This is a restaurant I wish I found sooner! My mom and I came in hoping to get a last minute reservation at Oculto 477. Unfortunately you'll need a reservation in advance, especially on a Saturday night. Instead we were seated at a high top table at Tahona, which did not disappoint. We ordered a classic a margarita with salt, and a churro dessert. The churros were deceivingly small, however were the most delicious, soft, and crunchy churros I've ever had. The margarita was also very well crafted, and they did not skimp on the salt. Prices for all meals looked relatively affordable. Tahona is also located next to a cemetery which adds to the spooky vibe. I will be back with girlfriends and will try Oculto as well! read more

Tahona - Churro dessert - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Somebody at the hotel recommended this place for taco Tuesdays, which the discount is $2 off for tacos. I was thinking about the tacos, it opted for the heritage potato sope and added the $10 NY steak. Steak was cooked to the right temperature. Potatoes are cubed and crispy. Chimichurri is a great touch, but I didn't care for the chili crisp or sope. I originally was looking for another NY steak dish, but they rotated it out. Service was excellent! My server was so nice! She explained that they no longer had the fish I was looking for, but, recommended me the sope. I saw a lot of appetizers that I wanted to try, but my work only gave me a per diem of $40! read more

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I was in San Diego for a work trip and was recommended this place by a local friend. Usually I am not interested in going to old town due to usually finding the food to be lower quality. However, I decided to give it a try. I thought this restaurant was really nice. Food was good. Drinks were good. The only thing was the service was a little slow. I feel like they needed one or two more people working to solve this. read more

When Tahona first debuted in Old Town, it was a very buzzy spot that included a speakeasy in the back of the facility (Oculto 477). I believe the number reflected the 477 buried bodies at the next door cemetery, El Campo Santo, which is more than 175 years old. There was a row of tables in the parklet in front of the building for outdoor dining. The interior was broken up into a main dining area, a small tasting room off to the left side, and a cocktail bar and lounge area in the back. The main draw for this place was the selection of mezcals, hence the term mezcaleria posted on an exterior sign. The food and drink menus were on display outside the structure so you could view them from the sidewalk. I sat at the bar during my most recent visit on a weeknight that happened to be on a Taco Tuesday. The discount was $2 off all tacos all day long. The regular prices for the eight listed tacos were between $6 and $8. I initially chose three of the tacos without the awareness of how large they would be. The Cali-Baja Fish, Chicken & Rabbit Al Pastor, and the Venison Picadillo were my selections. Mahi was used as the fish that was battered with masa tempura. House slaw, miso aioli, date glaze, and guajillo XO were the other ingredients. The crunch on the fillet was light and crispy. The meats in the al pastor were marinated with blood orange-achiote adobo. Charred avocado and pineapple and pico de gallo accompanied the chicken and rabbit. I thought this was an unusual combination as you don't find rabbit used often as a taco meat. The pineapple provided a sweetness to contrast the adobo marinade and grilled avocado. A 50/50 mix of venison and beef was used to form a terrine for the last taco. Seasonal pico, garbanzo and avocado crema, and pepita macha spiced up the meats. I wasn't full after consuming the trio so I also ordered their signature taco which was the Asada Norteno. Carne asada, chorizo, queso oaxaca, cabbage, onion, green salsa, and salsa macha were the components. The beef and the sausage were very savory on the bottom of the tortilla. All of the tacos I tried had a creative combination of ingredients and flavors. With the reduced prices on Taco Tuesday, the value was much more reasonable for these street sized products. I gave a four star rating for my meal at Tahona Bar. read more

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I recently visited Tahona Bar for my third time. The first time was a a happy hour shortly after they opened. The second time was to visit the speakeasy (Oculto 477) back in early 2020. Most recently, I met a friend after work on a Friday a couple weeks ago. Tahona Bar is located on the south end of Old Town, right by El Campo Cemetery. For that reason, it feels historic, and slightly spooky, which makes it more intriguing to me. We arrived at 5:30, with a half hour left on the happy hour menu. We had a reservation, which was lucky, as the place filled up quickly. Tahona bar is beautifully decorated, reminding me of some of the dining rooms I saw when I visited Tequila, Jalisco, with modern decor, some Day of the Dead figurines, and archways. There is sort of a private dining area off the main dining area that I understand is used for mezcal tastings. Perhaps it can be reserved for large parties as well. We mostly ordered off the happy hour menu, as it really features some good deals. My friend had a regular margarita, I had a mezcal margarita. We shared the guacamole, empanada trio, and the ceviche. My friend chose a fish taco off the regular menu. I also chose a cocktail called Bruno el Burro, that was a fruity, but not overly sweet mezcal cocktail. The food was all beautifully plated. Service was friendly and prompt. Tables were a bit small for laying out the food and drinks, so things did get a bit messy. Standout items for me were the guacamole (fresh and flavorful), the chimichuri for the empanadas, and the ceviche, as it had a great texture with a crunch of some sort of sweet plantain chip. I didn't like that they charge for chips and salsa. Ours came complimentary, but I think that is because we ordered the guacamole. The empanadas were a bit too crispy and fried for my taste. I also did wish that there were a few more items on the menu that were not fried, or did not involve tortillas or chips. All in all, I very much enjoyed our visit to Tahona Bar. I recommend it for a slightly more unique Mexican dining experience in Old Town. read more

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Ive been to Tahona bar a few times. Its always been a pleasant experience. Here its kind of open but kind of quiet and intimate too. I wanted a Michelada and I could have sworn they had one at one point. But here I was and they do not. So our server instead suggested the head ancho I believe it was called. It was aight. I'd stick with a margarita or something citrus with mezcal next time. The guac - I am a guac aficionado. This was pleasant and easy. Very light on the ingredients and focusing on the avocado. Ahi Tuna Ceviche - it was pleasant and packed with tuna. Not overly citrusy and very fresh. Just wasnt too cold. Was more not cold. However this place in Downtown LA with a Michelin star Holbox serves it this way and very similar to this tostada. And they are amazing. Carnitas Taco - Light. Definitely carnitas and just flavorful. Nothing out of the ordinary though. This is the general "how carnitas" are done. Good. Al Pastor Taco - Which had rabbit and chicken. Flavor was nice. Not over powering or anything crazy. the meat was tender. Didnt feel like I was eating chicken or conejo. This was pretty unique as pastor tacos arent heavy but arent light either. But this felt light. read more

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What a pleasant surprise! My boyfriend and I originally planned to eat at a well-known restaurant in the heart of Old Towne, but it was packed due to a weekend event. Luckily, we stumbled upon this spot instead--and I'm so glad we did. The restaurant has great music, beautiful decor, and intimate seating that sets the perfect vibe. Everything we ordered was incredible. The fish had been caught that morning, and the pork was sourced locally--you can really tell they care about the quality of their ingredients and the overall dining experience. We enjoyed some sipping tequila, squash blossom quesadillas, tacos, and chips with guac, but the standout dish was hands down the pozole. It comes with a generous piece of pork so tender you can cut it with a spoon, all in a broth unlike any pozole you've had before--in the absolute best way. I highly recommend ordering it. read more

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Made a reservation to bring family here before their flight out of town. Noted our dog on the reservation and got a confirmation. All over online says they allow dogs as does their Yelp, we show up for our reservation. Dog wasn't allowed. Maybe fix your portal as to not waste guest's time? Also to note- there was no one in the restaurant. Just a few guests at the bar. read more

Tahona - Not dog friendly - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

A charming gem hidden in plain sight in the heart of Old Town. My fiancé and I came for the mezcal and left with big smiles. We are both in the service industry from Las Vegas, so we value hospitality and unique experiences. I've worked at and managed a tequila/mezcal bar as well as others and I can't begin to express how special this place is. Their selection of spirits is incredible! Rare mezcals I've never seen and I left there actually learning something new. The place is well kept, charming and the cocktails are exceptional and balanced. Best churros we've ever had too, we will be back to try Oculto 477. Zach is the best! read more

Tahona - Claridad cocktail and mezcal flight on the patio - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

A unique place, that is for sure. Small restaurant and bar, which is great for a quiet dinner. If you're planning on visiting on a weekend, reservations are strongly recommended since they have a limited amount of tables. Food was really good, as everyone in my party enjoyed their meal. Shrimp taco (my choice) was excellent. Margaritas (on the rocks) were superb, too -- make sure not to skip that. And don't skip the corn croquettes, either, as those were beyond delish. Service was excellent, as we were well taken care of by all -- Street parking can get a little scarce on the weekends, so be prepared. read more

Tahona was not like any other Mexican restaurant that I've tried. The carne asada tacos were the best I've ever tasted. My partner ordered the chicken/rabbit tacos and was also impressed. The building was like an authentic hacienda. They have an extensive tequila and mescal menu. The food menu was on the limited side. Service was excellent. Set in Old Town adding to the Mexican ambience. Will definitely be returning. read more

Stumbled upon this taco and mezcal restaurant in Old Town, pleasantly surprised, everything was fantastic. They had happy hour on Saturday which was surprising and the chips and salsa were complimentary, I ordered guac and quesadillas (both were VERY good!). The house cocktail was good too, very light and refreshing. Bar seating and service was wonderful. Didn't realize til I was about to leave that there's a speakeasy there but it's reservation only, def will need to check it out next time. They accept inkind which gives u 20% cash back. read more

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Great service, cute little place to have a drink and tacos. The drinks were definitely well made and the tacos were 8/10. Inside decor was a vibe. Bathroom was clean and well maintained. Look forward to trying more dishes in the near future. read more

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The food here is good but way over priced due to being in a tourist area. We got seated outside which was nice but very sunny. They need to invest in umbrellas for sunny San Diego. They had tons of heaters but zero shade. We ordered: -Chips and salsa - came with red and green salsa -Guacamole - had lots of lime juice, we didn't mind. -Mole sampler - made in house, tastes like chocolate dessert, really good but didn't come with chips. We used the chips from our salsa. -Empanadas - had lots of fillings -scallops - the best! I wanted more. -Fish tacos - tasty but not worth $10 for a tiny street taco size that was finished in three bites. For drinks I got the Jugo Sano which sounded refreshing with cucumber, basil, lime and tequila. It was not refreshing but bitter strong. It's better known for mezcal. Parking is all on the street or park 5 minutes away in the main old town lot. read more

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From the moment we stepped into Tahona, we had a great experience. We've been here twice, on different times of the week and it's always been a wonderful time. The drinks are exquisite and unique (try the horchata Clara ) and the food is delicious and well portioned. We usually order as many dishes as we would at another restaurant, but always feel overly full because the portions here are generous. Seating is comfortable and abundant. Can't say enough good things about Tahona! read more

What a great experience! Went in on a Monday for a birthday celebration and it was happy hour all night. The servers were very attentive, friendly and helpful. We chatted with them quite a bit. The place looks tiny from the outside, but once you go inside it is bigger than you think. The decor is very chic and beautiful, airy with a touch of romanticism. We sat at the best seat int he house. Right by the front entrance inside, next to an open door. We felt the southern California breeze on our faces all evening. The food was amazing. Everything was fresh, flavorful and cooked spot-on. We ordered chips, salsa and guacamole. The red salsa is where its at. It had the perfect amount of light spice with a lot of flavor. I ordered the stuffed squash blossoms which were fried to perfection, stuffed with a great combo of flavors, sitting on a bed of refried beans. My friend ordered the machaca wagyu tostada which had the meat cooked two ways and layered for a burst of flavor in each bite. We also got a birthday dessert which was very tasty. I'm not a huge fan of cinnamon, but the churros they brought out barely tasted like cinnamon, and the two creams to dip in were to die for. I have been wanting to try this place for years and am so glad I finally got to try it. I will definitely go back again. The friendly service and awesome food made this a wonderful experience! read more

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Love the happy hour! Love the mole! Super nice crew and very helpful with their extensive mezcal list.

Love the ambiance here. Such an intentionally decorated spot next to a peaceful cemetery. Every time I've come to Tahona, the service has been wonderful- Accommodating, relaxed, and friendly. I've managed to snag a reservation on open table every time and have had flexibility in changing my seating. My favorite spot to sit is at the bar where you get to watch awesome cocktails come to life! Happy hour here is reasonable and perfect for a quick bite and drink. We have tried almost everything off the menu and our favorite every time is the birria croquetas. Delicious! One of my favorite spots for a pick me up! read more

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The food was great at Tahona bar. We got free tacos and they were pretty good sized tacos. The service was pretty good too, and the ambience was definitely romantic read more

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Amazing service! Best spot to sit in a bar and enjoy the atmosphere! Quick service and very tasty tacos read more

Tahona - Who is Sandy Kim with?! Denise & Yana - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here on a double date to enjoy a couple drinks & an appetizer. We actually came to see Occulto 477, but were a bit early so we thought we would sit to have some drinks & maybe a super quick bite to eat. We ordered the quesabirria & got some chips with salsa. Both were amazing & I really want to go back so we can enjoy some other dishes. The quesabirria was packed with protein & flavorful. I'll definitely order this again my next trip here! The server was quick & attentive. Ambiance had a dim lighting vibe with cool spooky decor to match the energy. read more

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I hosted my bridal shower at Tahona and I cannot recommend this place enough. Working with Zach was a pleasure from start to finish, and he went the extra mile to make the day special for me and for every one of my guests. My mom found Tahona while we were scouting locations, so my fiancé and I booked a reservation for date night to check it out. Zach greeted us at the door, walked us to our table, thanked us for coming, and sent over free tastings of a few of their drinks. That, plus how quickly he responded to every email, made the decision easy. For the shower itself, he opened the restaurant early, brought his staff in ahead of schedule, and gave us great pricing. As guests arrived, he personally asked each one what they'd like to drink. The margaritas were outstanding, including a subtly delicious banana version. Our buffet station had tacos made to order in front of us, croquetas, empanadas, and more, all excellent. I have never experienced hospitality like this from a restaurant. Zach and the entire Tahona team made the day genuinely special, and I can't wait to come back for the food again soon. read more

Literally the best service EVER! We went to the speakeasy and was planning on waiting for a table and they had a table ALREADY READY FOR US!!!!! Literally amazing wish I could tip everysingle person in her individuality tbh. Can't wait for the food but I thought this place should get recognition first. Telling everyone about it here. Oh.... The vibe??? Chefs kiss!!!! The Spanish fusion concept is awesome and that's coming from a Mexican. Def get the sloth drink w the marshmallow top 10/10 read more

Tahona - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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A slice of Baja in San Diego. :) We did the chef's tasting menu and it was an absolute dream. Come hungry! The flavors were rich, acidic, and spicy. Pared with a mezcal tasting and it was a perfect night. read more

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I come to San Diego a lot. Typically it's with my son, so I don't check out any bars. We come to the El Campo cemetery a lot to walk around and check out the graves. I always see the Tahona Bar and I've always wanted to check it out. I finally went to SD on a grown up trip, no kids. So naturally I came here. The Molé was delicious. Just the right balance of spice, smokiness, and sweetness. I had a few mezcal cocktails that were phenomenal. The bar tenders were great. The decorations and ambiance in here is impeccable. I loved it. read more

Tahona - The view from my table . - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

We stumbled upon Tahona in Old Town and sat at the bar on a quiet weekend evening. The bartender was attentive as we sampled some of their mezcal cocktails and an assortment of fresh tacos. Great little spot for fresh oaxacan cuisine for a charming evening in Old Town. read more

Tahona - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food is good. But they charge you a 3% credit card surcharge. Seems a lot for a place that tries to pass itself off as trendy. Croquetas? Meh. Skip them. read more

Tahona - 3% credit card surcharge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Wow, talk about a wonderful meal. First and foremost, thank the lord I was able to find a mezcal bar. This place has an insane selection with a great bar program to back it up. Tacos and chips. That is the way to go. Don't get cute here. Their taco selection is great and every taco I ate was elite. The chips were amazing with 2 solid salsas as well. My server was awesome. Attentive, polite, and seemed to really love working behind the bar. One of the best meals I had on my trip to San Diego hands down read more

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The staff was incredible! Great customer service. The food was great too. The mole appetizer was incredible, highly recommend! Ambiance was very nice too. My only issue was that the water didn't have ice, but the rest of the experience was so good that I'm still giving it 5 stars read more

Tahona - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

We recently went to Tahona for Happy Hour. We were able to sit in the main dining room. We ended up ordering from the Happy Hour menu because we liked the options. We have been customers since they opened, but have not been there in a few years; I am happy to say that the quality of the food is still outstanding. This is not your typical touristy Mexican food. The sauces are complex and the dishes are innovative. And the margaritas - WOW! They were great, handmade, strong (especially considering that it was happy hour). We had the Quesadilla Verdes that has Oaxaca cheese, squash blossoms, and mole verde. Oh that sauce! I could have eaten it with a spoon. Note: I don't think that this dish is on the main menu. We also had the Empanadas de Piccadillo -- the dish comes with three empanadas, and again, the sauces, the Morito aioli and the chimichurri, were exceptional. Our server was great, knowledgeable and attentive. If you are looking for something different from the same 'ole Mexican fare, I highly recommend this restaurant. A note about the noise: We were there early so the noise level was not bad - there were just a few other tables occupied. But, if you come during their main dining hours, the noise level can be high. read more

We have walked by this place numerous times but finally decided to stop here. For a quick summation: amazing food and drinks but veryyyyy expensive for the proportions. Let's get into specifics: For drinks we had the Head Ancho and their Paloma de la casa. Both were very refreshing! Then we had the mole flight and the corn croquetas. Both were 15/10. Sadly they were tremendously small. I could eat each solo so they are not that shareable in my opinion. Then we had the quesabirria, chorizo and the pollo pastor tacos. Each was delightful in its own way but the quesabirria won out. Full disclosure: their taco meat comes out sometimes in full rectangles. Kinda gives off a pre-made feel which we didn't adore but the flavor was still there. Also you only get one taco for the order. As for the location: it was very cute and small inside but as more people file in it gets LOUD. So if you want to talk make sure to try and snag an outdoor table especially for first dates. Also TWO people are seated with iPads at the front and it was pretty confusing. One of them will check you in. Recommend reservations as it got busy fast. Our service was great but sadly our one waitress had to handle all the tables solo so she was swamped. Parking is...well it's old town. Go to one of the main lots and walk over. All in all of the old town restaurants this is one of the nicer ones just be ready to spend a lot for small portions but tasty food and drinks. read more

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After a bad experience at El Sueno down the street, we came here hoping for better, and wow, they definitely did it. It was close to closing time and still very busy. They said they were doing last call in about 15 minutes but we were still more than welcome to come in. We came in and got 2 drinks and desert at the bar. The bar tenders were friendly, the service was fast, and they joked around and told us a little about the place. They do have a speakeasy that's really hard to get into so hoping we can do that next time. The corn cheesecake was extremely unique and I will definitely get it again. Over all, this is more upscale Mexican and a little pricey, but we loved it and hope to join for dinner in the future. read more

Tahona - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Had a great time here, celebrated a birthday here tonight and we enjoyed our time here Food was delicious for sure, we got the The taste of Tahona so worth it... u get to try apps small plates entree and a dessert Service was very friendly and attentive sorry I forgot our servers name but he's very nice to us Ambiance def a vibe love the decor and the bar Def coming back here again. read more

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The service and ambiance is great here. We came late and our waitress took great care of us. My friend and I split the steak dish and it was AMAZING!!!! We loved the cook of the steak, the flavor of the dish and the candied chilies were so good. The guac here is actually pretty bad- no flavor and definitely made with lots of oil. The salsa is good and the corn fritters were incredible! Drinks are very strong! read more

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Love the place great flavors and food. BUT the restaurant closes at 10 pm as per Yelp and google but they turn away customers at 8:45 pm like please help make sense of this scenario. We came in at 7:30 and had a great experience. The last time We came in last time at 8:50 and got turned away so makes no sense for a restaurant that serves mainly tacos and small bites to close 90 minutes prior to set time ‍ read more

Food was great, moles were all killer in its own way. Our server/bartender was Tony and he was very helpful at helping us find the right drink at the right time! Will definitely be back to try the rest of the items on the menu! read more

Tahona - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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My boyfriend booked this place for date night for us on saturday. We sat on the patio, and it took a while for our server to get to us, even to bring us water and menus. I was feeling a little impatient to add because I was quite hungry. But once our server did come by, he was fairly attentive, and our drinks and food came out very quickly. We tried a variety of their appetizers and tacos. Enclosed out our dinner with Churros for dessert. The churros were a little disappointing, just tasted like dough. But overall, I had a good experience. read more

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Loved this place. We were lucky to snag a table so highly recommend making reservations. The drinks were so strong and tasted so good! But the food was spectacular. My husband got the tacos, and three filled him up. I got the short rib and it was so soft and melt in your mouth. My favorite part was the service. When our food was served they told us a little about where everything came from and that was lovely and enough to get us more hungry! read more

Tahona - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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My friend treated me to a nice dinner here during my last night working in San Diego for the summer. They specialize in mezcal cocktails, which after having one, I have to say is an acquired taste. The cocktail I had was on the sweeter side, but it took me a few sips before I was sold on the smoky taste from the mezcal. I wasn't mad at it though. All of the food was delicious. The corn croquetas and morita aioli and carnitas bao buns were great starters. The short rib hurrache was *Chef's Kiss* it was so tender. My friend and I ordered some churros to end our meal, the first ones came out underdone, but they were nice enough to replace them and give them to us for no charge. All in all, Tahona was a nice little spot to chill and wind down with my friend with great food. read more

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Their unique drinks and food items are exquisite! The quality and freshness in ingredients are excellent. The guacamole... my goodness staff is so awesome and welcoming the ambiance is beautiful! I will definitely stop by every time I visit SD read more