sauce. I would say that the fritters were a bit disappointing, it really could use an aioli sauce to go with it to really enhance this dish. It was just missing something and I think an aioli sauce could really help. My personal favorite was the calamari toast. Something about the way they cooked the calamari was really good on the taste and the how tender it was to eat. The toast soaked it in all the sauce too and I just really loved this dish. The head on prawns had a good sauce to go along with it and as recommended by the waiter that it is nice to eat bread with their sauce. Prawns were good as well. Surprisingly my 2nd favorite dish was their charred cabbage. It doesn't actually sound that special but the beans and the cabbage were really nice. I just think you have to try it as I can't even describe why it was so good to me haha. The special of the day steak was pretty good as well. If I have to complain, it be nice if they asked us how we would like it to be cooked because it did feel like it was a bit well done on our end but taste wise we thought it was good. The dessert: Didn't care for the Portuguese egg tart all but there's a very high standard for the egg tart but I did really enjoy my passion fruit sorbet that they provided and it was a huge scoop. Overall, I wouldn't mind coming back and really did enjoy my time here.

Approved by my Brazilian friend, that's good enough to make this place 5 stars. Reminded her of…read morelots of foods she enjoyed and us as people who don't often eat Brazilian food, we had a great time too. It's mini mart attached to the main restaurant. We came on a Sunday mid morning and since we had lunch plans later, we only snacked on a bit of the food. Service was super welcoming and inviting. It was like visiting a family member's or friend's home. Lady was super nice. Ambiance is very casual and you can tell that this is a community favorite too. Food came out quickly and was fresh. We got the: 1) Coxinha: -This is a popular Brazilian street food which is a deep fried croquette with chicken and cream cheese. -Delicious, light breading and the potato part is fluffy and the chicken is moist and all of the filling is plentiful and seasoned to perfection. We also got to try this with their home made chili sauce, nice delicious heat. Good stuff. 2) Pao de Queijo: -A MUST for my friend and I whenever I see them available. -Super yummy Brazilian cheese bread. I love the delicately light crisp from the exterior, slightly chewy dough, and of course the cheese inside. -Addicting and delicious snack. I can easily munch down several of these and the quality is good here too, especially since it's made fresh! We also got the bottled juices, imported in from Brazil. Mango and guava were like nectar juices, super yummy and the pistachio one was pretty unique. Our table also ordered the Brazilian lime alcoholic drink, but as a non drinker, I can't comment on this. Definitely would like to come back here again the next time we're in SD.

I really wanted to like this place but my experience was disappointing. The food was not very good…read moreand the service made it even more frustrating. Our waitress did not write down our order and because of that my Brazilian cheese bread never came out. When I mentioned it, she said she "didn't know I ordered that" and I explained that this is exactly why writing orders down matters. On top of that, something happened that completely ruined the meal. A huge roach came out near the front area and one of the staff members just smashed it and kicked it outside the front door like it was nothing. It was honestly shocking and very uncomfortable to see, especially in a restaurant where people are eating. Overall the service, food, and cleanliness were not what I expected and I would not recommend this place based on my visit.

We have been going to Fogo de Chao for over 10 years. Though we have seen new faces over the years,…read moreone thing that has never changed is the way Humberto and his staff make you feel like family! On our last visit Sylvia and Leslie took care of my family and I and truly made us feel like we were at home. The way they take care of my family, anticipate our needs and even spoil my kids keeps us coming back over and over. This is aside from how delicious their food is, and the fact that they make the most perfect Shirley Temple we've ever had. Thanks Humberto and everyone at Fogo...see you next time.

The food here was impeccable! We were highly impressed with the service provided by our server…read moreLupe and his help Austin. We were celebrating a birthday and they made it such a fun experience. We were sat in the middle of the restaurant but it was still very quiet and private. We had a 10/10 experience and will definitely be coming back in the future!

Best Sangria and beef empanadas. We had great service and…read moregreat food! Decor and ambiance was fantastic and set the tone. Can't wait to go back. Our new favorite restaurant.

Sevilla Valentine's Day Edition:…read more Pardon the delay, amigos! It's been a lengthy week! But I digress! You're here for the deets! Like every boyfriend who wants to show his adoration for his gorgeous girlfriend, I planned this event a few weeks ago. Commitment & dedication are key. Flamenco Show, 3 course dinner for two, AND dancing after?! Yeah, your amigo has it covered! This package is available on their website, and not only on Valentine's. But this day does make it more romantic! A minor 5-10 minute wait as we stepped out of our Uber to the front entrance of the club adjacent to the restaurant. Our lovely hostess greeted us & escorted us downstairs to pick our table. There were no specific table reservations, but all seats are good, as it's a small venue. The Love Gods smiled upon us and granted a table close to the front with an awesome view of the stage. Perfect table for the perfect date! Starters set the tone. What's this? A Welcome Charcuterie Platter?! It appears out of nowhere as our server takes our drink orders. The service here is impeccable! Impressive spread of cheesy, meaty goodness! The Shaved Jamón Serrano Ensalada Sevillana has a wonderfully zesty citrus vinaigrette that makes you clack your castanets! Ole!! Cocktails for the cute couple! A Oaxacan Flower for my Monterrey Mami! My gal loves her some mezcal! I opted for El Matador Margarita, because I know what I want...tequila! Plus the cucumber counts as healthy! I will die on this hill! The Main Course is the star of the show. And in full diva fashion, the Lobster Paella Valenciana stole the spotlight! A masterfully, monstrous mix of meat & seafood, all on top of some bomb-a** Saffron Bomba Rice! There's even a lobster tail in case you're still hungry! Queue the Flamenco show. The two dancers were elegant, the music was powerful, the singer sublime! Enjoy your dinner to a phenomenal 2 part show put on by very talented artists! We got to meet them after the show, as they personally thanked practically every guest! Elegant as their artform! Lest we forget the dessert! The Flourless Chocolate Cake was just the right amount of sweetness to cap off the dinner & show, as we shared our own sweet nothings. Love & Chocolate, a perfect combo, just like my beloved beauty & her humble narrator. As the performers were packing up & saying their final goodbyes, the staff was clearing the space for the last part of our adventure...dancing! A brief 15ish minute wait back outside & back inside we went! Got a great spot up front by the stage, but be aware the only sitting will be done by the VIP section. I believe it's bottle service only, but you can ask. We didn't, as we did not intend to sit at all! We boogied down, baby! The DJ did a great job keeping the vibe alive. Perfect ending to a perfect night. *Caveat - The dinner menu has other options & several a la carte items, if you so choose. Check their website for specific package info. You cannot go wrong. TL:DR - Never give up on love!

This business makes Brazilian desserts from a private kitchen in PB. Pudim, quindim, and brigadeiro…read morewere the offerings from the online ordering page. Pudim is the Portuguese term for condensed milk pudding served with caramel sauce. Spanish speaking countries call it flan. Quindim is a custard made with sugar, egg yolks, and ground coconut which is then presented as an upturned cup. Brigadeiro is a rolled mixture of condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder. Their version has a pudim filling topped with chocolate sprinkles. Individual servings were sold as kits of three units (mini) or six units (regular). Family size portions were exactly as they sounded... large and pricey (more than $30 each). You schedule a pickup time between 5 and 9 pm on Monday through Saturday. The lady (Paula) will come to the curbside to deliver the order to your vehicle. I bought a mini kit of traditional pudim that I consumed over one week. The flan was very smooth and creamy while the caramel added extra sweetness. The only drawback was the $21 price for three small cups.

I saw this sweet spot pop up as a "Hot & New" business on Yelp, but had never heard of pudim! A…read morequick search showed me this is the Brazilian version of flan. I LOVE flan so it's no surprise that it was love at first bite with It's Pudim. It was easy to place my order online. They have a short menu with different sizes/flavors. In addition to a variety of pudim flavors they have Brigadeirao and Quindim- both look really good and I hope to place another order to try them soon. It was easy to pick up my order - I got an email and was able to call when I arrived. Paula was so friendly and the box even had a personalized touch. For this order I got 6 individual pudim cups of different flavors- so delicious!