This place is a classic staple of the area! A must try! From the beautiful garden and outdoor patio seating to the cute decor and classic style of the inside, no matter where you sit you'll have a great experience. Everyone working there provides great service and the food is equally matched! Must try: crispy turkey taco, vegetable soup, chile relleno, and the cheese enchiladas. Love the homemade salsa and chips! And the margaritas are delicious. read more

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My cheese enchiladas were awful tasting. There was no flavor. I cannot describe how bad it tasted. I was very disappointed.

Great food and drinks! Had not been there in years, but it was just as amazing as it was years ago!

Amazing and authentic Mexican food. For a couple bucks extra they smothered my Carne asada burrito in red sauce and cheese. They actually have Carne Asada taquitos which I'm dying to go back and try because the carne asada was good. Not to fatty but super tender. My wife had the chili Colorado and it was delicious my other friend had the chili rellenos. He says they are the best in town. read more

During a recent trip to Solana Beach for a Birthday day trip, we came across this restaurant and decided to head over after doing a couple things and sight seeing a bit nearby. The reviews and pictures looked good but our experience was very meh and the food simply wasn't there for me After grabbing a coffee in town and walking down by the beach a bit we headed over to the restaurant and found a spot in the lot across the street. After walking in I was surprised at how large this restaurant truly is. The have a large patio in the front to the left upon entry as well as 3 large dining rooms inside. The restaurant itself was quite busy so I had a feeling this was going to be good but I left with a feeling of regret and being unsatisfied. We were quickly greeted and ushered to a seat near the back but had no menus and sat for sometime before we were acknowledged and provided menus and had drink orders taken. After looking over the menu I was quickly sold on the combination of the turkey enchilada (this sounded like a great variation of the chicken enchiladas I would normally order) and the Chile Relleno (which is my standard go to dish). As we waited for the food the seats around us filled up and we got stuck next to a couple of older ladies who were loud, complaining about everything in their life and constantly getting in and out of their seating directly next to our table. I was surprised to see the food came out quite quickly and looked good but one bite into each and I was already done. The Chile Relleno was not covered in sauce and tasted like nothing but batter and had no flavor whatsoever and the turkey meat inside the enchilada was so chewy it was hard for me to get this down. I made significant progress on both dishes nonetheless but threw in the white flag. The service was decent enough and the pricing was on point with what I would expect for this type of restaurant but the food simply was not good. The coolest part of the place to me was the birdcage outside in the courtyard near the parking lot and the rice and beans that accompanied my combo were the best part of my meal. Despite the fairly positive reviews this place did not hit it for me and I would more than likely never return based off this experience. There are so many wonderful Mexican and Latin food options in San Diego County and for me this one simply fell flat and left a bitter taste in my mouth. The Hacienda vibe was nice but not enough to entice me to come back. read more

We haven't been to this area in quite awhile. I came up here with the girls from work (Sorrento Valley area) a few times in the late 70's/early 80's. And we always went to Fidel's. Years later, my husband and I came up here a few times, mostly after going to the San Diego County Fair. We love the history of this place. The food was always good. We had not been here for some time, then Covid hit and a few more years passed. Thanks to Covid, I can't do stairs like I used to. We parked at Fidel's, and then realized I had to go down their winding wood stairs. We decided to give Tony's Jacal a try instead, their parking and restaurant are on the same level. We had never been to this restaurant before. Each has their loyal customers as per Yelp. We got there at 12:45. We sat in the waiting area; the staff were busy running w/ carts and plates of food. After a short while, someone noticed us sitting there... the restaurant was quite full. We were told to go ahead and seat ourselves. A waiter delivered the chips and salsa quickly. We nibbled on the chips and salsa while we waited for our server. The chips were much thinner than most I've ever had and somewhat fragile. They tasted "off"...bitter, like the oil used was old. Not too bad, but not great either. Our waitress asked what we would like to drink and then brought our waters & Horchatas quickly. We asked for straws and she left to retrieve them. When she came back she asked if we were ready to order and stared at us. We stared back. My husband laughed and said "Menus would be nice!" She had to run off and come back again, w/menus... by then she seemed exasperated with us. I'm thinking the others in the restaurant were regulars or maybe we were supposed to pick up menus from the front desk when we were told to go ahead and find our own seats. We had sips of our Horchata while looking at our menus. The Horchata was very sweet... and very watered down. A young waiter came over to us, and we said we needed a few more minutes. It was our first time there (as we told him). The menu is quite extensive. 5 minutes later another waiter came over to us, older, ready to take our orders (he must be their Closer of Orders). He also appeared a little exasperated, but maybe not at us? I don't know. I need to mention the kitchen closes at 2:pm, then reopens for dinner at 4:30pm. We were not aware of that. Yet a good hour before their afternoon closing should be plenty of time to be served from the lunch menu. I took the photos of our plates of food at 1:15pm, immediately after they were placed in front of us (time stamp on photos). The Fish Taco plate (2) is $24. The white sauce is mayonnaise, the tacos are served w/ two lemon wedges (not lime). I asked about having corn tortillas instead of flour, and the waiter said they only did flour w/ fish tacos... and would I be OK with that? Well... sure. At that point I didn't want to tell the waiter to come back in 5 more minutes while I looked for something else to order. We felt very rushed. Lemon is not Lime and doesn't do it for me w/ Fish Tacos. Mayonnaise is not a white sauce. The flour tortillas tasted raw and a little pasty. The breaded fillets looked large, yet both of the fillets; only half of each one had a decent amount of fish. The other half was skimpy, just enough to hold the batter together. So maybe two good bites of fish taco and the rest was mostly batter, cabbage, and other ingredients, w/raw tasting tortilla. He got the El Rey Combination ($26): any two half orders from their list of 10 items, served w/ beans, rice, & tortillas. He chose the Carne Guisada (braised Beef w/Potatoes, Green Chile), and the Chicken Mole. He said the Mole (chocolate) was excellent, but the chicken was kinda dried out. The Carne Guisada had a tasty sauce, and the piece of beef was half fat (hidden under the sauce), you can see it in the photo. The potatoes were not cooked enough (somewhat hard). He felt like he had been served the last bits of whatever they had left. Most of the patrons had left by the time our plates were put in front of us. The patio was decorated with many plants and was very peaceful. We read about the history of the place and the original owners (our parents era). No complaints about the setting. A restaurant experience is what it is... we rarely complain to try to make the kitchen do better (unless there has been a mistake). The staff already seemed pushed for time, so we just paid the bill (customers are to take the bill up to the front) and left. We won't be back. Too pricey for the quality. If we had come too close to the end of the lunch, we should have been informed. We were done and paid and out the door by 1:45pm. My birthday wasn't for a couple more days and this was supposed to be the beginning of a Birthday Weekend. Fortunately, it was not the meal we had Birthday reservations for. Really wanted an experience at Tony's Jacal deserving of a better review. read more

Tony's Jacal - The El Rey Combo w/Carne Guisada (L) and Chicken Mole (R). Carne Guisada half fat! - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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Great service fun environment and great ambiance! We ordered the piña coladas The shrimp enchiladas (so good!!) Their chips and salsa is also very appealing! If you're in the area this is a must try old style Mexican food eatery, you feel like a blast from the past read more

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Came here for dinner with my family and our pup because we saw online that dogs were allowed. When we got there, the hostess told us they haven't allowed dogs since 2020. Super disappointing since we chose this spot based on that info. Please update your Yelp and Google business pages to say that dogs aren't allowed. We wouldn't have made the trip if we had known and would've gone somewhere else with a dog-friendly patio. read more

This place has been around for many years. It has the best Mexican vegetable soups for lunch. They come in beef or chicken depending on the day. Very substantial and filling with plenty of vegetables. Also, the only place locally that serves a turkey taco. You really cannot find turkey tacos anywhere else. The turkey is roasted white breast meat. The taco comes with a cabbage slaw which adds a good vinegary balance to the richness of the hard shelled turkey taco. Combination dinners are also very delicious. Their chile relleno is good also. There is indoor dining or outside dining on the patio. The atmosphere is very comfortable and service is fast and efficient. Parking is usually plentiful during the lunch and early dinner hours. read more

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Still very good, after all these years! I enjoyed my turkey taco plate with a side of guacamole. FYI, they have been closed on Tuesdays for MANY years, before the "Taco Tuesday" craze became popular, and for the 60 years I've been eating here, they have had you pay as you leave--they have never brought the bill to the table. read more

My wife has been coming here with her family since she was little. She said the quality has not changed! Now she's in her mid-sixties and has me coming here! Yum! Food is excellent, quantity is excellent and the service is excellent! What more does one need? read more

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

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Cute patio, fun indoor vibe. Nice tequilla menu. Combo plates are in point. Service was good but remember to walk up and pay at the cashier. read more

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THE BEST! Truly the best Mexican food anywhere! That's it. Everything is good. So, hook it up! read more

Ambiance - family feel restaurant and big. There is plenty of inside and outside seating. I felt like I was in Mexico. Service - very fast and friendly. You pay at the front desk, so you don't need to wait for check. Food - lots of choice. I got the bean tostada and turkey taco. It was plenty of food and I like the hot salsa. read more

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

My family and I have been coming here for 30 years... it is still by far my favorite Mexican restaurant in San Diego so I am very torn! For years, we have noticed how VERY UNHAPPPY the staff is and are extremely rude! They do not smile, they do not greet, they do NOT make any attempt to make you feel comfortable and wanted in the restaurant... lol, in fact, they seem VERY quite annoyed and angry that you are there and that they are working! ohhhh believe me it's obvious!!!! You'll see! Anything that you ask of them they are annoyed! Maybe Overworked and underpaid??? What gives? Even Theresa , who is the matriarch, I remember very long ago, she was soooo sweet and personable and sadly herself has become rude along with the entire staff... I honestly don't know what's going on here because they are so busy as all get out but if thats what's getting to their head and they start treating customers rudely, word will get out and it will backfire someday but for now they still have great food, but are extremely busy but get ready to wait and then be treated like they wish you would've never come... sad! And the founders would be ashamed.... No bueno! read more

I would create a negative grade review if I could. Absolutely horrible service at the bar on 3/13/26. The bartender was unbelievably rude. This is how you consider family hospitality?! I will never support this business again, what a horrible way to represent yourself to a community. Shame read more

We had a large family group of 17 and we were able to get a reservation on the patio. Serving staff was very attentive for water and drinks. Great atmosphere outside and easy to talk with those near us at the long table. The food was very good. Thank you for the great experience. read more

My family has been going to Tony's since long before I was born, so I am extremely bias. The chile relleno's are absolutely amazing. 10/10. If there was one fault, I would say the fish burrito is not their specialty. However, their carnitas is always so well done, every single time. And to top it all off, the slaw is always perfect. read more

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

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the margarita i ordered (Don Julio Classic) may have had tequila in it. In past and recent times Tony's margarita were almost too strong, but tasty. Tonight the bottle of tequila was waved over the cocktail glass. At checkout we were overcharged in spite of our questions. Maybe it was a Sunday thing, as it was crazy busy. Very sad to experience. read more

First, let me say that the management and service staff at Tony's Jacal is terrific. They are kind, interested in the customers, and I have even formed friendships with some of them. I am a huge fan of the turkey tacos! I just love the flavor and recommend getting them in a crunchy tortilla. Also, there is a special carnitas burrito (I can't remember the exact menu name) but that entree is only available off the full menu (not at the bar). Also, I highly recommend the spicy Cadillac margarita! The ambiance is quaint, homey and old school which I absolutely love. Do yourself a favor and visit Tony's for a fun meal with good people. read more

We have been coming here for decades. The food always comes out fast and hot. We like their salads chips and salsas too. My only comment is regarding the house margarita. Tastes like chemicals like out of a gallon jug of premade mix. We like our margaritas with juices liquors. read more

Disappointed. Food was not very good. No flavor. Very blah. I want to love this place so much but the food the last two times lacked flavor. I am not sure I will be back. I love it but for $89 for 3 people it's not worth it. read more

Love this iconic restaurant! This place has been around since before I was born! It's a great spot and landmark Mexican restaurant that still serves delicious food! Turkey anything on the menu is something really tasty and the salsa is always fresh with a warm basket of chips. I enjoy sitting in the outdoor patio surrounded by pretty plants and flowers. read more

Hidden Gem- pro tip- sit at the bar area- the staff is amazing! You will only find the bar menu at busy times (horse racing season) but the food is authentic, wide variety and great atmosphere! read more

Amazing Margaritas! After struggling to find somewhere in Solana that would be able to seat us, my friend suggested we try Tony's Jacal for its ample space and having positive dining experiences in the past. I was a little, worried that there wouldn't be anything vegetarian, but the restaurant offers no lard beans... and they were made for a pretty tasty burrito. Usually I am not the biggest fan of margaritas, but the fresh fruit strawberry margarita here was phenomenal! The decor inside and decorative outdoor seating make a Tony's Jacal a unique dining experience that offers options for anyone! read more

Absolutely loved the ambience and the option of eating indoor or outdoor! Plenty of heaters outdoor so you wouldn't feel chilly in this crazy spring weather! Wonderful service, very accommodating for dietary restrictions at our table. Delicious drinks, and extremely flavorful, rice, and rest of the meal!will definitely be back! read more

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Love, love this place! From the ambiance to the food, everything is on point. Authentic Mexican cuisine.

We were visiting Carlsbad Legoland and a local told me about this place and said it's their absolute favorite restaurant in the Carlsbad area. It was such a cute restaurant. We sat outside by the neat water fountain thing with plants and parrot decorations. My son was excited and walked around looking at their plants and chasing birds. We had the turkey taco, the carnitas tamale, and the Wednesday special Beef Soup. I loved loved loved the soup! It's a huge portion with big hunks of beef stew. The turkey was moist and tasty. The carnitas was good too, but the tamale was thick and maybe overshadowed the carnitas. I should have gotten the carnitas plate instead. Best service we received during the entire trip. The server was attentative despite the large crowd of customers. He explained things to us and helped us make a decision. He recommended the beef soup ;) The margarita was made so perfectly also! We will return the next time we are nearby! read more

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

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My wife and I have tried to eat here on and off for a couple of years, but we always faced the Damme problem; limited parking and long wait times. This time we hit it early, just before 5:00pm on a Wednesday evening. Lo and behold, there was parking in their parking lot, and no wait. There were a number of tables occupied but no wait. Lety me start off my saying this is not an inexpensive Mexican restaurant as the drink prices which are not listed oil the menu are high and the $22,00+ for a 2 item combo meal seem high at least to me. The salsa and chips were good as were our drinks. The food was excellent. My brother-in-law had the fish tacos, my wife the combo of cheese enchilada and chili rellano and I had the Chili Colorado burrito and chili rellano with sauce also excellent. How expensive? For three people it was $180+ and tip. Granted there were 6 cocktails for 3 adults. The prices of the cocktails should be posted in the menu so customers don't have to ask, we didn't ask but we figured based on the menu prices they would be on the high side and they were. Will we go back, absolutely, but I will stick with water for my drink. read more

I've been coming here for 10 years, and after my most recent visit, I genuinely don't think I'll ever come back. I don't know what changed, but the atmosphere has become shockingly unpleasant. The staff acted like we were a burden just for being there. Every time we asked for something, it felt like we were seriously bothering someone--zero smiles, zero warmth, just straight-up attitude. We went to celebrate my brother's birthday, and it was honestly stressful. The vibe was so off, no one felt comfortable. The food? Still good... if it actually makes it to your table warm. But honestly, when you're dropping that kind of money, the service should match--and it absolutely did not. There are too many great spots in the area to waste your money here. Next time, we're going to Fidel's. At least their servers remember how to smile. read more

Always professional service, great food, attentive servers, clean facilities and parking seems to some become available when I pull in luckily! read more

Tony's Jacal - Tacos Adobada! Delicious! - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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I've lived here 25 years and didn't even know this place existed. I came for a birthday party. The staff was so nice and wanted to make us happy. The carne asada chimichanga was amazing. The blended Cadillac margarita was strong and yummy. We parked across the street which is available for this restaurant after 7 pm. I'll be back! read more

Tony's Jacal - Birthday Party Fun! - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

I had no idea this place even existed until my neighbor said let's go to dinner.... Here. I said, where? Started in 1946!!! Running strong because of great service and this Turkey Taco... what???? Turkey? Taco? I'm confused. Well you walk into the Mexican garden of Eden and it all starts to make sense. This is how a hidden gem of 75 years lasts 75 years. Chips and Cadillac on point! Salsa same. I just wanted these Turkey tacos and nothing more. So that's where I went. OMG with a side of great guacamole and I'm home. Plus a salad that's cooked. Again are you kidding me? Perfect texture combination with the crispy tacos. Great fun vibe and wonderful food. I'm hooked like the rest of North County!!!! read more

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Food was great, service was great, overall really nice time! Parking was easy, didn't have to wait, marg was yummy

Good ambience great service, good Mexican family, restaurant filled with great memories.

Amazing authentic Mexican food and the best mole sauce! Great salsa, guac and they have spicy carrots! Great hidden treasure that's been around for a long time! read more

I Was so excited to take my daughters here but unfortunately we waited over 2 hours and food was satisfactory at best. We even spoke to a manager and he was less than accommodating or apologetic. He made excuses that it was a typical busy night. We spoke to a couple in the table next to us who had been customers for years and they were disappointed also. They arrived right after us and actually left after waiting 2 hours. We should have done the same! I will not be returning and sadly no longer recommend this restaurant. read more

Excellent neighborhood hole-in-the-wall option for some truly solid Mexican food. The dishes are bursting with flavor but still very light - be sure to start off with a tortilla soup which isn't heavy but light, amazingly savory, and filled with shredded white meat chicken. It's served with queso and avocado on the side too. Then continue your journey with a great combo - try the birria taco, enchiladas verdes, or wet burrito. The ambiance is low key, no-frills, and very festive. Plus they have some great outdoor seating in a garden (yes with a fake parrot). If you are in Carlsbad, make the trek here. Just trust me on this. read more

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

From all the reviews I read, I expected much more from this place. The servers were OK, but nothing they did made them stand out of the crowd. Not many smiles and they never did come back to check on us after we received our food. I'm pretty sure the cadillac margarita I ordered showed up with a shot of fireball instead of grand marnier. I kept trying to figure out the weird taste and it was too late by the time I did. The food was very good, the crab quesadillas flavor was great, but it was so tough, I couldn't cut it. Maybe we went on a off night, I will try again, but as my first visit, it was disappointing. read more

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This is a good Mexican restaurant in the Solana Beach area. The parking lot be a bit tight but the outdoor dining patio is really nice on a pleasant day. Many of the staff didn't speak English but out waiter was pretty good. For vegetarians and vegans, make sure you get corn tortillas as our waiter said they make their flour ones with lard and certain dishes can't be made with corn tortillas. Service was kind of slow (took them forever to take our order), but food was pretty good and portions were big. read more

Tony's Jacal - Garden near outdoor patio - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California