All in all everything was very good and fresh! The beans and the turkey items are unique and the menu is huge! We all enjoyed our food and cocktails as well as the chips and salsa (little spicy) and the service was really pleasant. The atmosphere is nice and there was plenty of free parking right in front. We did not make reservations and got there at 5pm on a Wednesday during the busy Christmas season. It got quite loud and super busy. Definitely a local favorite. You can tell there's a lot of history inside those walls. We will be back! read more

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One of the best Mexican restaurants in San Diego. The added benefit is your can sit on the patio with your dog(s). All fresh ingredients and the service is timely and friendly. I love when you sit down and a basket of warm chips shows up. I have had the chimichanga before and it is so good (and so bad for health...). The pic below was a wet carnitas burrito and turkey tostada. A great combo to be shared unless you have not eaten all day or don't plan to eat the rest of the day. read more

Tony's Jacal - Cheese Crisp - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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Older place, but a must try. They are very busy and obviously known for the great food and service. Was looking for a place to eat in the area and found them on yelp. Very cool atmosphere, very busy but it didn't slow down the service or getting our orders. Food, price and service was excellent. A must try. , read more

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

Wish I could give this place zero stars. Just left this landmark of a restaurant that sadly dies not live up to it's Yelp hype. This restaurant has been in business for 73 years and perhaps they had some real good years but if the masses like this food there is something wrong in Solano Beach. The service was terrible and food just as terrible. The employees seem as if they are too tired to care to give good service. The refried beans were extremely greasy. The T Bone steak was dry and it was tasteless. My Turkey salad (i am in a strict diet so I had to order it) was tge most terrible salad I have ever had in my life...Turkey meat should be sauted in a guisado to add some flavor and juice to it. I think I will eat at Taco Bell next time...and I hate Taco Bell. Good luck to all who venture to this very old establishment que desgraciadmente no sirve para nada!! Sorry but I had to tell the truth. read more

I would give negative stars, if possible. My friend and I have always gone to Fidel's next door, but someone told me this place was their favorite. We weren't that hungry, so we thought we'd give it a try. I stood directly in front of the hostess for 6 min, while she filled out the schedule for large parties, and finally asked if there was any chance that we could get a table for two. All I got was a slight smile, and then got completely ignored. I worked in restaurants for 12 years, and was always told that your attention went first to the person who was standing in front of you. This "hostess" was so inhospitable, I will never go there again. read more

I ordered for pickup after hearing many good things about this place and I was pleasantly surprised! The food was ready fast - only 10 mins after I called. It was packaged well and still warm by the time we got home. The carne asada burrito was delicious and filling, I cleared my whole plate. Definitely will be back to try more of the menu! read more

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Seriously, Tonys Jacal is home to the most delicious rice that I've ever tasted. But I'm feeling a bit torn now because I found out after the fact that they use lard in the rice. My boyfriend, who is vegetarian, mentioned during the meal that he didn't get the rice because he had noticed a short blurb on one of the vegetarian dishes about the rice not being vegetarian. He didn't recall the mention of lard though and thought it had something to do with turkey instead. It didn't make a difference for him either way. I, on the other hand, eat turkey but I don't eat pork, which as far as I understand it, is what lard would be classified as. I'm hoping I'm wrong because the rice was so good but I can't bring myself to consciously eat anything related to adorable pigs. Aside from that, I also ordered a carne asada quesadilla and it was very good. The only thing missing would be a scoop of sour cream to dip it in but otherwise it had the perfect amount of meat and cheese. My boyfriend ordered the sopes without meat and thought they were okay but nothing special Maybe they're better with a protein. The restaurant has an old-school vibe with dark wood paneling and vinyl booths. You can tell it has been around for awhile but I think that just adds character and obviously shows that they know how to do something right to stay in business for so long. Chips and salsa were okay but not the best. The salsa had a chipotle-like flavor that I wasn't super fond of. The cabbage salad was a surprise that I wasn't expecting on my plate as I'm not a fan of cabbage. read more

Tony's Jacal - Quesadilla with side of rice - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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I have eaten here since I was six years old. I am now 65 and I've never had a bad meal here. The food here is awesome. The people are nice and drinks are good. I highly recommend this place to anybody that wants a great Mexican meal and make sure to say hi to James Obrien. read more

Went for Mother's Day! Those margaritas!!! Strong, made with love. Food was great. Fast services! I can't say more great things about this place. Hearts read more

A complete time machine. Utterly dripping with Spanish California old school style. Tony's Jacal is quintessential Southern California. Nothing in the world is going to be found like this anywhere else. I cannot wait to sit inside this space again one day. It is such a classic experience. A total icon in Solana Beach amd once you enter you'll know why. Let's all root for Tony's Jacal to get us all in a booth soon. read more

Our friends took us here before a concert at Bellyup. Food and service were great. Liked the old restaurant vibe. Loved the salsa.

We went early on a weekday and still faced a half hour wait. They don't take names in advance. Plan to wait but there's plenty to see as you strain to hear the muffled speaker call your name. It's all about the ambiance here. Wouldn't go here for takeout but wish every dining room had this much character. Great space with a charming garden, little bird sanctuary and several generations of photographs and bric a brac to look at. Attentive staff, hot food, cold drinks. read more

LOVELY PLACE!! awesome outdoor seating and decor! they have birds in the walkway in a cage. My whole family loves the food there, it's such a great place to go! Awesome service! They play music for you!!! Fun atmosphere and good food, live music we love it so much highly recommend! They have a little pond!! read more

Tried this place for the first time for lunch. I will definitely be coming back because the food was fantastic and the service was pleasant. The restaurant was decorated in a way that makes it feel you're in Mexico. I would recommend ordering the Mexican Combination Plate! read more

I love this restaurant! The chicken tortilla soup is so good! We are never disappointed when we come here for delicious Mexican food and great service. read more

I love this restaurant - the food is always excellent, the drinks are great and the service is outstanding. I can't wait to go back!

A hidden gem in Solana Beach, it's been here since 1946 it takes you back in time to where good food n drinks great customer service and nostalgic bar. Wow I was so impressed with everything great for date or family outing and location is nestled in a neighborhood. You will not be disappointed i ordered the Torta with a side of whole beans delicious margarita weather was amazing everything just came together beautifully great service thank you! read more

Our birthday for 12 was seamless!! Service fantastic and the food was great! Can't wait to go back!

I can't believe this place is supposed to be a local institution! Honestly, never in my life have I had worse customer service at a restaurant. I can appreciate the fact that they were busy, I can understand the difficulties facing many restaurants these days, but the server was flat out rude. No greeting, no eye contact, physically looked at her watch and made a noise while we were ordering and still managed to mess up our order. The food was fine but unremarkable, and based on this experience we will never come here again. read more

My family is OG North County. If you've been to the Flower Hill Shopping Center down the street, that used to my great grandma's farm. (And yes, the shopping center was 1,000,000% better before the bougie remodel. But coastal North County has sucked for almost a decade now anyway.) Due to my family's history in the area, I grew up off Tony's Jacal. Just as my father did before me. And no, I don't want to talk about my dad. Anyway, let's get down to business. Tony's Jacal is my favorite Mexican place in the world. Yes, I've been to Fidel's--and love that place, too. I've been to many, MANY A+ Mexican spots having grown up in Encinitas. Sadly, I have lived in the Pacific Northwest for years now, and it truly depresses me to compare Mexican food up here with the material down south. Don't ever order a burrito in Seattle. Trust me. I have tried almost everything off the menu at Tony's over the years. The tacos, enchiladas, carne asada burrito (get it wet, though I believe that's just how it comes), chips and guac, tortilla soup, albondigas soup, and taquitos are all top notch. Even the rice and beans are so flavorful that, as a kid, I used to order plates made up solely of rice. Also, the margaritas are spectacular; I've tried both the Cadillac and the mango fruity one. (I didn't know what I had been missing for 21 years!) Pro-tips: 1) If you're only going here once and you eat meat, get a carne asada burrito (wet) with rice and beans, chips and guac for starters, and a mango margarita. The complimentary chips and salsa are good enough on their own, but you'll want to try the guac! A small order of it should be enough for two people. 2) Walk around. The various courtyards and patios are gorgeous. I still marvel at them now in adulthood. Remember: this restaurant is historical and it speaks for a long Mexican American bloodline that has been very influential in its given neighborhood. Tony's has been open for around eighty years, so the recipes are all delicacies. 3) Talk to Theresa, the woman who works at the front. She is a sweetheart! One of my greatest pleasures coming home for the holidays each year is having a quick life exchange with her as we pay. Also, side-note: I hate you. Wish I could eat good Mexican right now. read more

Tony's Jacal - I'm in San Diego for thanksgiving rn & living life to the FULLEST w this carne asada burrito ya'll - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Having heard rave reviews but never visiting, I decided to give it a try. Food was decent - good beans and rice - but pricey for what you get. Drink was small and very expensive, not stellar. The busser was great, attentive and very pleasant. The waitress did her job but was quite curt. Annoyed when my friend didn't hear her question right and not explaining the different options with the combo. I don't think I'll be back. Headed back to Casa de Bandini. Much more for the money, including the drinks. read more

Arrived early..Ooooh Good!!! A lot of people sat in the patio area... They call us And sat us down......... brings salsa and chips... Salsa has a good bite to it... Chips are warm, but greasy. The second batch...cold, hard and greasy Mom's fish tacos tasted OK.. I tried it and it did taste just OK.. Friend had a very asada burrito with cheddar cheese on top. Cheddar cheese??? My chili colorado was good, but tiny and was smothered in cheddar cheese. Overall: The place was OK Definition of Jacal: A thatch-roofed hut made of wattle and daub found in Mexico and the southwest United States read more

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Went here with the wife. We both felt the same way: we liked the atmosphere, but the food was just meh. read more

Tony's Jacal is a freaking delicious Mexican food joint located right in the heart of Solana Beach. This place pretty much has everything you'd want in a Mexican dining establishment; great food, nice ambiance, great service, cold beer and lots of music. The food is just straight up delicious. Pretty much every menu item is very good but my go to is the chili verde burrito plate with a turkey taco rice and beans, maybe start out with some Mexican corn if I'm feeling frisky... Overall, the tastes, the smells and the ambiance makes this place a fantastic dining option. Pros- Menu Location Ambiance Overall good taste Ice cold Modelo Bar while you wait Service Indoor/outdoor seating Delicious rice and beans Cons- Always crowded read more

Tony's Jacal - Corn on the cob, Mexican style... - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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The food and drinks left much to be desired. The workers were very polite, and the service was fine, but the food was not great. The restaurant itself if quite cute and kitschy, the bar especially has a nice ambience. If you want a remotely decent margarita though, you have to specify which brand of liqueurs you want and what juice, because their mix is not good. read more

Tony's Jacal is a fave, and is one of the better Mexican restaurants in North County. I love that it is family run, that it hasn't changed in forever, and that it operates by its own rules. How the server takes the orders and how you pay your bill are two systems particularly unique to Tony's Jacal. The servers carry laminated order forms and they record your selections with dry erase pens using a mysterious language of circles, marks and codes. Then when you're ready to pay you meet the family's very sweet matriarch up front at the register and she already knows what you had. Magic! It isn't high tech but it works and it makes you smile. Oh yeah, the food is good too. I've been to Tony's Jacal probably a dozen times, and I've enjoyed a lot of items on the menu. My favorite dish is the machaca, but most recently I had the chicken tortilla soup and the "Original Combination" which offers lots of choices. I went with the turkey taco and the cheese enchilada with half rice and half beans. I always love the dark, rich beans, and the turkey taco was great. I ordered it after reading a bunch of good reviews - otherwise I would never have thought to try it. The soup was great, and the enchilada was average but still tasty. Great place. Nice people. Good food. read more

Tony's Jacal - Chicken Tortilla Soup, served with avo and cheese. Awesome. - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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Always excellent food and service. Been going there since 1970's. Love their food especially the Enchiladas, ant Todtada Supremo. Only thing is it's very loud in the main dining area in evening. That I don't like, bar is too close by needs to be more closed of for sound of TVs and noisy social drinkers. read more

I've been to a lot of places in my life but this is hands-down the best Mexican food in San Diego. The green chili chicken enchiladas are amazing the beans and rice are amazing the margaritas are amazing very friendly staff as well and great service. I have found my new favorite Mexican restaurant on the planet!! read more

Tony's Jacal - Green chili chicken enchiladas - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

A random business trip to San Diego lead me to Tony's Jacal and so happy it did! I was traveling with a large group of people and we realized all of us were huge foodies. After our plane landed, we realized we had our priorities to take care which was go to Costco for alcohol and snacks, then hit In-N-Out burger for lunch, and plan dinner. One of our group members who'd arrived a few days earlier suggested Tony's Jacal, as he'd eaten there the night before and was craving to go back already. A group of 18 people is never that easy to accommodate, but this place made it happen and kept up with our frequent drink orders and other various needy needs. The drinks were just what we needed after a long day of travel and we all enjoyed thoroughly! I have experienced LOTS of Mexican food in my life and feel like I can tell the good from the bad, this was amazing! I have always made fun of friends in the past who say "I know good Mexican food because I lived in XXXXX" (Los Angeles/San Diego/Texas). I'll just say this older San Diego restaurant has some of the best food ever with a great staff. I can't wait for my next visit! read more

HANDS DOWN! THE BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT IN NORTH COUNTY!! The service is amazing. The entire staff helps each other out.If you are vegan, they have options! (Potato taquitos are out of this world!) Charming outdoor patio is so relaxing and beautiful ! Make sure you check their hours! They are not your normal restaurant hours! A must try!! read more

Great food, love the staff, welcoming vibes. Family run for ever and ever and ever. In all the good ways.

First time dropping by since my family was at the Del Mar Pumpkin Station. We were intrigued by the 70-year history. The interior is dark, kitschy and you can feel the History around every corner. We sat in the back portion of the bar. We shared the enchiladas suizas and the frijoles de la olla, while starting it all off with a small ceviche plate. The ceviche was legit! It was fresh, tangy and ample for a small. I highly recommend to start with it if shrimp is your go-to. The enchiladas were tasty but the tortillas didn't hold up well. They both broke apart into pieces upon cutting into them. The beans were great! My daughter's chicken tenders are what you'd expect from a Mexican restaurant, pre frozen and fried. Their fries were downright terrible; thin, soggy and empty of any potatoes. My 6yr old didn't even eat them. I don't know how you screw up fries? Our cocktails were fantastic! We ordered a house mango, frozen Margarita and a skinny Cadillac Margarita on the rocks. They were strong and tasty! We both agreed we'd comeback minus the little-one to try other options. The decor, history, friendly staff and reasonable pricing are all desirable. This review is for anybody who wishes to hear my opinion... read more

Hands down best Mexican restaurant!!!! I've been going here all my life and never been disappointed. Food is always delicious and consistently AMAZING!!! (Even To go orders) Family owned and operated..."Hi Tereasa "! Turkey tacos and Cadillac margarita a MUST!!!! read more

The history of this place is what first drew us here and the food did not disappoint. Everything we ordered was fantastic from the tortilla soup to the Chile relleno, to the Turkey taco. I highly recommend visiting this gem. read more

Delicious food! Great service and fun environment. They have appropriate staffing for how busy they get. My favorite Mexican food spot in the area! read more

6/5 stars. The food was all amazing, get the verde enchiladas and cabbage salad. Strong delicious margaritas. Fried bananas also amazing. Somehow with the food being as delicious as it was the staff was even better-all were incredibly kind, friendly, absolutely amazing service. The best I have seen in all of North County. They truly care about your experience and throughly seems to enjoy seeing you enjoy your time! read more

This is my favorite spot to have a wonderful sit down Mexican meal. They have a lot of great staff and attention to detail here with being prepared for Covid as well! Love the chips and salsa! Never had a bad drink here either. Back in the day the own would come around and talk with people in the restaurant. Gotta love the community outreach. Truly a staple in San Diego county! read more

Don't know what happened to this place but we had the worst service ever actually made you feel like you were not wanted. Very unhappy servers 2 years ago it was great but we will never be back 6/3/20021 read more

While the food here is always delicious, these five stars go to one of their absolutely outstanding employees, Adrienne! It was a super busy Wednesday night and he was so amazingly professional and kind to our entire group, keeping us posted about our estimated wait time for our food. He was so friendly and mature and we were very impressed by his impeccable service. He's a wonderful asset to Tony's Jacal. Great job Adrienne! read more

We had dinner here. Tacos, tortilla soup, ceviche, nachos and enchiladas. Two types of margaritas and dessert. The meat quality is high, salsas and guacamole had lots of flavor. Service was friendly and present enough. Re-fills were offered. They were patient with us ordering a couple times due to different arrival times of the guests. The server allowed a lot of customization to our orders. Hot chocolate and cookie dessert was not good, but the banana chimichanga was great. House margarita was strong, but not fresh and citrusy. It was really sweet. The mezcal tamarind margarita was the star of the meal. read more