Diners' Choice: Mexican restaurants in San Diego

OpenTable

Updated 05 June 2025

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!

Blanco Cocina + Cantina - Coronado

4.8

4.8 (247)

$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

Robert

Dined 5 days ago

Always great food and service! Get the cheese crisp.

South of Nick's - Del Mar

4.8

4.8 (799)

$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

Kyle

Dined 3 days ago

Chips are the best! Food is always amazing great atmosphere

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La Puerta Mission Hills

4.8

4.8 (35)

$30 and under

Mexican

Banker's Hill

About the restaurant

La Puerta Mission Hills is the second addition to the La Puerta family. We offer the same menu as our sister restaurant in the Gaslamp which has celebrated 13 years of operation. We are dedicated to bringing a unique dining experience to the Mission Hills neighborhood which features delicious Mexican food, an extensive agave selection, handcrafted cocktails and margaritas made with fresh squeezed juice.
We invite you to join us and experience our hospitality in what we hope will be your go to Cantina for years to come.

Top review

Robert

Dined 3 days ago

Great spot! Mexican food is legit with Mexico City, Sinaloa all the way up to Tijuana represented. The Agave drink options are fantastic with Jalisco, Oaxaca and other regions represented with Tequila, Mezcal, Raicilla and Sotol! Add to the great food the wonderful ambiance that is energetic and non-pretentious with great servers to boot and you have yourself a gem of a place. Wonderful date night with my wife followed with a wonderful Father’s Day lunch my son’s who flew in from foodie spots in LA and SF both saying the same thing—La Puerta Mission Hills is legit. Thank you! Keep up the great job and see you again soon. ¡Ajua!

Cocina de Barrio North Park

4.9

4.9 (22)

$30 and under

Mexican

North Park

About the restaurant

*Brunch hours are on a walk-in basis only.

Cocina de Barrio by Chef Jose J. Flores

Welcome to Cocina de Barrio, the newest modern-urban Mexican restaurant located in North Park! 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 of tequila and mezcal selections, beer, 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 Monday-Friday from 3-5pm! Stay Chido!

Top review

AllieVIP

Dined 7 days ago

it was great! I would love it if the happy hour could go a little later than five. It’s hard to get there on a workday.

Cocina de Barrio

4.8

4.8 (431)

$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

TomVIP

Dined on 5 Apr 2025

Pretty pricey but good - the food was delicious but $30 entree is a little insane.

Puesto La Jolla

4.7

4.7 (2206)

$30 and under

Mexican

La Jolla

About the restaurant

Mexico City born. California raised. Puesto brings the vibrant soul of CDMX through a Southern California lens-bold, modern Mexican with an edge. Seasonal menus, creative takes, and the best ingredients in the hands of better chefs. Every tortilla starts with organic blue corn, made in-house like it's been since 1200 BC. Puesto is family-founded by the Adler and Lombrozo brothers, first-gen Mexican Americans raised on tamales and tradition. It's a love letter to the flavors they grew up with, reimagined with Mexico City energy and SoCal spirit. Made by food people. For food people.

Top review

Jennifer

Dined 1 day ago

Puesto was a recommendation from a friend, and it did not disappoint! We were a party of 2 adults and 1 almost 11 year old. Decor and vibe were upscale casual, but not fussy. My friend had the spicy margarita which she enjoyed, and I had the Poblano Paloma. Both drinks were great, and presentation was beautiful. Started with the guac w/parmesan and it was delicious. Nice touch that it came with chips and salsa. Loved the salsa so much we asked for more. We went tacos all around for entrees, and enjoyed the tamarind shrimp taco, filet mignon, and chicken. The black beans were really good, as was the rice. Service was excellent throughout. We will definitely visit again!

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Experience

Taco Tuesday!

El Agave

4.8

4.8 (2557)

$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

Kimberley

Dined 5 days ago

Enjoyed a tequila tasting and delicious dinner. The staff were particularly friendly and knowledgeable about tequilas and introduced us to new favorites.

Cocina 35 Liberty Station

4.6

4.6 (176)

$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

Marcia

Dined 3 days ago

We celebrated Father’s Day at Cocina 35 Brunch because we love the atmosphere, the happy staff, and we always have a wonderful time while having excellent, and unique Mexican breakfast. Our server Elizabeth was warm, made suggestions and checked on us several times. She also was very kind to the Dad at our table. She is fantastic!

Cocina 35 Otay Mesa

4.7

4.7 (24)

$30 and under

Mexican

San Ysidro

About the restaurant

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

Top review

ChristopherVIP

Dined on 31 May 2025

Delicious good, good service and nice ambiance! Will visit other locations!

La Doña

4.7

4.7 (22)

$30 and under

Mexican

Point Loma

About the restaurant

Located just steps from the Pacific Ocean, La Doña brings vibrant Mexican flavors to the coast with fresh ingredients and a modern twist to Ocean Beach. From house-made classics to bold takes on traditional favorites, every bite is crafted with care and authenticity. Pair your meal with hand-crafted cocktails, a carefully curated selection of San Diego’s finest craft beers, or a refreshing classic Mexican cerveza. Whether you’re gathering for family dinner, toasting with friends, or simply savoring the moment, La Doña is where great food, good vibes, and unforgettable memories come together.

Top review

Alex

Dined 2 days ago

Went here with a large party (18) and they took great care of us. Highly recommend.

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