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Welcome to Casa Gabriela! - Casa Gabriela, La Mesa, CA

Casa Gabriela

4.6
4.6
825 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican

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2 people
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
19:00
Booked 30 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Good for special occasions
Chef Gabriela Lopez brings her elevated Mexican cuisine to Downtown La Mesa. Using her grandmother's recipes from Guadalajara crossed with her cosmopolitan upbringing in Tijuana, Chef Gabriela's menu features authentic hand-crafted dishes and imaginative takes on classic dishes. All of Baja California is represented along with influences from other regions in Mexico.

The spacious outdoor garden, cozy loft, and private dining areas are the perfect places to enjoy tequila and mezcal based cocktails, family celebrations, or brunch with friends.

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Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Breakfast, Latin American
  • Hours of Operation
    Tue–Sun 3:30 pm–9:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:30 am–2:30 pm
  • Phone number
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Gabriela Lopez
  • Catering
    Chef Gaby's cuisine is perfect for your next party!
  • Private party facilities
    The outdoor garden features two gorgeous private dining areas in addition to our cozy, indoor loft.
  • Area
    La Mesa
  • Cross Street
    La Mesa Blvd at Allison Ave
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    2 blocks away from the La Mesa Blvd Trolley stop.
  • Additional
    Dog Friendly, Outdoor Firepit

What 825 people are saying

Casa Gabriela reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • East County

    Best Overall

  • East County

    Best Service

  • East County

    Best Ambience

  • East County

    Best Value

  • East County

    Great for brunch

  • East County

    Child-friendly

  • East County

    Good for groups

  • East County

    Healthy

  • East County

    Neighbourhood gem

  • East County

    Great for outdoor dining

  • East County

    Romantic

  • East County

    Good for special occasions

  • East County

    Lively

  • East County

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Casa Gabriela shines with "excellent food and outstanding service" and a delightful patio ambiance. Enjoy "traditional northern Mexican food with a modern twist," including "jalapeño lasagna" and vegetarian options. Despite occasional noise, the "friendly staff," "perfect margaritas," and creative menu make it a "lovely gem" worth revisiting.
825 Reviews
  1. Anne VIP

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Casa Gabriela is a relatively new addition to the La Mesa Village food scene -- and very much welcomed! The restaurant's ambience reflects Chef Gaby's love of Mexico's warmth, color and focus on family and food. You can eat in the lovely outside covered garden, or inside, where front and center is a huge painting of her grandmother, the inspiration for Gaby's recipes. The candlelit wood tables and comfy chairs ease the diner into an experience that begins with warm chips and salsa, lots of wine, beer and tequila to choose from, including a lovely chenin blanc from the Valle de Guadalupe. For an appetizer, we chose the jalapeño-cilantro tempura cauliflower -- something different and delightful and plentiful -- and for mains the white corn lasagna and flank steak tampiquena with sides of roasted onion, potatoes and peppers. Both entrees were examples of Gaby's elevated Mexican fare. The pop of heat in the flank steak was perfect, my husband thought. And the layers of cheese and white corn turned the concept of Italian lasagna upside down in a delightful and surprising way. Really good! But her menu is far more extensive, and also includes five choices of dessert. Mine was the ancho chocolate bread pudding, chunked with chocolate and toasted brioche and smoothed with custard, orange-scented whipped cream and coffee ice cream. Totally decadent! A delightful evening, close to home, in our lovely village. Thank you Chef Gaby!

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  2. Rick VIP

    San Diego2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very enjoyable, less starchy items 👍🏽 very nice! 👍🏽 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

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  3. Liz

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and outstanding service. The jalapeño lasagna was outstanding.

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  4. Karla VIP

    San Diego55 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 20 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Great to have happy hour and that food is vegetarian. Their drinks are great too!

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  5. Robert VIP

    San Diego7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 19 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    We were a party of 8 with 3 children, but the staff handled our table very efficiently. Each of us tried a different dish and all of us were completely satisfied with our choices. The food is delicious and prepared with high quality ingredients. It not inexpensive to dine here, but it is a good value for what you get. If the weather is nice, the patio/garden area has a lovely ambiance.

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  6. Tyrone VIP

    Houston101 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 16 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Another wonderful dinner + CHURROS! The food and service always great. Jeremy did a great job, and remembered exactly what we drink before we could get the words out of ours mouths. an exceptional venue if you enjoy traditional northern Mexican food with a modern twist.

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  7. Danny VIP

    New York City4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 14 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outstanding food, perfect margarita, and great service…not much more to be said…bravo Gabriela!

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  8. Lamya

    Orange County1 review

    3.0

    Dined on 14 March 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    music was really loud. We asked for it to be lowered several times ..

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  9. Michael

    San Diego9 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 9 March 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The food and service was really good. Their patio seating was very nice.

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  10. Fernando

    San Diego3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 8 March 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    food was excellent I recommend the booth on 2nd floor a soon you go up the stairs nice table for date night with your special person!

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FAQs

Casa Gabriela offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (619) 337-3445.

Casa Gabriela is rated 4.6 stars by 825 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking


Booked 30 times today
Google Map for Casa Gabriela

8384 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942-9218

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    La Mesa Blvd at Allison Ave
  • Area
    La Mesa
  • Hours of Operation
    Tue–Sun 3:30 pm–9:00 pm Sat, Sun 10:30 am–2:30 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Breakfast, Latin American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    2 blocks away from the La Mesa Blvd Trolley stop.
  • Executive Chef
    Gabriela Lopez
  • Additional
    Dog Friendly, Outdoor Firepit
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Chef Gaby's cuisine is perfect for your next party!
  • Private party facilities
    The outdoor garden features two gorgeous private dining areas in addition to our cozy, indoor loft.
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