Diners' Choice: Mexican restaurants in San Diego

OpenTable

Updated February 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Mexican cuisine in San Diego? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Cocina 35 - Downtown

4.6

4.6 (39)

$30 and under

Mexican

Downtown

About the restaurant

Breakfast? you got to try the Best Chilaquiles in San Diego!

Top review

MarcelaVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Great food. Great ambience. Great service!! Highly recommend

Baja Betty's

5.0

5 (344)

$30 and under

Mexican

Hillcrest

About the restaurant

If you are in the mood for creative, Tex-Mex inspired dishes, the fun and atmosphere of Baja Betty's in San Diego, CA is for you. This popular eatery provides diners with a colorful and entertaining setting in which to savor a full array of dishes made from the freshest and most authentic ingredients.

The menu at Baja Betty's features many expected options, such as a comprehensive quesadilla menu and array of satisfying combination platters. However, diners can also enjoy a build your own burrito or bowl, an array of house specialties and tacos and some stunning signature margaritas to wash it all down. The menu at Baja Betty's also offers a long list of tequilas and mezcals, a full range of appetizers, nachos, soups, salads and the best Taco Tuesday in town!

Top review

Julia

Dined on Jan 19, 2025

great food and service v

Cocina de Barrio

4.8

4.8 (428)

$30 and under

Mexican

Hillcrest

About the restaurant

*Brunch hours are on a walk-in basis only.
Thank you for your cooperation & support during this time!

Cocina de Barrio by Chef Jose J. Flores

Bienvenidos a Cocina de Barrio, the newest modern-urban Mexican restaurant located in Hillcrest, San Diego! We are proud to feature the culinary richness of Oaxaca as well as other Mexican regions. Stop by and enjoy our bar stocked with plenty tequila and mezcal selections, MUCHA cerveza, and wines sourced from Valle Guadalupe.

Don't forget to join us during our daily brunch (where we add a Mexican kick) and our happy hour every Tuesday-Friday from 3-5pm! Stay Chido!

Top review

AbbyVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Really good food and drinks! A quick meal because we were short on time, it was easy to get a reservation. I’ve also been here for brunch and it was just as delicious! Definitely recommend!

Cocina 35 Liberty Station

4.7

4.7 (60)

$30 and under

Mexican

Shelter Island / San Diego Bay

About the restaurant

Our team is dedicated to bring to you the essence of Mexico, the flavors, aromas, culture, service and textures that were given to us, growing up cooking right next to our grandparents in Mexico.

We are the only restaurant in San Diego that specialized in Chilaquiles the Most traditional Mexican Breakfast.

Top review

Emily

Dined 2 days ago

Loved this spot!! will be coming again food was bomb and prices are reasonable ✨

El Agave

4.8

4.8 (2494)

$30 and under

Mexican

Old Town

About the restaurant

Experience the true flavor of Mexico at San Diego’s premier Mexican cuisine destination.
Established in 1996, El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria offers its patrons a unique dining setting within
the largest tequila museum in the United States – with over 3,000 tequilas on display – also
repeatedly voted the #1 tequila bar in the country. Nestled in historic Old Town, San Diego, it is the
perfect place to enjoy a business lunch, romantic date, rehearsal dinner or to simply relax and
unwind sipping find tequila with friends.

Top review

Michael

Dined 2 days ago

Alberto took very good care of us and since we were celebrating my wife’s birthday, he made sure to focus on her and had a nice birthday cheesecake to help celebrate the occasion. Everything is top shelp at this fine restaurant and we highly recommend even if you’re not a tequila connoisseur.

Tamarindo Latin Kitchen- Del Mar

4.7

4.7 (927)

$30 and under

Mexican

Del Mar

About the restaurant

Tamarindo Del Mar
**NOW OPEN FOR LUNCH AND DINNER**
Kitchen closes promptly at 9pm Sunday-Thursday and 10pm on Friday+Saturday's.

Top review

Emma

Dined 2 days ago

The food was outstanding. I had the carne asada plate that was marinated nicely with flour tortillas, black beans, and rice. My husband had the shrimp skewers with rice that was very tasty too. We were impressed by the quality of the food. It’s a must try!

Guadalajara Mexican Grill

4.6

4.6 (47)

$30 and under

Mexican

Temecula

About the restaurant

OUR STORY:
Founded in 1986 the Solano family opened Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant in Lake Elsinore, California. Eleven years later in 1997, we opened our second location Guadalajara Mexican Grill and Cantina in Temecula, California. At Guadalajara’s, we take real pride in providing the freshest ingredients to ensure high-quality Mexican food. We pride ourselves in having generous portions, a festive environment, and the best margaritas in town!

Top review

Michael T

Dined on Jan 20, 2025

Overall, quite nice! My "team" enjoyed the excellent food & good service. An idea for your consideration: because "older" people have the moneyto spend as well as the time and a cadre of friends, a "seniors" discount OR other offering might help boost attendance...

Cocina 35 Coronado

4.6

4.6 (90)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Coronado

About the restaurant

Top review

Jovy

Dined 3 days ago

Food, location, and service were all great. Highly recommended!

Puesto La Jolla

4.7

4.7 (2154)

$30 and under

Mexican

La Jolla

About the restaurant

Owned and operated by a Mexican American family whose best memories all include tacos. Puesto is an award-winning Mexican Artisan Kitchen & Bar providing an innovative approach to authentic Mexican flavors. Puesto has garnered national acclaim for its Mexico City-style crispy melted cheese tacos, served on handmade non-GMO, organic, maíz azul stone-ground tortillas.

In addition to tacos, offerings include a selection of fresh catch ceviches, guacamoles, starters and ensaladas, courtesy of Chef/Partner Luisteen Gonzales. The bar program showcases the best of Mexico City through the use of fresh ingredients in our hand crafted cocktails and housemade Micheladas, tequilas, mezcals, Baja craft beers, and Valle de Guadalupe wines you can’t find elsewhere.

We’re honored to have been featured by media outlets nationally and internationally, some of which include National Geographic, Huffington Post, Insider, Zagat, Eater, Food and Wine, LA Times and the Michelin Guide.

Top review

Jackie

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent food and service. They used to be almost exclusively tacos, but they have now added some other items like burritos and enchiladas. All of the flavors are unique and delicious. I especially love the crispy cheese layer on a lot of the tacos. I wish they had more chicken tacos. My favorite taco now is the chicken al pastor. They have had a couple of chicken ones (even one just recently) and they were delicious.

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Experience

Taco Tuesday!

Experience

Valentine's Weekend at Puesto

South of Nick's - Del Mar

4.7

4.7 (664)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Del Mar

About the restaurant

An essential stop in San Diego for Southern California Mexican Cuisine.

South of Nick's Mexican Kitchen & Bar features Classic Mexican favorites, prime steaks and seafood with a So Cal twist. Fine Tequilas & Margaritas

Our food and drink meets the highest standards of quality, freshness and seasonality and combines both modern-creative and traditional styles of cooking.

Nick’s is dedicated to perfecting the dining experience through continuous innovation, offering the highest quality food and beverage, and executing impeccable standards of hospitality. The deeply instilled Nick’s culture is personified by its Ladies and Gentlemen – professionals who share a single focus and are inspired and committed to offering great service and creating positive memorable experiences.

Top review

DidiVIP

Dined 3 days ago

We enjoyed delicious food and excellent service from Steele. Favorites are the Birria Layered enchiladas, street corn and all of their steaks are excellent.

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