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BEST RATED SAN DIEGO, CA MEXICAN RESTAURANTS

3 Best Mexican Restaurants in San Diego, CA

Expert-recommended Top 3 Mexican Restaurants in San Diego, California. All of our mexican restaurants actually face a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes customer reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence. You deserve only the best!

Cafe Coyote - San Diego, CA Mexican Restaurants
Cafe Coyote - San Diego, CA Mexican Restaurants
Cafe Coyote - San Diego, CA Mexican Restaurants
Best Mexican Restaurants in San Diego CA - Cafe Coyote video
8+ YEARS IN TBR
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CAFE COYOTE

(5.0 Score)
2461 San Diego Avenue,
San Diego, CA 92110 Directions

Since 1989

Specialty:

✓ California Surf N Turf Burrito ✓ Shrimp Burrito ✓ Chimichanga ✓ Bean and Cheese Burrito ✓ Coyote Tacos ✓ Carne Asada Tacos ✓ California Tacos ✓ Carnitas Tacos ✓ Baja Style Fish Tacos ✓ Margarita Shrimp Tacos ✓ Birria Tacos ✓ Al Pastor Tacos ✓ Puerto Nuevo Style Maine Lobster ✓ Famous Old Town Carnitas ✓ Carne Asada Plate ✓ Pollo A La Crema ✓ Birria Plate ✓ Pollo En Salsa Verde ✓ Chile Verde Plate ✓ Margarita Chicken ✓ Tierra Y Mar ✓ Tequila Lime Shrimp ✓ Chipotle Camarones ✓ Traditional Chile Rellenos ✓ Chicken Chipotle Flautas ✓ Ricardo Especial

"Cafe Coyote is a family-owned Mexican restaurant that is located in the Old Town Esplanade Shopping Center. The restaurant has been serving for over 30 years. The co-founders of the restaurant are Lehn and Ritch. Cafe Coyote started as a small 30-person restaurant with just 10 employees and has grown to over 200 employees that seat over 800 guests. All their Mexican food is prepared from authentic, fresh ingredients from regional recipes by Mexican chefs. Cafe Coyote provides outdoor events, an intimate semi-private room, a sun-splashed patio, and a private experience with a bar.

2026 Update: Cafe Coyote offers a lively setting with traditional Mexican entertainment for its guests. They also offer facilities such as event spaces, banquet, and online orders for their customers."

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Winner of Best Mexican 20 Years in a Row and Restaurateur of the Year in 2008

Price:

Local Favorites Menu:
Coyote Smashed Burger $21.95
Carnitas Plate $23.95
Birria Plate $24.95
Pollo A La Crema Plate $24.95
Carne Asada Plate $24.95
Puerto Nuevo Style Lobster $69.95
Chile Verde Plate $21.95
Pollo En Salsa Verde Plate $25.20
Tequila Lime Shrimp $25.95
Margarita Chicken Plate $21.95
Tierra Y Mar $26.95
Chile Rellenos $21.95
Tostada Suprema $19.95
Ricardo Especial $24.95
Chicken Chipotle Flautas $21.95
Enchiladas:
Combo Enchilada $22.95
Beef Enchiladas $20.95
Chicken Enchiladas $20.95
Suizas Enchiladas $20.95
Cheese Enchiladas $20.95
Guacamole Enchiladas $20.95
Appetizers:
Guacamole $13.95
Chips And Salsa $4.50
Chile Con Queso $11.95
Nachos Supreme $14.95
Grande Quesadilla $14.95
Rolled Tacos $15.95
Carne Asada Fries $11.95
Carnitas Fries $11.95

Contact:

(619) 291-4695 (619) 929-1469

Mon-Thu: 11am - 9pm
Fri: 9am - 9pm
Sat & Sun: 8am - 9pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

Old Town Mexican Cafe - San Diego, CA Mexican Restaurants
Old Town Mexican Cafe - San Diego, CA Mexican Restaurants
Old Town Mexican Cafe - San Diego, CA Mexican Restaurants
Best Mexican Restaurants in San Diego CA - Old Town Mexican Cafe video
8+ YEARS IN TBR
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OLD TOWN MEXICAN CAFE

(4.9 Score)
2489 San Diego Avenue,
San Diego, CA 92110 Directions

Since 1977

Specialty:

✓ Bean ✓ Beef ✓ Combo ✓ Machaca ✓ Verde ✓ Colorado ✓ Pollo Asado ✓ Carne Asada Con Guacamole ✓ Chimichanga ✓ Chicken Chimichanga ✓ Shrimp ✓ Old Town Famous Carnitas ✓ Mexican Style Ribs ✓ Old Town Pollo ✓ Molcajete ✓ Fajita Style Dishes ✓ Shrimp Fajita ✓ Mini Molcajete ✓ Potato Rolled Tacos

“Old Town Mexican Cafe is a cheerful spot serving many standard Mexican dishes and authentic hand-pressed tortillas. The restaurant has been serving locals and tourists for more than 30 years in a fiesta-style setting. Customers can enjoy their Carnitas Plate, which is one of their original house specialties and has been a customer favorite for many years, served shredded, crispy, or chunky style. Old Town Mexican Cafe provides large and spacious dining areas that are perfect for any banquets or parties. The restaurant offers gift cards that can be used for various occasions. The restaurant also offers a happy hour menu with live music. [2026]They also provide facilities to conduct events, parties, banquets, and provide catering services for their customers. They claim that an 18 percent gratuity is added for groups of six or more.”

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Price:

Breakfast:
Breakfast Torta $14.25
Grande Breakfast Burrito $14.25
Huevos Mineros $16.50
Huevos A La Mexicana $13.95
Gringo Special $14.95
Chilaquiles $13.95
Machaca Con Huevos $14.25
Machaca & Eggs Chorizo Burrito $12.95
Chorizo Con Huevos $13.50
Spanish Omelette $11.95
Chile Omelette $15.95
Egg White Omelette $17.25
Minero Omelette $16.95
Old Town Steak & Eggs $19.25
Huevos Rancheros $12.95
Huevos Divorciados $12.95
Desayuno Azteca $14.95
New Mexico Style Enchiladas Con Huevos $12.95
Pork Carnitas Hash $15.95
Side Order Of O’Brien Mexican Potatoes $3.95
Fruit Bowl $7.50
Appetizers:
Bacon, Ham Or Sausage $5.25
Grande Cheese Quesadilla $8.95
Crisp Quesadilla $8.25
Crispy Veggie Quesadilla $11.25
Spicy Chicken Quesadilla $11.95
Crisp Carne Asada Quesadilla $14.25

Contact:

(619) 297-4330 (619) 293-3941

Sun: 7am – 9pm
Mon-Thu: 8am – 9pm
Fri: 8am – 9:30pm
Sat: 7am – 9:30pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

Casa Guadalajara - San Diego, CA Mexican Restaurants
Casa Guadalajara - San Diego, CA Mexican Restaurants
Casa Guadalajara - San Diego, CA Mexican Restaurants
Best Mexican Restaurants in San Diego CA - Casa Guadalajara video
7+ YEARS IN TBR
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CASA GUADALAJARA

(4.8 Score)
4105 Taylor Street,
San Diego, CA 92110 Directions

Since 1995

Specialty:

✓ Beef Fajitas ✓ Shrimp Fajitas ✓ Fiesta Fajitas ✓ Carne Asada Tampiqueña ✓ Steak Ranchero ✓ Burrito Carne Asada ✓ California Burrito ✓ Carne Asada and Grilled Shrimp ✓ Guadalajara Chimichanga ✓ Pollo Fundido ✓ Tamales De Pollo ✓ Enchiladas Suizas ✓ Chicken Mole Enchiladas ✓ Enchiladas Verdes De Pollo ✓ Burrito De Guadalajara ✓ Especial De Flautas ✓ Enchiladas De Guacamole ✓ Enchiladas Guadalajara ✓ Enchiladas Trio ✓ Tostada Vegetariana ✓ Rajas Poblanas con Elote

"Casa Guadalajara is a Mexican restaurant with a vibrant and colorful entrance to Old Town San Diego. Casa Guadalajara has long been known for its festive décor, trumpeting mariachis, lush patios, "Birdbath Margaritas," and authentic Mexican cuisine. The restaurant is designed with ld wooden gates and doors, hand carved stone and tile fountains, colorful hand-painted walls, wrought iron light fixtures, handmade Mexican furniture and folk art, and outdoor dining options. All their menus are menu are prepared using traditional and contemporary cuisine, inspired by the regional villages of Mexico. Casa Guadalajara is the perfect place for a romantic dinner for two, a family party, or a company event for 100 members.

2026 Update: The restaurant uses fresh ingredients sourced from various regions to prepare traditional Mexican dishes, including house-made tortillas. They also offer gift card options to customers, which can be gifted to their friends and families."

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License #199512910011

Price:

Antojitos
Concha De Guacamole $13.25
MuchíSimos Taquitos $19.95
Nachos Supremo $18.95
Queso Fundido Con Chorizo $18.25
Shrimp Ceviche $19.25
CamaróNcitos Fritos Full $21.25
CamaróNcitos Fritos Half Size $16.25
Guadalajara Cheese Quesadilla $15.25
Chipotle Chicken Taquitos Half Order $12.25
Chipotle Chicken Taquitos Full Order $21.25
Mexican Shrimp Cocktail $19.95
Sopas & Ensaladas:
Chicken Tortilla Soup $9.25
Ensalada De Carne Asada $21.25
Chopped Mexican Salad $20.25
Small Caesar Salad $9.95
Chicken Fajitas Salad $20.25
Chicken Avocado & Black Bean Salad $20.25
Grilled Chicken & Fresh Fruit Salad $21.95
Albondigas Soup $9.25
Tostada De Jalisco $19.75
Small Ensalada Verde $9.95
Grilled Chicken & Avocado Salad $20.25
Guadalajara Taco Salad $20.25

Contact:

(619) 295-5111 (619) 298-2603

Mon-Sun: 11am - 9pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

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CAFE COYOTE REVIEWS

Seriously delicious food with thoughtful and impeccable service. Aidé made our experience amazing for us traveling parents with a toddler! She made excellent recommendations on our margarita (We got the “perfect for two”) and meals (Carnitas plate was drool worthy!). The food came out incredibly fast, and we ended with a warm churro far better than Disney! Thank you so much to the awesome staff at Cafe Coyote for a wonderful time. Would recommend to anyone visiting San Diego.

Everything was great. Good food. Good tortillas, although a little too floury. The Chiles Rellenos were amazing. I asked for a spicy salsa, and sadly, I was told there was none. To me, the rice tasted a bit like boxed rice. Drinks were good, and the ambiance was nice with live music.

Delicious and authentic! We were a big group and they were very attentive and friendly. Right in the heart of old town near all the cute stores and farmers market. Recommend.

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OLD TOWN MEXICAN CAFE REVIEWS

The mariscada changed from the picture I sent my boyfriend so we were expecting not as crazy spicy with the red sauce and had the purple onions . Glad they have other yummy food and I took videos. The flan was okay. I prefer none of the chocolate syrup since it changed the flavor. Texture was good though.

Very authentic Mexican food. We didn't have to wait coming in but there were lots of people waiting for a table as we were leaving. Food was very good. Prices were reasonable. Quick polite service. They make their own tortillas. Would definitely come again. Located in old Town but there was a lot of free parking after 5.

The atmosphere was good because I was with my beautiful wife and daughter enjoying our San Diego vacation. Service is on point. Food is authentic, especially the handmade/homemade flour tortillas.

CASA GUADALAJARA REVIEWS

We loved the food here. It was fast, fresh and absolutely delicious. The flavours were well balanced and the plates were so well presented that we wanted more. I loved the horchata. We sat in the bar area and there was a playful vibe. The interior decoration was beautiful.

We ordered a Mango juice, Guava juice, Chips and Guac! And for main course we ordered vegetarian Enchiladas and No fish tacos! Loved the no fish Tacos! And Guac was awesome! They served a scoop of ice cream, 2 churros topped with caramel, with a candle for my husbands birthday (as a small surprise)! Would go here again.

The best Mexican we have had in San Diego! The food is delicious, the portions are large, and the atmosphere is fun. They have a large outdoor patio with its own entrance from the parking lot. Complimentary chips and salsa, and a large, free parking lot! This place is awesome!.

TBR® Inspection Score Report

CAFE COYOTE Total Inspection Points: 119/120
Current Evaluation: 9
Business Hours: 10
Menu Images: 10
Complete Info: 10
Contact Info: 10
Exact Services: 10
Experience: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Online Order: 10
Pricing: 10
Reviews Study: 10
Video: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

OLD TOWN MEXICAN CAFE Total Inspection Points: 118/120
Current Evaluation: 9
Reviews Study: 9
Business Hours: 10
Menu Images: 10
Complete Info: 10
Contact Info: 10
Exact Services: 10
Experience: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Online Order: 10
Pricing: 10
Video: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

CASA GUADALAJARA Total Inspection Points: 116/120
Current Evaluation: 9
Experience: 9
Legitimate Ratings: 9
Reviews Study: 9
Business Hours: 10
Menu Images: 10
Complete Info: 10
Contact Info: 10
Exact Services: 10
Online Order: 10
Pricing: 10
Video: 10