Taco Bar

Mama Kats has moved to a new and amazing location near San Marcos city hall. They just had a soft…read moreopening this morning. So news of their permanent demise is false. Their new location is amazing. Plenty of parking, tons of indoor and outdoor seating, full coffee bar and expanded menu. Please continue to support this amazing restaurant and family. Great family atmosphere and great spot close to CSU for students to get breakfast, lunch or whatever coffee drink you would like. NEW ADDRESS Address: 288 Rancheros Dr, San Marcos, CA 92069, USA

Every time we've gone there for breakfast, there's always been a long wait. What makes it even more…read morefrustrating is looking inside and seeing half the tables empty. Now they've moved to a bigger location? If they couldn't manage the turnaround time in the smaller space, I'm not sure how a bigger restaurant is going to improve things. And from what I'm seeing, the wait times are still long. I give restaurants three tries...three strikes and I don't come back. There are just too many other good restaurants to choose from. Hopefully the bigger location also comes with better staffing and a more efficient system, because the food isn't the issue - the wait is.

Decor

Weekends are crazy!

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Hours

Wholly Crepe

4.5(279 reviews)

1.2 mi

Wholly Crepe did a great job serving warm crepes, topped with freshest fruits. When searching up a…read morecrepe place in San Marcos, this place was one of the top results, and no wonder because these were YUMMY! The owner was very friendly and I observed him checking on other patrons as they were eating. He designed the shop in a way that felt like home--welcoming and filled with personality. I got the strawberry banana nutella crepe (a classic) to go and eveb when I arrived home it was still so warm! Definitely recommend this place~

I loved everything about this place. Christian music playing. The decor was giving family, home…read morestyle vibes. The crepes were hot and fresh and were very flavorful. The owner came out a few times to check on us. Nice guy. Great family friendly restaurant.

Strawberry Banana Nutella Crepe

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Inside

Urban Sweet Cafe

4.3(176 reviews)

2.0 mi

Family-owned & operated

Pet friendly

Amazing Service by Skai and Yazmine this morning. Tidy and Efficient, polite and direct.read more

Ambiance..cute place and love the decor Service..fast and…read morefriendly..I was able to change my drink order Food..pumpkin pie latte..savory crepe and muffin was good and fresh. Loved the flavours and good size.

Happy Hour on Thursday

Savory Crepe

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Personalized Charcuterie Board

Brickmans Restaurant & Bar

4.0(131 reviews)

1.4 mi

Highlights: atmosphere noise is a little quieter since you're on a golf course but it can get a…read morelittle louder depending on the diners and if they have glow golf going. Food and drinks were tasty but the service was a kinda slow. We were there around 6:30 and didn't make it out of there in time for our glow golf reservation at 8. It could be a little hard to find your server, but there is always someone around who asks how they can help. The service was very sweet and the manager helped us fix a little hiccup, but I would absolutely go here again. Just admittedly not when I'm in a rush or have a hard reservation time.

Lunch with a view of the golf course - can't beat it. I ordered the chicken club on toasted…read moresourdough, and the sourdough had a nice crunch to it, however the sandwich overall was okay. On the bright side, the fries it came with were fresh and hot. Downsides: The service was alright. A few of my family members ordered the dirty double burger and requested different meat temps but when they came out, it seemed like the employees didn't know which one was which. As a bigger group, I also expected our waters to be refilled and better attention. Towards the end of our lunch, the flies were attacking us so we had to cover the remaining food with our napkins.

Inside dining

Shrimp Pasta

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Espresso Martini

Brunch Point

Great addition to the area and a great alternative for when Mama Kat's is too busy and you don't…read morewanna drive to the coast. Pretty diverse menu, the chicken fried steak and michelada were hittin. The eggs Benedict was cooked as you'd expect. The waiter recommended the breakfast potatoes and those were cooked and salted well. One of the waiters is super hospitable and friendly. He put a smile on her faces every time he passed by. Service was quick and easy, no issues. They did swap their sign to close 30 min before closing so keep that in mind as we saw one family got turned away on a Sunday. Can't wait to try their waffles and loco moco and drinks next time!

I ordered two items, BP Burrito and Healthy Green Burrito…read more I ate Healthy Green Burrito, no sour cream or mixed cheese in Burrito, I mentioned to my server and he brought them out, well I mentioned that the Burrito had was lacking two ingredients! I also had sweet potato fries which were burnt, so disappointed with my meal, then I mentioned to my server I was greatly disappointed, he replied I won't charge you for the sour cream and cheese which were absent from burrito!!! My yelp review is going to be complete, the restaurant was clean but food was the worst Burrito I had ! I eat in the restaurant and took my time the guys busing the table were loud, cleared table and then dropped plates in bottom of cart,LOUD!!! Also the people cleaning the dishes were loud, the atmosphere was LOUD looks like they had low traffic for 1pm! My first time and last time at Brunch Point, the food was overpriced for quality and taste BP Burrito was $17 and the Healthy Green Burrito was $15 and bonus I received burnt sweet potato fries! I came here on recommendation of my wife coworker and I will mention to him also this is worst Breakfast Burrito I ever had!!!!! Pancho's my go to spot in San Marcos it has a train Caboose and there food and Breakfast Burrito is awesome!!!! In closing my review is complete because I tried to find something good Nothing I found!!! Just Noise and more noise lousy food! Please don't make same mistake!!!!

Brunch Special

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Home Sweet Home Cafe

4.5(1.5k reviews)

4.7 mi

First time coming to Home Sweet Home cafe. The place is kinda hidden. Service was fast and…read moreeasy. Our waiter was very friendly. Their coffee was tasty. They serve a large portion so I had to take my left overs to go. It's a very busy place, so it was great to get fast service.

Food was excellent! Service was great, prices very reasonable…read more The place was very reminiscent of Mel's Diner.

2 Eggs, Hash Browns, and Home Fries

Ham n cheese omlette

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Egg White Omelette with Spinach and a side of Hash Browns

Cocina del Charro

3.6(889 reviews)

0.5 mi

I ordered the Enchiladas Suizas. They're so good as always. That's why is one of my favorites meals…read morefrom here along with the Chile Verde Plate. The service was very good. I love coming to this place

Great service and food was good especially for the happy hour special. Would come back if I'm back…read morein the area. Bar area was roomy and inviting.

Dessert station

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Bar dining area

Silverback Breakfast & Cafe

4.7(561 reviews)

6.1 mi

Hands down the best cinnamon bun and vanilla latte I've had so fresh and very very delicious this…read morepicture doesn't do it justice

Everything here is delicious. Love the environment and the staff is extremely friendly as well…read more 1000% recommend. The wait is definitely worth it

Their updated dining room

Crispy chicken melt & fries

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Inside "bar" area.

Draft Republic San Marcos

4.3(686 reviews)

1.9 mi

Genuinely surprised by how nice this place was! Amazing food and vibes and a lovely place for a…read morehangout with friends. Steak Bao Buns were 12/10 Big amount of filling and a nice sauce too. Blackened shrimp salad was beautiful! Perfectly flavored and cooked shrimp, and what an AMAZING combination! The dried figs and the feta combo with the greens and little bit of dressing (we asked for it on the side) - so good! Supreme pizza was loaded! Good amount of toppings and nice amount of spicy. Friends loved the white pizza and the cauliflower! We all went bowling after and had a great time. Love how they allowed dogs too.

We go here all the time for Football and after the off season being back for the first time since…read morelast season you start to realize. Damn this place is really expensive for the quality. They got the ambience and facility though. These guys know how to build, run and manage a family friendly sports bar. Service is solid, they have on all the games and lots of beers. The food is overpriced mediocre bar food and they sneak in fees wherever they can to turn your $20 burger into a $24 burger. But who doesn't do that nowadays. They are owned by the Cohn restaurant group which is notorious for Cisco supplied food but they got the decor and environment you want to hang out in for a long time. There is a reason they own so many spots and do so well. I will keep paying twice the price here than go somewhere cheaper and being around miscreants and degenerates. Appreciate them reaching out too to my review.

8 lane bowling alley

Full Swing Golf Simulator

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Arcade

Time Out Cafe

4.2(308 reviews)

4.1 mi

It is so good! Breakfast burritos & Mickey Mouse pancakes…read moreare perfect! Kid approve Breakfast burrito & pancake ms are amazing! Thank you!

Friendly service, indoor or outside dining. Excellent food at a reasonable price. I'll be back…read morewhenever I'm in the area!!! The Veggie Scramble was one of their daily specials. Only closed on Mondays, give them a try. Family owned and it shows! You will be glad you did!

See more unrecommended reviews

Euro Omelette. YUM

Egg white scramble with homefries!

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Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

62 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Aaron M.

2 years ago

"Taco Bar is an absolute gem of a restaurant that never fails to impress. From the moment you walk in, you are greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that sets the stage for a fantastic dining experience. The menu is filled with a wide variety of delicious and authentic Mexican dishes that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. The tacos at Taco Bar are simply out of this world. Each bite is bursting with flavor, and you can tell that the ingredients are fresh and of the highest quality. Whether you prefer traditional carne asada or adventurous options like shrimp tacos, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Not only is the food at Taco Bar top-notch, but the service is also exceptional. The staff is friendly, attentive, and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that your dining experience is nothing short of perfect. Overall, Taco Bar is a must-visit for any food lover. The combination of delicious food, welcoming atmosphere, and outstanding service make it a standout restaurant in the area. I highly recommend giving Taco Bar a try - you won't be disappointed!" read more

Justlookin a.

8 years ago

Uhh....... their tacos are good, but they shouldn't go past that, especially when they think it takes longer to scramble an egg than it does to cook steak. Went in for a breakfast burrito, asked for bacon to be cooked crisp, what I got was a very salty burrito dripping bacon grease and there was no Bacon, only bacon fat that was like rubber and my son choked on it. 35 minutes total for a breakfast burrito to go, I sat and watched so many come in and order, eat all their food and leave way before they even put potatoes for the burrito on the grill. Ordered a quesadilla for my little one, quesadillas were being handed out with other orders that came in 15mins after me, but because they say scrambled eggs for a breakfast burrito takes a long time they won't make my boys quesadilla til it's almost done. Horrible business ethic and even worse cooking education...."eggs take longer to cook", really? Disgusted with this place, won't go back read more

Ronnie C.

1 year ago

5 Stars -- Hidden Gem for Taco Lovers! Taco Bar is hands down one of my new favorite spots! The food is fresh, flavorful, and hits the spot every time. I had the carne asada tacos and birria quesadilla -- both were packed with flavor and perfectly cooked. Their salsa selection is and the homemade tortillas make a big difference. The vibe is casual and welcoming, and the staff is super friendly and quick with service. You can tell they care about what they serve and who they're serving. Whether you're grabbing lunch or a late-night bite, Taco Bar delivers. Definitely recommend this place if you're craving real-deal tacos without the fuss. Can't wait to come back! read more

jacyl c.

Elite 26

2 years ago

Casey's Fish House was a delightful surprise, especially with their incredible soups. We tried the clam chowder and the tomato bisque, and both were outstanding. The clam chowder was creamy, rich, and packed with tender clams and potatoes, delivering that perfect balance of savory seafood goodness. The tomato bisque, on the other hand, was velvety smooth with a hint of sweetness and just the right amount of tang. Paired with some warm bread, it made for a cozy and satisfying start to our meal. The welcoming atmosphere and attentive service added to the experience. Definitely a must-visit for soup lovers! read more

S A.

11 years ago

The short, good food, a little pricey and parking usually sucks at peak hours. Their tacos are pretty good depending on what you get. The salmon was just OK, but the hot red fish and the spicy shrimp and octopus tacos were pretty awesome. I don't think I've ever seen this much variety in tacos before. Tacos are about $4-5 Each! Parking sucks, it was only decent when I came pretty late at night. Since it's in a popular spot and next to the freeway you'll have parking issues almost anywhere in this Plaza. read more

Kelly M.

527

12 years ago

This place is AWESOME!! The meat is delicious and the tortillas are homemade! The only downside is the menu is so big that it takes me forever to decide. But, that's not a real downside lol.. everything I've ordered has been delicious. And I know it sounds silly, but the Bacon Egg and Cheese burrito is DELICIOUS!!! I've had some crappy breakfast burritos before and this one tastes like your mother made it at home. read more

Vanessa V.

11 years ago

I love that its only 5 minutes away from my house! I don't eat out much, but I never think twice about heading to taco bar! I'm so happy for its exsistence! The food is so fresh, so many options to choose from, delicious salsa, and handmade tortillas(really makes a difference). Go ahead give it a go! I have no idea what all these negative reviews are about! They know nothing! read more

Robert F.

12 years ago

Their tacos are among the best in north county and their taco tuesday menu rocks! They also have great bean soup which is complimentary. I also like their purple onions which have sliced habaneros....whooo HOT! All in all a terrific place to take the family or if you are out with some friends, or if you just have that craving for a taco, this is the place for you. read more

J W.

14 years ago

Two words, Al Pastor! The only reason I even go to this place is for the al pastor tacos. If you never have had real al pastor this is a great place to start. the chipotle hot sauce is very good as well. The only reason I did not give this place five stars is because of the price. It is a little expensive but if you want really good food its worth it. read more

Wayland B.

12 years ago

Taco Bar is awesome! A family owned business that pours their heart and soul into that place. It is not uncommon to see the owners in the kitchen and handling business. The food is top notch and very flavorful. They also have a great taco tuesday menu that has great pricing on their awesome food! I personally like the carne asada and the al pastor. read more

Tommy B.

11 years ago

The quality at the Taco Bar is 10 times better than your normal fill-in-the-blank-bertos mexican restaurant. The surf and turf burrito is very tasty because they use a soft white cheese, but I usually order it without the shrimp. And the Pastor burrito is very good and comes with pork that they cut fresh off the rotisserie and comes with pineapple. read more

Frankie H.

9 years ago

Delicious tacos! Their portions on the tacos are always generous! The nachos are also really good! Only complaint is that their portions are a little off, especially for the price. They always give you plenty of chips but the toppings are lacking. Other than that, the food is really good! We come here weekly! read more

Michael F.

10 years ago

Their food is delicious especially the tacos because they're made with fresh handmade tortillas right in front of you! Taco Tuesday prices are $1.25 instead of $1.85 :-) Yummy! Their Yaki tacos and Azteca bowls are made with Cactus/Nopales and they are so delicious!! read more

Marcia F.

12 years ago

My family and I have tried various other restaurants in this shopping center, and we have yet to be disappointed. Food here tastes fresh, especially the carne asada. Multiple different salsas to choose from depending on your liking. Ceviche is also to die for! read more

Elizabeth R.

11 years ago

Este lugar es increible, LA salsa abanero es unica, este es el lugar perfecto para ir comer Mexican food, las tortillas recien echas increibles, LA variedad de tacos es fantastico, y no se diga de ese molcajete bar, es riquisimo, felicidades señor Evaristo. read more

Michael S.

13 years ago

They use fresh ingredients and it shows in the quality of their food. Their staff is always friendly. I always order the California burrito, which is the best around. Their street tacos are also very good. read more

Vincent M.

12 years ago

Superb flavours, complex and compelling. We shared the grand seafood platter (1/2), which is more than enough for 4 and a real steal at $23.50 given that it features 6 oysters which read more

Joseph L.

106

11 years ago

Good food, but it's not fun to order take-out, get the food home and find out that they give you the wrong order! Hopefully no attitude when I ask them to check the order next time. read more

Dying T.

2 years ago

This place is underrated. My go to here is their breakfast burrito. They have really good tacos too! I wish they bottled and sold their chipotle sauce it's too notch ! read more

Shehnaz A.

7 years ago

i really love there food. It's very flavorful and tasty. We found this place accidentally but once we had their food we go there for mexican food time to time. read more

Taco Bar - mexican - Updated September 2026

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Rito’s Mexican Food

4.6

(44 reviews)

I stopped in for a breakfast burrito. Place is legit. Service was what I would expect. Friendly.read more

Deep Vista in a strip mall near Automotive spots. Very local. Had a tasty burrito & cold Cerveza…read morewhen I came for lunch. Mainly Spanish speaking crowd. Fairly busy lunch traffic. No prices on the menu?! Small counter w/seats & about a dozen tables inside.

El Patron Taqueria

3.9

(77 reviews)

Pretty big taco shop. Came here for lunch after my chiropractor visit and I was not disappointed…read more I ordered a beef burrito and to my surprise they add beans and rice to the burrito just like they do in Los Angeles. Most spots in San Diego don't add beans and rice to their burritos. The meat was delicious and they offered free cucumber with some lemons and different sauces. Definitely a nice spot.

Not TJ style at all. Don't recommend…read more All I have to say is that the only good thing they have would be their aguas frescas.

Frida's Taquería

3.4

(73 reviews)

This review is for their Tuesday taco special. I believe they're two dollars a taco and there's…read morefive or six different options. To say it gets busy isn't understatement. I don't think the strip of shops next to the movie theater has ever had a line out the door before. So getting there about 630 Be Prepared to wait in line. It moves fast. The tacos are made fresh and they were all very tasty. They have bottled and canned beverages and fresh fruit drinks as well. They do have a salsa bar with three different types of salsa some lemons cut some limes cut up and cucumber and red radish as well. The cups are small so you have to get four or five to actually get enough salsa to dip a chip in. They were good I'm sure we'll be back to try other option items on the menu

Ah man, where do I begin? Off the bat, this place lacked customer service skills. I was the one…read moreapproaching and greeting the girl upfront. Are we for real? Only for her not to greet me or ask us what we wanted, just a blank stare. If it weren't for me asking what aguas frescas they had, I believe the girl would've not said a word. As I order two tacos and a agua fresca, I saw that not only was my order wrong but it was a ridiculous price for two tiny tacos. I go around and let the guy (only cook) know that my order was messed up and to serve me what I asked for. He was friendly and really helpful, I was confused because this place is set up weird. The layout kind of doesn't make sense if the place gets full. Anywho, the agua fresca to top it off was also pretty bland and tasteless. Don't get why this place has any rave. Definitely don't recommend and just as a heads up don't expect great customer service either.

Señor Panchos Mexican Grill

3.8

(504 reviews)

I've been here a bunch of times and i'm never disappointed. the food here is always fresh and…read moreincredible, the service is fast and super friendly and it seems like every time i go in the shop gets an upgrade! I usually get loaded carne asada nachos here cause they prepare this dish very well compared to other locations but every now and then i'll order something different and last night i was swept away by their pollo quesadilla. it's one of those dishes that puts many others to shame and raises the bar! The inside of the store is always well kept and it may be on the smaller side but they're always improving the dining space. senor panchos has become the regular spot for mexican food and for good reason: THIS PLACE IS DELICIOUS!

Consistent in delivering delicious carne asada, whether in Carne Asada Fries or a California…read moreBurrito. The crew is always hustling and accommodating. One of the best true taco shops salsas around, which complements the carne so well. Clean spot that is on the small side, but well maintained. Super easy to call in and order for pickup or drive through. They get the order right, especially when substitutions are made. If you haven't been in a while it is better than you remember.

Tacos Alex

3.9

(331 reviews)

Great al pastor tacos, the corn tortillas are amazing, so fresh and tasty. Alex and his family…read moreserve up the best tacos in San Marcos and beyond. The green avocado salsa is my favorite. The restaurant gets busy at lunchtime so I try to go around 1pm when it has cleared out a bit. Five stars for sure, I drive all the way from Ocean Beach for Tacos Alex!

Man, I was just praying there was room in the parking lot and there was one parking spot open just…read morefor me! I ordered two Carnitas tacos and they were bomb as always. The place was really busy and I got my food super fast. It was probably about 5 o'clock. One thing that was really nice was the cashier. I think it's the Daughter of the owner tiny little girl, but super super nice, kind eyes, very welcoming. I actually decided to sit and eat my dinner there. Last time I was there probably six months the cashier wasn't very nice at all, but this girl was fantastic.

Nachos Taco Shop

4.3

(233 reviews)

Excellent service and amazing food!…read more This place is clean and very relaxing. Why take your food to go when you can sit, enjoy your meal and forgot about the real world even if I ky got a brief time. I tried their nachos as it's their namesake and I was not disappointed at all. Freshness you can taste! My nachos had shredded cheese and came with a cup of nachos cheese! Score! I will be back again for sure. Maybe I'll try their beef broth soup. The picture on the menu and wall looked good!

I appreciated how much meat there was in the Adobada Tacos and how well it was grilled. While the…read moremarinade could've been a bit more flavorful, their salsa roja made up for it because it had the perfect spice level. And they have complimentary chips and salsa when you dine in!

Tony's Fresh Mexican Food

3.2

(141 reviews)

Excellent food!! Shrimp Burrito was spice and filling!!! It definitely wasn't vanilla the stuff…read moreof legends.. Awesome customer service.... I might need to go back on Friday to set my weekend off, right. I was too hungry to photograph my food, yesterday. Lol

I ordered a Bean, cheese, and rice burrito off their menu for $7.49. They charged me $9.50. When I…read moreasked they said the board was wrong and they actually charge for rice as an upgrade.

Mariscos German

4.0

(124 reviews)

Fish/ Shrimp Fried Tacos 10/10 - very good batter used to…read morefry the seafood - a great variety of toppings that compliment the seafood - different spicy level salsa available The fish/ shrimp tacos here are very well made and full of flavor. The tacos are a bit expensive but are very fulfilling. They come loaded with protein and a lot of toppings. The workers here are genuine and hard working. They freshly batter the seafood every time you order so wait time is a little longer than regular taco trucks. They have chairs and tables outside the food truck so customers can eat their food comfortably.

Aside from the long wait for our food, we were very disappointed to see a cockroach crawling on the…read moreservice window. Seeing that made us question the cleanliness of the truck, and once our food arrived, we no longer felt comfortable eating it. Cleanliness is extremely important, especially when serving food. Unfortunately there's no way for me to give this place on a zero star.

Armando's Mexican Food

3.7

(194 reviews)

The food is good the prices for some items are way over price. They charge almost 5% for using a…read morecard. If you question it, they give you attitude. I ordered 3 cabeza street tacos I got 3 carne asada tacos. Time another taco shop.

We stopped in to try their burritos on the recommendation or a friend, we ordered the California…read moreburrito and the Carne asada burrito. Both were great, they were very meaty and filling. The salsa bar had a good variety to choose from, ranging from crazy hot to mild. There was also a pickled onion, jalapeno, and habanero condiment that was a nice addition to my burrito. The service was quick and easy, the location is in a shopping center and easy to find. There is also plenty of parking.

Albertaco's Mexican Food

3.3

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