Salsa Brava

We had a great experience at La Puerta! The service was excellent, and the atmosphere had that…read moreperfect mix of chill and lively -- definitely a popular spot without feeling too hectic. They also had some really great vegetarian options. The tostadas, veggie tacos, and flautas were all awesome and full of flavor. The margaritas were reasonably strong, which was nice. And definitely save room for the churros -- they were so good! The only thing that wasn't quite our preference was the queso fundido. It was a little more solid than we like; we prefer ours to be extra melty and gooey. Otherwise, everything was fantastic. Great food, drinks, service, and vibes!

I'm so mad about this place!! Hubby and I headed down to SD…read moreto get away from the heat in the OC. On the drive, I decided I wanted Mexican food. I picked a place off Google but when we landed there we were not comfortable stopping to park, so we looked again and decided to check out La Puerta not realizing it was in the Gaslight District. I am not a fan of the Gaslight District, which is why I am so mad!! I'm going to HAVE to go back to the Gaslight District!! The food was AMAZING!! I HIGHLY recommend the Potato Flautitas. It's the kind of dish I'm going to dream about, I'm salivating now just thinking about them. I also did the Pick 3 Street Tacos (and actually ordered a 4th). The Ranchero Shrimp and Grilled Veggie were top notch. The Conchinita was recommended by our waiter, and it was interesting, tasty but different. It could have used a little more pickled onion. The only one I would not recommend (shockingly, I thought it would be the easy pass) was the carne asada. It was too greasy. My husband ordered a carne asada quesadilla and said the same, it was too wet and soaked through the tortilla. But there were no many other delightful options, I would say just don't go traditional. But honestly my favorite thing on the plate was the side dish rajas con crema, seriously, that alone is going to drag me down to the Gaslight District. I'm even considering going to a Padres game just for the excuse. I'm salivating again! As for our waiter, Colin, he was fantastic. Very informative, made great suggestions and seemed genuinely pleased by our satisfaction. He was smiling the whole time, friendly and stayed very present. I highly recommend you get yourself through the door at La Puerta and sit down for a meal ASAP. (We ate the food so fast I forgot to take pictures.)

Restaurant

Chicken with fried cheese tacos

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Harland Hazy IPA

Oscars Mexican Seafood

4.4(3.7k reviews)

10.6 mi•Pacific Beach

Amazing tacos! I always come here when I'm in the area. The ceviche and tacos are outstanding…read more Despite the line, the order came out fast. The seafood is fresh and i really enjoyed the battered fish taco. Seating is very limited.

Food: 4.5/5 Service: 5/5…read moreAmbiance: 4/5 Busy place but it's thankfully quick! Also had to wait in line but not for too long. The guac is so fresh and delish - just need an extra squeeze of lemon. Sauces and condiments are up for grabs and a lot of it is self-service so it can feel more chaotic. The fish tacos, shrimp tacos, octopus tacos, and ceviche were all good! Not a 5, but a solid 4.5 :)

Juan making my delicious tacos in the back!

Fish Ceviche on a tostada! Yum!

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Marlin taco! Awesome!

RED O

4.2(2.4k reviews)

10.8 mi

This was a great location. I think it was hidden which prompted to it being closed. Sad as we had…read moregreat happy hours here but delicious food was definitely enjoyed while it was open. Service was always great and the ambiance was enjoyable.

Stopped for a drink and a snack. Not many people here on the day went visited…read more Sat at the bar because the patio was too warm. Was told by the waiter that they no longer offer free chips & salsa. But that there was a small charge. We agreed on the chips & salsa because it's usually really good there. Had a spicy jalapenos Mule. Which was really good.

Red O Tablita

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Passion Fruit Butter Cake

La Puerta

4.4(606 reviews)

4.8 mi•Mission Hills

George was great. I will give him 5 stars. The food was delicious. Thank you for the service. The…read moregirl in the front wasn't too friendly.

We were looking for somewhere to go that was dog friendly, and La Puerta came up. We drove by one…read moreevening and it was packed! So we came in for brunch, about 30 minutes after they opened. It was very busy which was nice, and the front patio was perfect for Cako. The staff is really friendly! I ordered When Doves Cry...paying homage to the Great Purple One, Prince. DJ decided on a house margarita. Both very refreshing on a still summer Sunday morning! The brunch menu has a nice variety to choose from, but choosing one can be a little hard. I ordered guacamole to start. It came with two delicious salsas. For breakfast, I ordered the pancakes and carnitas. I would say this would be the equivalent of chicken and waffles. This was really good! Especially when you drizzle the syrup on the carnitas and eat it with the pancakes. I also added a couple of scrambled eggs. DJ had the breakfast carne asada potatoes and eggs. Came with guacamole and pico de gallo. Soooooo good! The portions are huge which, in this crazy world of cutting back and charging more, is how it should be. I could only finish half, and had the rest the next day. Love when you can do that! Again, the staff is great! And the patio is well laid out for owners and their dogs. Cako Approves!

Weeknd HH drinks (half off)

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Taquitos

Quixote

4.0(711 reviews)

3.0 mi

•$$$

We popped in for a drink and the place was jammin. It's decor is quite nice and the atmos was…read moreenergetic. We we're not greeted at the dire so we wandered over to the bar and luckily found two seats. This is not your ordinary bar. We both wanted a gin and tonic and they have five gins.... None of which I have heard of which is amazing. I tried the prickly pear gin and wowee... superb. A little sweeter than normal but a delight. The bartender was nice and the drinks enjoyable.

Very cool ambiance and nice staff, but not great if you have a food allergy or intolerance. I got…read morevery sick despite being assured my order was gluten free. I think the cross contamination is super high. Food is tasty though! They gave me free guacamole because a random small child was hustling trying to sell chocolate bars AT THE TABLES. It was a nice apology but am still perplexed why they didn't just tell her to leave? My waiter stood there and watched us awkwardly fumble through the type of convo you usually have outside a grocery store, right there at our fancy little table. Beware parking is tough! Hotel guests only for valet.

Dramatic dining space!

Chamoyada dessert, the mango sorbet was the highlight!

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Sangre Santa. Taste like a sangria. It was delicious.

Cocina de Barrio

I have not been here in a while. Lo siento! I have missed it so much! Ordered the house…read moremargarita to start off the evening!They have changed the menu a little, but they still have my favorites. The big tortilla with beans and chorizo...sooooo good! I can never pronounce the name of it...LOL! But I also ordered the taquitos, another delicious starter! I then had the green mole with ground pistachios over chicken...oh sooooo good!!!!! I love coming here! The staff is always friendly! The server said it had been a while. The outside patio is always welcoming!!! They are also dog friendly! Cako Approves!

Was in the area and needed a quick bite before an event. Stopped by at 4pm and was surprised to be…read moreone of 4 people at the restaurant. Two at the bar, one outside, then me. Given the minimal patrons, service was excellent. Was here during happy hour and the food was great! Server said birria or fish tacos are best, so I opted for birria. Tacos didn't come with consumé but they were juicy enough without it. Good flavor but tortillas did start to fall apart. Margaritas for $5 are a good deal and tasted fresh. Ambiance is upscale Mexican and I think it hits, at least for happy hour! Guac and salsa prices were too high for my liking ($13 and $10, respectively) especially as a happy hour item, but to each their own. Overall 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 with a $5 marg as the kicker to round up vs down (for guac and salsa prices).

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Mango-Tajin Popsicle Margarita

Coasterra

4.0(4.1k reviews)

6.1 mi

•$$$

We had such a wonderful experience at Coasterra! From the moment we arrived, everything was…read morefantastic. Our server, Case, was absolutely amazing. He was friendly, attentive, conscientious, and timely throughout our entire meal. He made sure we had everything we needed without ever being overbearing. My mother even said she would eat at Coasterra every day if Case were her server, that's how impressed she was with his service! He truly went above and beyond and made our dining experience extra special. And the food was AMAZING! Everything we ordered was delicious, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. You can definitely tell there is care put into the food. The meals are a little on the pricey side, but considering the beautiful setting, quality of the food, and exceptional service, we felt it was worth it for a special occasion. We will definitely be back, and hopefully we'll get Case as our server again! He is a true asset to Coasterra.

I don't normally write Yelp reviews but I was truly blown away by the service I received at…read moreCoasterra this past weekend! Our server Ari (Ariana?) was so welcoming and kind to my husband and I. She recommended we order the Ahi tuna tostada and it did not disappoint!! The calamari was incredible as well- so delicious!! She was truly one of of the best servers I've ever encountered- gave us the full run down and recommendations based off the vibe we wanted for the night :)

Located on Harbor Island, Coasterra offers stunning views of the San Diego Bay, downtown skyline and Coronado Bridge.

View from patio

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Main dining room

Oscars Mexican Seafood

4.2(2.2k reviews)

4.1 mi•Hillcrest

Hands-down the best seafood and fish taco place in San Diego! A must order is the Taco Especial…read morewith smoked fish, shrimp, scallops, tomato, cilantro, onion, melted cheese and avocado. I highly recommend pairing this with the chipotle sauce, which is offered along with all of the other sauces. The Battered Fish Taco and Tuna Ceviche Tostada is also a must. Every time I have visitors to San Diego and they want authentic Mexican Food I take them to Oscar's. I won't eat my fish tacos anywhere else! This place is definitely a local establishment. Note that parking is tight in the parking lot, but you can also park on the street around the corner. The food is worth the search for a spot if the lot is full. This eatery is legit!

food 8.5/10 ambiance 8.5/10…read moreservice 9/10 i got their fish tacos which I absolutely loved!!! my friend got the ceviche which is the reason we came sooooo tasty. the vibes are good and service is quick. will def go back!

Inside | IG:@socalsnomnoms

Battered Fish Taco

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Fish Ceviche

California Burritos

4.3(1.4k reviews)

4.7 mi

A solid California burrito!…read more I called ahead and was ready for pick up in 15 minutes. It came piping hot and was huge, definitely worth sharing. The fries were crispy, the meat was flavorful, and it had everything a California burrito should have: guac, cheese, and sour cream. The red sauce gave it a nice kick while the green sauce was a good citrusy addition.

When i saw that there was an actually spot called California Burrito, you bet that I had to try a…read moreCalifornia burrito at California burrito lol Got the California burrito, carne asada taco, chicken taco and menudo. Portions were massive but unfortunately there was not much flavor, and im not too keen on hot salsa since i cannot handle spicy. It was ok but unsure if this would be a go to spot. The staff here are friendly and at the time i came, a Wednesday night around 5pm, there was a steady stream of people ordering to go and also eating there The place itself isnt that big. Theres counter space with about 5 stools inside and 4 tables outside. This is more of a take out spot. Parking may be limited depending on the time of day/night you go.

Sausage, Eggs, Cheese, and Potatoes Burrito

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Puesto at the Headquarters

4.1(5.7k reviews)

5.7 mi•Downtown

Locally owned & operated

Private events

I'm shocked I haven't written a review yet for Puesto. I…read morehave been numerous times to multiple locations and The HQ is no exception. What I love about this location is the outdoor seating patio. Almost any time of year, the weather is perfect to sit out there and enjoy the great ambiance and of course the food and drinks. My go to is always the street tacos. They're the perfect size to try 2-3 and let me tell you there are some great options. Tonight I enjoyed the grilled shrimp and the carnitas. The grilled shrimp taco was just a little spicy but not too bad. I think I'm just extra sensitive to spice. The carnitas had avocado on top and basically melted in my mouth. If you are enjoying drinks, they're on the stronger side and really good! I shouldn't forget the servers. Top notch and super friendly. Not just ours either. I was observing how attentive and friendly other servers were also...and there were some big groups seated around us and we all were getting nothing but 5-star treatment!!

my coworker had been raving about having an elevated taco experience at puesto so i was eager to…read moretry. I tried the surf and turf heroe..lobster and filet mignon with melted cheese. So good. The sauce is a little spicy for me but the server was kind enough to bring me some sour cream to balance it out lol. Very nice inside and they have an outside dining area also. Staff was really nice. the taco i had was good, just not sure if its someplace i would crave to go to. I wouldnt be opposed to coming here for a group outing. There is a paid parking lot that shares with seaport village.

You Will Never Know Aaaaaaahhhhh E.

Ribeye Taco

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0

14

3

1 year ago

salsa is a tomato sauce shut sup it is AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPIVCO de gallo 858585858585858585858585858what you got? don't leave us hanging, I will publicly hang you. the ambiance is weird confirmed yes check mark greed dburger read more

Salsa Brava - mexican - Updated September 2026

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I normally do not venture out from my favorite Mexican restaurants just because I know what to…read moreexpect but when my husband and I came to this shopping plaza we noticed Gualbertos. Because it was Thursday they were having a special for their street tacos and we thought hey, why not? When we went in we were greeted by the cashier and, their menus are extensive definitely lots of options to choose from. The restaurant itself was really cozy and inviting lots of seating inside and two tables ouside. I was so glad we decided to check them out, we ended up getting 3 tacos, two carne asada and one carnitas for me. They really hit the spot, they were perfect in size and so flavorful. We ended up order a burrito for us to share when we got home and that was equally delicious. Will be coming back to try out their carne asada fries!

They don't serve the biggest carne asada burrito in town, and definitely not the cheapest either,…read morebut Gualberto's delivers a solid version. The carne isn't dry, the tortilla has just the right amount of color to it, and I'm a sucker for a place that gives you bottles of salsa when you dine in. One red, one green, and you can slather that carne with as much as you'd like. It's a 4 star for the price and size of the burrito but if you have some flex with what you're craving they have some very reasonable specials each day of the week.

Bravo's Taco Shop

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Located on 3815 Euclid Ave, SD, CA 92105 This shop is connected to a store and laundry mat with…read morelimited parking. I've been coming here for years. The food is a hit or miss; depends on the cook for that day/evening. My grandmother loves their carnesada fries from here though. They do need to work in their hot sauce department, it lacks flavor and no spice to it, very basic and watery. Prices are moderate due to the inflation. Portion is a little more than other Mexican food shops. I stick to basic entree such as burritos or tacos. Service is good, just a dive in Mexican food shops. It's very convenient for me.

Kudos and humongous thanx to STEVEN FOR HIS PATIENT'S very hard to come by in this day and age…read more Also to the lovely young lady who has the perfect little lips she was very pleasant at first to tell a bit annoyed but once they knew that I was sincere she did lighten up and they were just awesome people accommodating my situation kudos to Bravo they are awesome. Denise is her name. Like my middle name yay yall . Good authentic Mexican tunes playing very clean environment most importantly they have an A AS THEY SHOULD

Gallego's

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Place just isnt what it used to be quality wise, before they used to have more dedication to the…read morefood and it was noticeable. Not coming back.

Me and my family have been coming to gallegos for many years now, but lately the food from Gallegos…read morehasn't been the best like it used to be. Me and my brother ordered California burritos like we always do and they always add too much sour cream now. Gallegos service is good the employees are always respectful and the environment is always clean. I really love going to gallegos but you guys need to start making the food like y'all use to! Hopefully this review encourages you to fix it cause it would really suck if me and my family stopped coming here.

Adalberto’s Mexican Food

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If you were in San Diego around the 2009 college days, you already know how clutch Adalberto's was…read more This place wasn't just food, it was part of the routine. Late nights, early mornings, random runs after studying or going out, it was always there when you needed it. I still remember the deal. Five bucks for a fish burrito, chips, and salsa. You really couldn't beat that. It hit every time. Simple, filling, and exactly what you needed in that moment. It wasn't trying to be fancy. It was just real food, quick, affordable, and consistent. That's what made it special. And the hours mattered. Whether it was late night or early morning, lights were on and they were ready. That reliability is something you don't forget. Places come and go, but spots like this stay with you because they were part of your everyday life during that time. Thank you for being there during those college years. Those runs, those meals, those memories. Still one of those places I'll always respect.

Beern wanting to try since they remodeled the outsided, means they are at least trying right?…read more Solid carne asada fries. Everything was hot, fries are somewhat crispy, and carne asada was fresh and plentiful. Came out to almost $18 with pico added. Little high but the portion is right. Red and green salsa both solid. Overall, better than most drive thrus in the area and really not that far off from Chuy's (overrated af).

Penelopes Mexican Food

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Food and service were great , would recommend to others! must try if in the area:) They were niceread more

We have been coming to Penelope's for years, never had a bad experience! The service and the food…read moreare excellent! Great ambiance, customer service is on point and do not sleep on their birria and bomb salsas, the habanero is my favorite

La Morena Taco Shop

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We had such an amazing experience! The food was absolutely delicious--everything was full of flavor…read moreand clearly made with care. The service was just as impressive; everyone was so kind, attentive, and understanding, which made us feel really comfortable and welcomed. Everyone in our group loved the food so much that we ended up ordering extra to take home! That alone says a lot. You can tell they truly care about their customers and the quality of what they serve. We will definitely be coming back and highly recommend this place to anyone looking for great food and excellent service.

Terrible food portion paid 15$ For breakfast plate it had…read moreno toast no protein no nothing came w 2 eggs and 2 sausages that's it I asked for eggs over easy and they wrrr completely under cooked I wanted potato they were not clear about what comes with what you are paying for this was completely unacceptable

Picante Mexican Grill

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I'd give this place one star, but even that feels like I'm being overly generous. Ladies and…read moregentlemen, I've eaten gas station sushi with more integrity than whatever culinary experiment is happening here. This establishment has the audacity to use the same name as the original spot off Mission Gorge Road, and let me tell you--that's like naming your lounge act "The Beatles" because you also own guitars. It's misleading, it's disappointing, and it's an insult to the reputation the original owner built. Now, let's discuss the food. It arrived looking confident, smelling ambitious, and behaving like a biological weapon. Hours later, I found myself locked in a fierce negotiation with my digestive system. It was less "authentic Mexican cuisine" and more "surprise gastrointestinal Olympics." I've had smoother evenings trapped in a phone booth with a rabid raccoon. The salsa lacked personality. The meat had all the charisma of wet cardboard. The rice seemed to have given up on life somewhere between the steamer and my plate. And the beans? Let's just say they should be investigated by the Hague. The real tragedy is that people unfamiliar with the original Mission Gorge Road location might think this is what that name represents. It doesn't. Not even close. If you're going to borrow a respected name, at least have the decency to serve food that doesn't leave customers reconsidering every life decision that brought them through the front door. Would I return? Great Odin's raven, no. Stay classy, San Diego... and maybe eat somewhere else.

For a hole in the wall spot the prices were pretty high, but the food was good. For the two of us…read more(see photos) it was over $40. The fact that a side of rice and beans (which isn't included in anything) is over $8 just doesn't sit right with me! And the taco plate that comes with "chips" was like literally 8 chips, max. The surf and turf taco was quite good (and the most expensive), second favorite was the birria. Counter service was friendly and knowledgeable of menu. Ambiance is...fluorescent lights, grime kitchen hallway vibes. I'd get takeout.

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The best burritos in La Mesa! The service was quick and friendly, thank you!…read more The jalapeño carrots

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