Had a craving for fish tacos and I satisfied that need with a basic order of tacos. Fast friendly service at a responsible price. The tables were clean and the food was delivered table side in a matter of moments. There was no salsa bar but that is the way things are, however I was handed several salsa's for my meal by the polite employee. read more

You can only blame so much on the pandemic. I get the long wait, the new staff/ turnover. But c'mon. We've tried this place several times and it just gets worse and worse. Went in and ordered Avocado Corn salad with grilled shrimp. One pic is what it's supposed to be and the other what I received. More like slimy shrimp! And where is the avocado? They were also out of dressing ( at 1130am) so they gave me ranch. Also, all the sodas were flat and gross. It's like they ain't even trying. read more

Rubio's Coastal Grill - What is was supposed to be. - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

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This is a great place to eat. For $12 dollars I walked away full and pleased with the flavors. I truly would love to eat here more often. Thank you Rubio's team. read more

Food was good and service was fantastic. [[HIGHLIGHT]]So refreshing to get positive vibes at a casual place like this[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. Jose was friendly attentive and went out of his way to be helpful. read more

Horrible service. I asked for the three street tacos, steak. I also ordered two fish tacos, a side of rice, and a side of chips. My total came out to $35. After I looked at my receipt, I noticed the cashier charged me for the three tacos plate (she didn't ask if I wanted it, nor did she ask what sides I wanted). A different lady came and spoke to me. I explained to her that I just wanted the three street tacos, and she kept insisting that it would cheaper to get the plate, then mid sentence, turns around and tells the cook staff not to include the sides. When she came back to me, I told her that if I paid for it, then I would take the sides. *insert employee sigh and eye roll* Mind you, I was just asking the price differences of what "three street tacos" would cost versus the "three street tacos plate". She took my receipt and was about to refund my money, but I told her I would just take the sides. During this time, my order was ready. She placed it on the counter, no chips, no sides. So I asked if I could have the sides I was charged for. This lady yells, in annoyance, to the cook "I need those sides for that order!" Crumbled up my receipt and threw it away. Then when I went to the salsa bar, the same lady was pouring in salsa from the pitcher and almost splashed the man next to me with it. SHE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING - no "sorry", nothing. The man looked at her, then looked at me to see if I witnessed what happened. He even said to me, "I don't want salsa all over my shirt!" (As I'm typing this, there's a different customer yelling at the cashier about being overcharged for food.) Cleanliness: Very poor. The tables are not cleaned, there's trash all over the floor, and the bins are full. The salsa bar was pretty empty in regards to lemons, cilantro and lime. (Salsa was filled though, almost overfilled.) Food: what happened?? The fish tacos come with a sliver of fish that's just all batter. The citrus rice was very bland. No citrus, no flavoring. The beans are extremely bland. The tortilla chips seemed a bit stale and were broken in small pieces. Not good, Rubio's. Do better. read more

We used to go to Rubio's for lunch all the time during college circa 30 years ago. Sadly things have steadily declined over the years. Today's visit marks the last time we'll ever go here! I ordered classic fish taco/fish burrito combo. The taco "fish" was almost entirely thick breading! I wish I had taken a photo of the taco but it hadn't occurred to me til I got into the burrito where I found the fish situation was the same and I got mad... all breading, no fish!!! Not a fluke! Happens too often. See photo. Very disappointing that they've gone so downhill on what used to be an excellent product! Why are 60%+ of americans considered obese? Perhaps because the food industry puts profits above health (read: shitty ingredients) and consumers just eat carbs and grease in place of quality fish? Just a guess. anyway, eat there at your own risk! read more

Rubio's Coastal Grill - All breading and almost zero fish! - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

Order a cali shrimp bowl, not only was my food cold but it came with 3 pieces of shrimp. I've had shrimp bowls before from Rubios (different locations) and it's the first time I'm served just 3 shrimps and cold food. This location is horrible. read more

Rubio's Coastal Grill - Shrimp Bowl - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

Always love the food at this particular Rubios! Fresh and done right! Service a friendly, dining room is clean. Can't say this about every Rubip's location but this one is A+ read more

I went in at 9:05, they close at 9:30. I knew I was cutting it close but it wasn't that close. I was confronted with attitude and employees who made it clear they didn't want any more customers. When my order was finally up it took 10 minutes for the woman to stop cleaning in front and grab it. The restaurant was clean but I would t recommend going 30 minutes before closing. read more

I love coming here everyone is so nice especially Danielle. She always has a smile on her face. Her customers service is excellent. Always going over and beyond making sure everyone and everything is good! Shes one of the few that always makes you fell comfortable coming in! read more

I want to be a customer, but Rubio's makes it harder than it should - and so the problem shifts from restaurant staff, to marketing/customer-management... This is what happens: 1. I use the app to do coupons, not to order/pay (I don't want my payment information in many systems). But their $5 coupons are often for app/online orders only (not at-the-counter or phone orders). Guess what, Rubio's? Then I don't purchase. Stop trying to "convert" me into using your app. It's pretty obvious that's your possible focus. Just give us a $5 coupon and we can figure it out. We want your food - the menu is fine. Just stop being so pushy about micromanaging our chosen way of purchasing. 2. Similar to the above, I got a lunch coupon online (to use b/w 11am-2pm). Ok...that's fine even though a bit cumbersome because I now have to plan my day to make sure I hit Rubio's in a 3-hour window. And then I call before going...and Rubio's now doesn't take orders over the phone. Seems to be going again with the micromanaging of customer flow. Fine, Rubio's, I'm sure this looked feasible when you all looked at it in a Powerpoint. But customers are no passive pawns. You took away a convenience and I didn't purchase from you. The theme in all this? Stop trying to do this fetishistic customer-funneling approach of trying to change my habits. I'm not interested in being part of your Powerpoint presentations where some middle-manager handwaves about app-usage while the others "power lunch" and pretend to pay attention. Give a $5 coupon. Let us choose when to use it. And take orders over the phone like businesses have done. Put that in your Powerpoint. I like your food, but this whole clueless approach is getting a bit annoying. read more

Terrible service! We waited 25 minutes for 3 items and they got our order wrong and over charged for sauce. And don't even get me started with the dude with hickies up and down his neck.. read more

Rubio isn't what it use to be but they are still solid. You simply can't go wrong with a fish taco on a flour tortilla. The bean dip needs work but the service was fast and great. All in all, Rubios is a solid place to still get fish tacos. read more

YELPers, pescatarians, hungry Readers, best chicken tortilla soup ever, even sans chicken. BUT, how, do they do it! IT: keeping us happily fed, take phone & online, Door Dash orders??? The Staff, Sheila, Emily, Angela, Eric, Betty, Heidi (so many I don't know names) are beyond excellent. How about a raise & hiring more stellar people? Thank you for all your diligence& respect for my Service Dog, Scoutie read more

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Went to Rubio's in La Mesa tonight. Ordered two Fish Taco Especial dinners. Supposed to have guacamole and cheese. NOPE. VERY DISAPPOINTING. WE WERE AT THE RUBIO'S FRANCHISING GRAND OPENING WITH THE OWNERS ABOUT 1990 or so. At the beginning, Rubio's was great, lots of "fish taco" and a few chips. Now, lots of chips and terrible fish tacos. Sorry, Ralph Rubio, we won't be back. But new customers... they don't know how good Rubio's used to be. "Coastal Grill" ? Right. read more

Great service and food the cashier mehrsa was very patient and helpful! Will come back again for the fish tacos

Great fish tacos. Mango avocado salad with mahi mahi was awesome. Service was good, too.

After picking my new video game, Mass Effect 3, from the Game Stop across the street, I came by here to have a quick dinner. Being Tuesday, I ordered 3 fish tacos for $1.50 each and a side order of chips and guacamole, and a ice tea. The fish tacos were great. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/we_Jxkm9EODo7yUNN0FetA?userid=WG3w_73scm_JUWJ_3Lgn0Q) The fish was nice and crispy and the corn tortillas were flavorful. The tacos were loaded with cabbage, some salsa, with just the right amount of of their special sauce made from yogurt and mayo. I also put some onion and cilantro from the salsa bar. I enjoyed these fish tacos. The chips were very good as well. Unfortunately, they kind of skimped on the guacamole. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/we_Jxkm9EODo7yUNN0FetA?select=7HPLu--DTv6H_zbgvno8sQ) The guacamole tasted very good and was fresh. The service was excellent. They were friendly and helpful. The place was very clean. I would eat a fish taco any day...... read more

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PROS: + in Grossmont mall + next to Starbucks + clean and comfortable place to dine-in + Salsa Verde Grilled Shrimp Taco + Wild Pacific Mahi Mahi Taco + large parking lot + quick service + Interesting selection of drinks CONS: - Americanized Tacos - Limited selection of sauces I only docked a star because I don't LOVE Americanized tacos, but this is still above average. read more

Rubio's Coastal Grill - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Unfortunately things Haven't improved ): Ordered 12 tacos and chicken nachos online. Picked our order up... husband checks the bag no hot sauce He asks Angel (The manager) for 10 hot sauces. Angel (The manger) said, "We don't have any".......WHAT????? He tells my husband that the girl is filling hot sauce cups now and it's going to be awhile. Husband Lets Angel (The manager) know that he will wait and mentioned that they could put some hot sauce in an 8 oz cup if that helps move things along. Angel (The manager) wasn't pleased, visibly bothered, not friendly and very Unaccommodating ‍ Angel hands my husband 3 hot sauce cups for 12 tacos and chicken nachos. Ummmmm, That's not going to work! (We LOVE hot sauce on our tacos! Crazy I know) Long sad story long when my husband asked for more hot sauce Angel (The manager) was snappy,very rude, short and condescending. Not the experience you would expect from a Manager!!!!!! Nasty over some hot sauce???? This is a taco shop, right????? Food didn't get any better either... cold, no meat, No hot sauce, rotten avocado & guacamole ... definitely NOT "Fresh Mex"!!!!!!!! What do you want for $70.00.... BETTER then this! read more

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I ordered a Quesadilla and a small soda. It was almost $14. When they brought it to me it was all gooey and stuck together. I ate only about half. I don't think I'll be coming back here read more

I have always loved Rubio's food and was impressed with their dedication to the environment by using real silverware and plates. Good news food is still great. Bad news they seem to have made a permanent change to single use plastic flatware and paper plates. Rubio's it's hurting my heart to post this. I hope you re-commit to doing the right thing and go back to reusables. read more

I was having a stressful day and Angel (at Rubios in Grossmont Center) was amazing. He went above and beyond in helping me while taking care of others! Thanks Angel! You're the best!!! Alexina read more

Don't eat here. I came here to eat during my break and not even 6 hours later had Instant food poisoning from their steak cali burrito 1/16/24. read more

Blackened salmon always my go to fresh tasty and filling !! Rubio's always hits the spot for me read more

Rubio's Coastal Grill - Grilled or blackened salmon - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

Save yourself the headache and go to a different location! This one is beyond poorly ran!!!

What happened? This place used to be gourmet "fast food". Now it's slow service for mediocre food. I'm sitting outside now and it smells like garbage. Remember eating at this place 10-15 years ago? Much better back then. It was actually a treat! Now it's a pain. read more

If I could give this place zero stars I would. The night supervisor who works is the kitchen may have to worst customer service skills in the buisness. From the first response He answered the phone condescending and passive aggressive, like he's doing us a favor for discussing how our order is messed up for the second time then proceeds to tell us he personally made the order so he knows it's not messed up... After offering to take picture evidence of the mistake angel proceeded to get angry and refuse to procivde a customer service number before hanging up on us. How do you mess up someone's order multiple times and then have the audacity to call them a liar over a chicken quesadilla!?!? I get people have bad days or long days that make it rough sometimes but this so called supervision Angel took it over to top by a mile. All in all this guy sucks read more

This place used to be great. Employees are extremely cynical and overall rude. They had everyone waiting over 20 mins to give them their food. The food arrived cold and the prices have skyrocketed.. avoid this location at all costs. If I could leave zero stars, I would. A salad was ordered and they mentioned they were out of forks and handed us a spoon.. in the order there was an extra charge for adjusting the item on the menu which was no problem, but the cynical tone and rudeness of the employee upon ordering and throughout entire dining experience was awful. Such a bummer this location is no longer the same. read more

Very slow... upgraded to the taco plate didn't get the plate, I thought about requesting the correct order but I didn't want to spend another 15 minutes for food. Definitely not going back again. read more

First employee politely mentioned she will help me in a moment. The second told me if I didn't have a mask I had to leave. Even though the tables were full of maskless people eating. I have been eating here since it first opened. And that now ends today. I will happily support another business. And I am currently writing this from the food court where I ordered from a very polite employee from one of the restaurants. No mask and had no issue. read more

I love the food and menu. The staff was very good and it is great that the food is sustainably sourced. The one thing is that there is no recycling bin although there is plastic and paper container and things like that. read more

$11 Langostino burrito and this is what I got....so incredibly disappointing. If you're gonna charge that much for a burrito I would at least expect for there to be Langostino in it. Unfortunately-I'm officially done with Rubio's-this happens more often than. read more

Rubio's Coastal Grill - Mexican Near Me - La Mesa, California

Rude staff . Food is great but front workers give you bad look She must be noble everyone . I only ask simple question she get mad . Hold my order long time read more

good food... HORRIBLE SERVICE! between the manager and the cashier, you really can't get any worse in the quality of service. read more

Went in tonight around 8:50, they close at 9:30 for some perspective. Got the cauliflower shrimp bowl. I got it before at a different location and it was the best thing ever but not this time. The person helping us was rude and made us feel rushed. (we went to the soda machine and they came over and stood uncomfortably close while we were getting our drinks for no reason, it was strange). Then when I got home to eat my food, I don't know what happened to it but it tasted burnt and fishy, awful, like bad fish. I didn't swallow but my boyfriend did and now he's got the poops so.. I dunno I wanna refund. I dunno, it's gotta be bad for me to post. Love rubios but man we gotta rep our locally born businesses harder, some pride, can't be havin any joe shmoes behind the counter. read more

We don't go here super often but have never had a bad experience ever. We went tonight because it was too hot to cook. I tried their new Wrapsalada or whatever they call it and it was VERY good! Lots of salad and shrimp with guac in a cilantro wrap. Very refreshing on a warm summer night. I got the 50 cents chips on the side to add a little crunch to my meal and it was perfect. Sometimes you just don't want to spend a lot and this meal was $13 something for the two of us. read more

Yesterday was an interesting experience. Either someone accidentally shut off the computer or it did it on its own, but they had to come out and collect all the receipts b/c the system was down and they didn't know what people had bought. I waited 18 minutes for a burrito, and there were 11 people in front of me who had waited longer. Computer crashes happen, but I have no idea why they didn't figure out sooner why there was no food coming out and that this might possibly be a problem. They did give out free taco coupons (one per visit per person, so not really good for a meal). My shrimp burrito was fine, but I was so starving I didn't really taste it as much as tell it to get in mah belly. read more

Not sure what has changed but won't be back. The guac is brown and not fresh, fish in the tacos was not warm and crunchy like it should be and the Cali bowl had old wilted lettuce, did not have the extra vegetables we paid for and just looked nasty with old brown guac on top of it. Too bad because I used to love Rubios. read more

Just got done eating here and wow! The word that comes to mind is disgusting. If I were the owner, I would immediately fire the manager and bring in someone new. At the end of the day the establishment is a direct result of the leadership. First the restaurant is dirty and had trash on the floor, garbage cans overflowing and drink station a mess. Then when ordering payment machine not working. The biggest issue was the food that came out. How can any cook sent burnt chicken pieces and think the customer will be ok with that. When brought to the manager she took it back and had a new one made. Guess what, burnt chicken again and this time she sent it out. Rubio's in general has been in decline for sometime. It is not longer good, fresh food. Sad to see that the once reliable Rubio's has turned into nothing more then a cheap fast food establishment. read more