28 Best Mexican Restaurants in Encinitas

“One of the best meals I’ve ever had in Encinitas— A must try! This place feels fresh and inspired. You’re immediately transported to a trendy villa in Mexico with an aire of heritage and culture. The owner is from a successful line of restauranteurs in Mexico. It’s clear he knows what he’s doing from the atmosphere to the cuisine. The chips and salsa are delicious, fresh and unique (all made in house). We ordered the Mole Enchiladas and Tuna Tostadas, which were both incredible and would order again on our next visit. Then, of course, couldn’t resist the finale dessert of churros! (Filled with pastry cream with chocolate dunking sauce on the side). The entire experience was an absolute treat and I can’t wait to go back and introduce more people to this local gem.“

“You should check out Haggo's Tacos in Encinitas. I was just there, and it's going on my regular list of go-to restaurants when I’m in the area.

It's one of those spots that has food for everyone to enjoy. They offer meat, vegan and gluten-free choices, that all can enjoy. They do tacos right, no matter what you're eating. Plus their fresh made guacamole is a nice side to any of their entrees.

The seating is what really sets it apart. They have this cool California room-style space that they can open or close depending on your party size. It felt private but still airy. And if you're just grabbing a quick bite solo or with a partner, they have a bar-style counter that faces the street, perfect for people-watching.

The food was great, the ambiance was excellent, and the service was on point. Give it a shot next time you're up in that area.“

“Carne Asada burrito and 3 rolled tacos with guacamole. 'Nuff said!“

“Consistently delicious here. The Salmon mole and chicken verde mole were excellent. The vegan dish was great too. Nice to have a lot of vegan/vegetarian options. Table side guacamole is a must. Drinks are a definite highlight. Love the Palomas. This was my third visit, and will be back.“

“Awesome food prepared very well worth the wait! Delicious surf and turf! I was looking for the corn on the cob and churros but they ran! Super popular!“

“the birria tacos are good I recomend them“

“We love this place! The food is fresh, delicious, and very well priced! The restaurant is always clean and the staff makes you feel like they're glad you stopped in to eat! We have ordered a variety of different items from the menu and it's all been amazing - including the salsa bar! Their carne asada, shrimp, and mahi mahi are definitely standouts. The carne asada is flavorful and not greasy like some Mexican food restaurants. I also recommend giving the breakfast burritos a try. This is definitely a great place to grab some excellent Mexican food!“

“You gotta try the taquito burrito!“

“This is outside, next to a Valero gas station. Not a place for a first date meant to impress. But…. They’re open 24 hours! Have great fish tacos! Clean bathroom! ? Great service. We were there around 11pm, a little chilly, but the heaters worked just fine!
Thanks El Pueblo!“

“Great food and fast service“

“Es un lugar verdaderamente recomendable, extremadamente limpio, pero sobre todo, delicioso! La comida es buenísima, gran sabor y los platos muy bien servidos. El servicio es rápido y amable 👌👌👌 sin duda una muy buena opción“

“Their food is yummy, well and clean prepared!!!“

“I have loved Wahoos since they opened one of the first ones in Huntington Beach in the nineties! it's always fresh and clean with a great vibe. It's the easiest and safest place for me to go during the pandemic. The food is very consistent across all the stores I've been too. I highly recommend it. it's a great tasty healthy alternative to fast food!“

“Tostada and Chimichanga are fire! They went above and beyond to accommodate a small mistake that was made on a previous visit. Really appreciate that! Classy joint.“

“We had never eaten here before today. The food was incredible. My husband ordered a beef burrito and I got the carne asada tacos. Warning! The burritos are HUGE. We loved our stay here!“

“Tostada and Chimichanga are fire! They went above and beyond to accommodate a small mistake that was made on a previous visit. Really appreciate that! Classy joint.“

“A group of 6 of us went there for ther first time. Ordered menudo, machaca, carnitas, breakfast burrito, among other items. All was fresh, tasty and generously portioned. The salsa bar had a great selection of mild to spicy salsas, condiments as well and pickled carrots and onions.Not a fancy restaurant, but clean and comfortable.Most of us had leftovers to take home!“

“Tostada and Chimichanga are fire! They went above and beyond to accommodate a small mistake that was made on a previous visit. Really appreciate that! Classy joint.“

“Good clean simple food. Not too salty, definitely not the best place to get tacos in san diego, but it seems like really clean, simple ingredients. I would definitely eat here again. If youare on a low sodium diet or have restrictions, this place is a safe bet“

“I’ve been dining at Le Papagayo’s for 20+ years. I love the atmosphere, ambience, live music, and fabulous food. It’s a down to Earth place and you can come casual or dressed up! This place will not disappoint.“

“Best tacos in the area. Awesome portions. The boyfriend usually gets 3-4 tacos at most places. 2 are enough here and they’re bomb! Bring napkins! Birria is amazing!! Drive through 24/7 so it’s a great spot after night beach excursions! Free refills on drinks if you go inside and they have the Coke machines with all the flavors which I love!“

“I used to be a "regular" at Rubio's, but for whatever reason, moved on to other "taco shops". Their menu went thru some interesting iterations, and I guess I like things more simple. Recently, I happened to be at the Encinitas location. I remembered why I used to like Rubio's so much. \nThe Encinitas location is always clean and organized. Especially the salsa station. It is freshly replenished and a genuine effort is made at keeping it spotless. The staff members are super helpful and friendly. An elderly couple was ordering before me, and the staff member was so patient, helping to better describe to them the different choices they were curious about. \nI ordered for a group of us. The highlights were most definitely their California Bowl and their Chopped Salad. Next favorites were the Chicken Burrito Especial, chicken tacos and then the Mahi Mahi fish tacos. The folks who got the bowl and salad really liked them, saying, "oh, I'd get this again." Finally, it was smart to get a large order of chips & guacamole for the group. \nFunny, now that I'm seeing this, only one of us got fish tacos for lunch! \nGlad that Rubio's kept this location open in Encinitas.“

“I don’t say this lightly—this place is hands down one of the best Mexican restaurants I’ve ever been to. The décor is colorful without being over-the-top, and the music added just the right energy to the dining experience.

Now, the food—absolutely incredible. We started with the super nachos, the guacamole inside was perfectly seasoned with just the right kick of lime and jalapeño. For the main course, I ordered the carne asada tacos, and they were out of this world. The meat was tender, juicy, and full of flavor, served on soft, handmade corn tortillas. My friend had the enchiladas verdes, and she couldn’t stop raving about the tangy green sauce and how everything was cooked to perfection.

What really stood out, though, was the attention to detail and authenticity. You can tell everything is made from scratch and with love. The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive without being overbearing—our server even recommended a house-made horchata that turned out to be the best I’ve ever had.

If you’re looking for authentic Mexican cuisine that’s both comforting and flavorful, this spot is a must. I’ll definitely be coming back—and bringing more friends with me next time!“

“I love this place. These guys are friendly, fast. The food is as good as a Robertos can be. Reminds me of my younger days eating at a Robert's. Same flavor and they don't skimp on the portions. It's good to eat at a place these days ans enjoy it.“

“At Roberto’s Taco Shop in Encinitas (471 Encinitas Blvd), the Classic Chicken Burrito is priced at around $12 to $13 depending on where you look online . It features shredded chicken sautéed with onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers, wrapped in a large flour tortilla alongside rice, beans, lettuce, cheese, and queso enchilado (depending on customization) .“

“I've waited 15 years to try this place .. because I'm always rushing. Well, today I finally went in and had a meal. There is some front street parking, side parking and rear parking. There's also a bus stop less (101) than a block away but I walked to it from a nearby hotel. The notion of authentic food is obvious by the cashier's and cooks I had the opportunity to thank for such a delicious meal. I was fortunate enough to have my lunch to myself because no one was eating inside during my brief 1 hour there.. however there were non-stop to-go orders the whole time. I ordered my usual test food of Carne Asada Nachos and a Coke. The coke tasted like a coke should. It wasn't flat. The carne asada nachos were made with the exact amount of chips and fixings and meat. There was no chip eaten without something on it which is rare. Usually most places put too much chips. There was a good serving of guacamole, sour cream, unmelted cheese, pico de gallo and meat. It could easily feed 2 but I only ate 1x in the morning so this was my lunch and dinner. I opted for both red and green salsa .. which were both delicious. The red was slightly spicier but not too much. I have 1 before and 1 mid photos so you can see the balanced portions. In my opinion the cooks were nice and know how to cook in my humble opinion. The food was delicious and I'm definitely coming back tomorrow to test their breakfast burrito. I highly recommend coming in and trying their food. There's plenty to do in the area to walk off your meal afterwards. All in all .. definitely a monthly meal for me worth the extra 5 min drive from my office.“

“best fish tacos I've ever had. every time I'm in town I make it a point to go there at least once.“

“My experience was good, June 2025. I ordered on the app, about 7 minutes after I ordered the food was already ready. The dinning area was immaculate and an employee was wiping down tables at the time I was there. The food was great compared to other locations. I normally get 3 pieces of diced tomato on my Supreme items, but they had plenty on my items.“