The best!!! Food, service and atmosphere. Truly historic. Comfortable and feels like home.

The Chili Colorado, Enchilada Suizas, Turkey Burrito, beans and cabbage salad are delicious and so are the Cadillac margaritas!

First time dining at Tony's Jacal. Server deserves ten stars. Impeccable service. The food! Generous portions filled all of our plates. Spotless, welcoming environment both inside and outside. No photos on first visit. Next time we dine in will definitely post pics. Shout out to our server: we sat at table 17. You're a hero. Your recommendations made our meals enjoyable. Felt the love in each bite;-) read more

We loooove this place. It never disappoints. My go to's are the nachos... chicken tortilla soup... half tostada (it's big!) I love the bean rice and cheese burrito, I add the sauce and guac and sour cream. Also I usually get a silver surfer or one of the specialty margaritas. My hubby always gets chimichanga or combo with turkey taco and enchilada. Always delicious, and the chips and salsa are always on point. The service here is amazing and everyone is always so friendly and I love how everyone works together. Ambiance is wonderful. Great place, great food, great people. Two thumbs up and def five stars! read more

Tony's Jacal - Chicken tortilla soup!!! My fave - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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I waited with my kids tonight for over 2 hours before we got seated. Finally got a table and waited another 30 minutes before our food arrived. The carne asada plate was average at best. I let the manager know that we were disappointed and he said that they were very busy. I would have preferred an apology at the very least. I've grown up here in San Diego and have been to this restaurant over 20x. I will never come here again and would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. It's a shame. read more

The outdoor patio is lovely. Best nachos I've ever had. Healthy turkey tacos. Think it's been on our go to list for decades

Have been eating at Fidel's for more than 50 years and decided to try Tony's because my son was curious. All of the food was over fried and greasy. Thought I would at least have a decent experience with the turkey taco but after one bite, decided the Jack in the Box type taco wasn't worth finishing and left it uneaten. I now know why I have stayed away for so long. I'm sticking with Fidel's from here on out. read more

Simply a Great place for Mexican Food and ambience for 76 years!!! Service was outstanding!!! Old School rules!!! Turkeys are not only for Thanksgiving but for Taco's and Tostadas year round here!!! read more

Great food and service. We enjoy sitting outside in the beautiful courtyard...so peaceful and relaxing. It is difficult to find Tony's on an Internet search. read more

Tony's Jacal - Pork Chile Verde - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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We started coming to this place a year ago It's always good the service is great the tamales are my favorite very authentic read more

House margarita is good. Had the smothered carnitas burrito for dinner. It was good but could have used some sour cream or something a little extra. We waited about 30 minutes for a table for 5. We sat inside the bar and waited for our restaurant table. It's very loud. They call your parties name over a blaring speaker and it actually startled me, it was so loud. The restaurant itself is beautiful and traditional. I would have loved to eat outside in the garden area. Service was pretty good at first but we waited quite a while for our check and to pay. We also had to ask for water refills a few times. read more

Tony's Jacal - Carnitas burrito with cheese and sauce - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Ok, they now serve the menu in the bar, so that is no longer an issue. This place is a popular place and is typically crowded. I'm still not a big fan of their margaritas, but their happy hour I'd a great deal. Ove their quesadillas and guacamole. Tony's is a local icon and a fun place. read more

As usual food and service were exceptional. I had the Combo with green chili chicken enchiladas. Great.

In spite of the three star review, I really liked a lot about Tony's Jacal. Unfortunately, the off-putting service really put a damper on what would have otherwise been a great experience. I really love these old school, atmosphere-heavy Mexican restaurants, and in that respect, Tony's is fantastic. The buiding, patio, decor, old-school bar, aviary, etc. all scream out "they don't make 'em like this anymore," and I absolutely loved those aspects of this place. We started out at the bar to pass the quoted hour-long wait, that turned out to be, well, just about exactly one hour. Sipping on a couple of margaritas, watching the end of the Padres game, and catching an occassional glace at the love birds, both in the aviary and sitting around the bar, made what would have otherwise been an excruciating thumb-twiddling into a great start to the Tony's experience. The bartender clearly had mastered the art of slinging margaritas, as in spite of a very heavy crowd, everyone seemed to get their drinks and chips and salsa quickly. Alas, then our name was called, and that's where things started to go downhill, at least service-wise. For starters, they didn't bother showing us to our table -- upon checking back at the host stand, we found out that just had to find whoever was seating us out in the restaurant, and they would tell us where we were sitting. Um... OK, that's a bit weird. She then gave us a terrible table floating in the middle of a room of booths. Spoting several empty booths, including two that looked approprate for a party of two, we asked if we could have one of the booths. The hostess, if you can call her that, very curtly (and while walking away) told us that they were for saved for larger parties. This seemed a bit odd, as there were larger open booths seemingly approriate for bigger parties that were in fact never taken while we sat there. Even worse though, was that BOTH of the tables we pointed at in our request to move were soon occupied by... you guessed it... other parties of two, both of whom were sat within ten minutes of us asking. So, the hostess was clearly just incredibly lazy and flat out lied to us. Perfect. Then, our waiter came, and it was abundantly clear that waiting tables was the last thing he wanted to do that night. Almost as he was in a curtness competition with the hostess, he could not have come across as any more uninterested in providing any sort of service. I think he spent a grand total of no more than twenty seconds at our table while we sat there. To be blunt, the combination of these two individuals could not have been more off-putting. Were it not for this terrible service, I would have given the place at least four stars, but they just absolutely killed the experience. As for the food, I got the carnitas, and the pork was quite solid. The tortillas tasted fresh and warm (hot actually) and there was a generous helping of guacamole. The beans were only so-so, at best. Refried beans are often a great litmus test as to the overall quality of a Mexican restaurant, so that might speak volumes for the rest of the menu. I also tried my friend's enchiladas, which were definitely below average, as the green sauce was watery and lacking flavor. Since this is an old restaurant that is more about atmosphere than anything else, such things can be sometimes be forgiven, but the very poor service surely cannot. Nevertheless, since the atmosphere is fun, I might give the place another shot, or at least have a drink at the bar, and I genuinely hope that some better service allows me to raise Tony's rating a tick or two afterwards. read more

Food was outstanding. Service was inconsistent. Waited 15 minutes before we flagged someone down to order dessert. That was never delivered. Waited too long and then flagged down someone else who had to reorder it. read more

I made it back and glad I did. Kids wanted Taco Tuesday and I felt we needed do something different than our usual Madero's (which I love...but don't want to get stuck in a rut). Wanted to come to Tony's ..but they are closed on Tuesday. So we decided to go to Fidel's and give them another try. We arrived and parked at Tony's (it's directly next door...and i believe both are owned by the same family). We saw people inside..hmm...so we checked to see if they are open...and they are!!! ***I guess they are usually closed on Tuesday, but when the races are happening they are open ...so ya...if the horsies are racing then Tony's is serving. *** We got there at 5:02 (doors opened at 5:00) we were seated in a nice booth. the bar/cantina is adjacent to the inside dining room. I actually have never been inside. My previous visits were on the patio. I really really like it in here! why have i not made this my local pub?!?! The kids each ordered a burritto (bean and cheese/ carne asada) i went crazy and ordered a beef chimichanga & a margarita. First of all..the salsa that is served with the chips is really yummy and a good hint of heat. the chips needed more salt...easily remedied with the table salt. food is good...nothing mindblowing but good. margarita menu has no prices on it...but after asking...it ranges from about $9-$12, so you won't have a horrible surprise when you see your bill. service was good. food was good like the atmosphere a lot! a little dim for my old eyes to easily read the menu looking forward to returning here for an adult night in the Cantina! read more

Tony's Jacal - Chimichanga -Beef with cabbage salad on the side..YUM - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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Del Mar jockeys go to place. Locals typically. Good food and busy bar. Waitress good service.

Food is not what it used to be, old reheated turkey enchilada tastes like crap and chips were refried probably in motor oil. Service was very bad I got my tortillas on end of my meal after I had to ask for it, our drinks we had to order three times before we got them, and when we want to pay it was over 15 minutes and still waiting. After my wife went up front and ask for check, they said that we have to go up front to pay! Why they didn't tell us when we ask for it?! We used to go here a lot but this was last time. read more

How this place doesn't have a higher rating is beyond my comprehension! Tony's Jacal is the real deal for some excellent Mexican cuisine! In business for decades now, Tony's Jacal is perhaps one of the best Mexican restaurants that I have been to in the past few years! Located in a small beach community just down from Carlsbad, the place is somewhat off the beaten path. We had a rather large party to be seated, but they did a fantastic job of getting us on their outdoor courtyard seating area rather quickly. The courtyard is the place to dine if you have the choice as it's rustic in a Spanish kinda way! The carnitas dinner is what I ordered and couldn't say enough about the excellence of the dish! Extremely well seasoned, very tender, and plentiful in quantity is what you get with this dish. The tortillas that accompany it are homemade if I had to guess, and to say they are steaming hot would be an understatement. Least I forget, the margaritas and the chips & salsa are true winners here as well. The salsa is spot on without being too overpowering, and the margaritas are freshly made and not too sweet! read more

As real as it gets. Owners Raymond and Theresa prove once again that authentic food is made by real people who care about ingredients, preparation and people. The atmosphere is perfect. No $1M views. This is the house Theresa was born in turned into a restaurant. 63 years of marriage and the restaurant biz, you must be doing something right. Had he street taco and calamari tacos both were outstanding. read more

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Go go go! Very kitschy but such a lovely setting! Service is impeccable and the food comes so quickly! If you get into Riccardo's section, you are sooo lucky!! I always at least 1cup of Albondigas (and one liter to go always)...then at least 2items ala cart...jeez making myself hungry! read more

Tony's Jacal - Albondigas!!! I can die now! The food here's is sooooo good! - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

We have heard that this is THE BEST Mexican in North County San Diego and our experience was beyond exoectations! Milca was our amazing server and she was so attentive. The food was authentic, fresh and flavorful. This place is the real deal! read more

Ambiance is key to A great restaurant experience. And this place has the nice dim lighting inside and authentic decor. The service was outstanding and it is a well run family business. Stop by and check out a piece of history. They are known for their turkey tacos although I did not try them first time, but I will next time! read more

Tony's Jacal - Turkey burrito & Chile relleno - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Great food and service is always good. Used to be hard to get in, a very popular restaurant. But now that one taco a la carte is $13, there seems to be lots of empty seats. No wait times anymore, and parking is much easier. read more

Oh how I missed Tony's. Food was spot on even better than I remember. Turkey taco was crispy and moist and the turkey and mole enchilada was delicious!!! read more

Tony's Jacal - Turkey taco and turkey enchilada with spicy mole - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

This restaurant is off the beaten path of all the strip malls so it may be hard for some people to randomly find it. The place was busy at lunch time on a Friday. It appeared there were a lot of locals and regulars there. The decor and music ambiance was very nice. The service was fast and efficient. I haven't eaten Mexican food in nearly 4-5 years. The food here is plentiful and good quality. Free chips and salsa to start. The salsa was the perfect spice level for my comfort. It had a mild after burn and not flaming to the point I couldn't taste my food. For those that like it more spicy, try telling them and see if they have a hotter salsa. I ordered the original combo - 1 hard shell beef taco and 1 verde chicken enchilada. It came with rice, refried beans and a cabbage slaw. I enjoyed the meal. It's a multi-generational business and I will continue to support them. read more

Late Friday afternoon Dinner Service was maybe the Best we have Ever Had Very Clean and well kept Dinner was very good My Fish Burrito was a little skimpy on Fish Carne Asada Burrito was good They kept us well supplied with chips and Salsa A Great Place for a Good Meal with friends read more

Albondigas soup is always fantastic! The carnitas tacos also very good with margaritas.

Wow!!! I was down here for a horse show and wanted a hole in the wall mexican food place. Discovered this and wish I lived nearby! I am so impressed! They sat us outside and the nice host kept making sure we were comfortable. Since it was a little cold outside. I felt extremely accommodated. The queso dip was the best queso I've ever had! I got the beef flautas and the Cadillac margarita and that margarita mix was the best mix I've ever tasted. The outdoor seating is so quaint with a beautiful fountain that you can walk down to. Tons of beautiful flowers everywhere. Next time I'm in this area I will be back! Thank you to the servers and the hostess for making us feel so comfortable! read more

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If you're Mexican as I am and noticed not one other latino eating here... big red flag ie food isn't authentic. However it was recommended to eat here by a friend, I'm not from the area so I was glad to take their recommendation. Ordered their guacamole starter, was blended avocado with a cup of chopped tomatoes sprinkled on it and bland. Ordered a combination plate of their chicken mole and pork in green chile with nopales. Rice was dry, beans were from a can, chicken was plainly boiled and dry however slathered in the mole sauce which wasn't bad but also not good. The pork in chile with Nopales was actually flavorful (chile sauce), pork was dry as well but the preparation was decent. Still would not eat here again. Very much a come for the drinks type place but they have a menu so you don't get drunk without putting something in your stomach. read more

Tony's Jacal - Combo plate Pork Chile Verde with Nopales & Chicken Mole - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

While I have dined in prior to COVID, the food from Tony's Jacal still is good! It is fun to dine here. There are various rooms inside and out. The set up reminds me of Bucca de Beppo but with the Mexican décor instead. Texas toothpicks: nice alternative to a French fry appetizer. The oily spiciness goes nicely with margaritas. Mexican Vegetable soup: I usually have a problem finding a soup that is vegetarian friendly in Mexican eateries. Tony Jacal has a tasty version. Quesadillas: stuffed with cheese and other toppings. This can easily serve two. I usually opt for the Marinero combo: which is one fish taco with basically another item on the menu. And because the combos are served with rice and beans, you will be full after eating. Shrimp Enchilada: good sized shrimp. The enchilada is swimming on the warm green sauce. It is a comforting dish. Nopalitos con Huevos: smaller Mexican eateries don't carry nopales, but Tony Jacal's makes a nice breakfast dish with nopales. The mild nopales goes well with the salty fried eggs. I still gotta try that Shrimp in Mole sauce. That is an unique combination. Their menu is huge! They even have a small portion of the menu dedicated to American choices if there is a picky eater in your party. Service is courteous. read more

We came together to celebrate the life of our Dad here. We knew this was one of the places he enjoyed and we could see why. Managers were so kind and accommodating to help us create a wonderful memorial for Dad. The servers were attentive and kind and even adjusted a menu we had agreed upon to make sure my special needs son would enjoy his meal too. For a difficult day and time for our family, you all provided us a beautiful space and forgiving timeline to help us come together to say goodbye and comfort and love each other. So grateful for you all. Thank you. The food was fantastic of course! Just thank you and though we've scattered now - we are looking forward to our next trip to San Diego and a wonderful meal with you again. read more

This used to be a great place that I recommended in the past and also took friends and family to. I'm wondering what happened to change it. My wife and I had dinner there the evening of 2/2/25, we both ordered Tostada Suprema's, me the full, my wife the half. The meat was so over salted my wife had to send it back and ordered the carne asada. The carne asada was cooked well and was tender but they must have changed the marinade, and it wasn't as good as in the past when we ate here. I'm always afraid to send food back for fear of what may be done to the next thing, so I choked about half of it down and quit. their service was always good in the past but this time I had to flag someone down for a drink refill, I was really thirsty from the really salty food. The beans and rice were good, and my wife ordered a pint of each to go which is typical for her from this restaurant. We also ordered two flans to go as well. I went to the refrigerator the next day and realized they forgot to pack the flan, I checked the receipt, and we did pay for it. I'm very disappointed. this place used to be really good with great service, we've been going there for years. I called them about the two missing flans, but the guy that answered didn't seem to care. read more

My wife and I go to Tony's almost once a week. The staff there is very attentive without being overbearing - especially Milka! She's awesome. The food is always consistently good - great flavor without being too rich. And the drinks... well they're worth every dollar. Can't recommend this place enough. Enjoy! read more

Eh it was okay, definitely not the best Mexican food/restaurant around. Only thing cool about this place is the dusty decor. Service okay, food okay, and overpriced. Won't be back. We ordered fajitas and no sizzle lol you order the fajitas for the show. So mean they don't care or food was sitting too long in window. read more

Love this place and it is family owned since it was founded. I have been coming here since I was 7 years old, so 61 years. Food is amazing and service is great. Place is fun and can get very busy, especially during the races. They have a beautiful patio that is very popular and for the kids they have a big birdcage you can look at through the window. read more

Been going to Tony's Jacal 50 years now, they never disappoint. Food is so delicious and ambiance is warm and welcoming add a yummy Margarita and it's all perfect. read more

Tony's Jacal - Inside restaurant. - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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The food was not great at all and the prices are very expensive. I was expecting authentic Mexican food and we found it to fall short. Also the prices are way too expensive for the quality of food. The service was not great. We had to waive down the waiters a few times for refills. read more

Wait time was 45 minutes with nowhere to sit. Staff wouldn't look at us and we ended up leaving.

Came here for a family dinner. There was 8 of us and we only had to wait 20 minutes for a table which was amazing. I order the potato flautas - which were crispy and they had the perfect amount of potato and spices, topped nice with some lettuce, guacamole and sour cream. I got a side of rice and beans that had the perfect amount of flavor. Not dry at all, most places always have too much salt but not here. It was delicious and very authentic. I highly recommend this place. Prices are a little high but very well worth it! I promise 4.5/5 read more

Tony's Jacal - Fluatas de papa, rice and beans - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California