Diners' Choice: Mexican restaurants in San Diego

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

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

Baja Betty's

4.9

4.9 (341)

$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

Robin

Dined 2 days ago

We loved celebrating our kids birthday so much that we decided to make it an annual birthday event. The margaritas were the best we’ve had in a long time. The chips, salsa and guacamole were delicious. We each ordered taco dinner and all was scrumptious! We’ll definitely be back!

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Popular dish

Rolled Tacos

El Agave

4.7

4.7 (2468)

$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

PatrickVIP

Dined on 11 Dec 2024

Divine - pretty much every dish was amazing from starters to dessert! I feel you can’t go wrong on that menu.

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Cocina 35 Liberty Station

4.8

4.8 (16)

$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

Francisco

Dined 3 days ago

Amazing experience, food was delicious and the service was excellent!

Cocina de Barrio

4.7

4.7 (422)

$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

Tonya

Dined on 7 Dec 2024

We had a work winter gathering and had a great time. The hosts were accommodating to reserve the lounge room for our party. It was spacious enough to hold a few table games. The host was very attentive, kind and patient. We all enjoyed ourselves very much!!!

Blanco Cocina + Cantina – Fashion Valley

4.7

4.7 (559)

$30 and under

Mexican

Mission Valley

About the restaurant

Blanco is more than your typical Mexican restaurant, it‘s an escape from the ordinary, a happy hour hang out, a place to sit back, recharge and party. It’s a vacation in your neighborhood that helps you relax with your favorite people. For food, margaritas, and good times, Blanco is the perfect place to find your bliss.

Top review

Lattie

Dined on 9 Dec 2024

Better than expected! Great service, food & ambience. We enjoyed it!

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Puesto at the Headquarters

4.7

4.7 (3503)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Downtown / Gaslamp

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, house-brewed 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, Refinery 29, MSN, Insider, Zagat, Eater, Food and Wine, and LA Times.

Top review

PAT

Dined on 7 Dec 2024

When we got there, they brought the 3 of us to what we thought was the back room... no one in it but us... it WAS 5:45. We were mistaken... by the time we had finished our food, the place was packed... We started with Margaritas, GF had a cucumber one, the Cadillac with a mini Gran Marnier bottle stuck upside down in it... Novel and you DID get enough... The bartender made a GREAT Cadillac and I asked for extra salt... and he was the ONLY one out of the many that actually gave me extra salt... 3/4 " around the lip of the glass... The Online Menu had a Short Rib Burrito, but the Chef changes the menu and it wasn't there. On the waiter's suggestion, I had him ask the Chef if he would make it for me... and the Chef said Yes,... Well, to sum it up... Great food, Great drinks, Great Service, and a Great Chef made for (you guessed it) A GREAT EVENING !!!

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Experience

Taco Tuesday!

Blanco Cocina + Cantina - Coronado

4.7

4.7 (135)

$30 and under

Mexican

Coronado

About the restaurant

Secure your spot and experience Blanco’s fresh twist on Mexican food. Lounge long and on with tantalizing tequila flights and easy but innovative tacos. Go for the classic but fresh burrito or bowl layered with savory fillings like spicy Machaca short rib or red chili chicken, fresh salsas, and our famous house guacamole. Whether you’re hungry for something flavorful or thirsty for something fun, we’ve got everything you want at Blanco.

Top review

AlisonVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Great service. Love the atmosphere. Food was delicious.

Javier's - La Jolla

4.6

4.6 (3524)

$30 and under

Mexican

La Jolla

About the restaurant

JAVIER'S presents a rich heritage of elevated Mexican cuisine in a friendly, captivating ambiance. Enjoy hand-shaken margaritas, rare tequilas, craft cocktails and a vast selection of beer and fine wines. Dine with us in the main dining room, al fresco patios, one of our semi private dining rooms, or at the exquisite bar surrounded by one of the West Coast's largest selection of the world's finest tequilas. We at JAVIER'S consider all our wonderful customers a part of our family and thank them for their support and sharing in the success and joy that is JAVIER'S. Come experience the freshness of our original Mexican cuisine in a warm, friendly environment at one of our five locations.

Please be advised we don't allow strollers. If you bring your stroller we have a designated area to store your stroller while you dine.

Top review

AlexVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Food here at Javier’s is unmatched, hands down the best high end Mexican restaurant. Atmosphere is great with DJ music and excellent service. On of our favorite restaurants, but more on expensive side (think high end steakhouse pricing)

Puesto La Jolla

4.6

4.6 (2117)

$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

wyomiVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Food is always fresh and delicious. Waitstaff was patient with us while we waited for our friend to come. Never felt rushed

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Experience

Taco Tuesday!

Puesto Mission Valley

4.6

4.6 (1989)

$30 and under

Mexican

Mission Valley

About the restaurant

Puesto is family-owned and operated by first generation Mexican American brothers Eric, Alan and Alex Adler, alongside their cousins Isidoro and Moy Lombrozo and founding chef and partner Luisteen Gonzalez. With eight locations in California, Puesto provides an innovative and contemporary approach to authentic Mexican cuisine. Sourcing its ingredients locally and regionally, the restaurant has earned national acclaim for its Mexico City-inspired tacos made with non-GMO organic, heirloom Masienda blue corn stone-ground tortillas, crispy melted cheese and scratch salsas.

Top review

KrisVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Always a great experience dining at Puesto! Thank you!

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Experience

Taco Tuesday!

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