Restaurants in La Mesa
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Best Restaurants
“This place food, ambience, decor, patio, services, etc, etc, etc gas not competition around san diego,”
“T&A Adventures is @ The Hills Local Pub in La Mesa California having THE BEST BURGER of our adventures so far! I mean WOW! Juicy deliciousness! Garlic Parm Burger - Half Pound patty, candied jalapeño bacon, swiss, garlic aioli, arugula, tomato, brioche bun, parmesean crisp - Served w Fries. Absolute 🔥! Our Server "Jordan" was awesome too.”
“We were a party of five at your Le Mesa location on 3/22/26 and I believe our server's name was Diana. Our experience was absolutely fantastic! The food was superb, the facility was spotless and every member of the staff that interacted with was professional, helpful and friendly. Diana was fantastic! She has the perfect balance of friendly efficiency, light humor to match our personalities and spot on timing to check in with us. We can't wait to visit again! Thank you.”
Restaurants by Cuisine
“Dining at Casa Gabriela is always a pleasure. The garden is delightful when it's really hot, the food is delicious, and the servers are attentive and kind. A local fave!”
“Wonderful experience! Delicious tea. My kids love it! Beautifully decorated.”
Restaurants with Delivery
“T&A Adventures is @ The Hills Local Pub in La Mesa California having THE BEST BURGER of our adventures so far! I mean WOW! Juicy deliciousness! Garlic Parm Burger - Half Pound patty, candied jalapeño bacon, swiss, garlic aioli, arugula, tomato, brioche bun, parmesean crisp - Served w Fries. Absolute 🔥! Our Server "Jordan" was awesome too.”
“We were a party of five at your Le Mesa location on 3/22/26 and I believe our server's name was Diana. Our experience was absolutely fantastic! The food was superb, the facility was spotless and every member of the staff that interacted with was professional, helpful and friendly. Diana was fantastic! She has the perfect balance of friendly efficiency, light humor to match our personalities and spot on timing to check in with us. We can't wait to visit again! Thank you.”
“Met Toran at our work event and he shared his story… What an amazing business! Everyone needs to go and try this pudding!!! I will always support a business that supports the community and will always show up when asked! Thanks for the amazing pudding, and for showing up!”
“очень вкусная еда, большие порции. работники очень дружелюбны.”
Outdoor Dining
“mamma mia signature is THE absolute best sandwich I've ever had in my life. staff is always friendly, food is always great, beer is always cold. what else can you ask for?”
“Swami's has the perfect local vibe with great food and great service! We recommend them to visitors and locals who don't know yet. It is a great La Mesa dining option!”
“The food the service is amazing. VERY bad experience that little Roma restaurant I should’ve known better that there’s no place like Nonna’s.”
Online Reservation Available
“I would recomend to come here for a view, ambience, and meet up. For food, it’s okay but not special considering their price point. Fresh catch halibut might not fresh at all cos it’s a bit fishy and it’s over cooked and it’s pricey for its quality. Lobster was better tho, juicy and fresh. The rest were so so. Calamary was plain and not crunchy on the outside and not hot when served. Clam chowder, well … just ok and too much potato in it. Battered fish and shrimp were slightly better if you eat it with avocado ranch. I loved the place, the pond was beautiful, and friendly staffs.”
“3/5 for a first timer during restaurant week… the special menu was $50 per person…. we never got any bread with our dinner (and didn’t realize we were left out until we were on dessert)… and, portions were small, so the bread would have been nice, especially for $50… also, the server made us make our food order at the same time as our drinks… personally, i like to have a drink or two before i order my food… so, the service was rushed in that sense… and no one asked me if i wanted a second glass of wine i had the veal and my friend had the lobster ravioli… both tasted decently but, again, small portions… the burrata was amazing and the desserts (tiramisu and lava cake) were pleasant i think i’d like to try again on a night that isn’t as busy, and order off of the actual menu”
“Every time we’ve gone, the food is good. They also have a good choice of craft beers on hand rotating. The service can be either really good or really bad. They have forgotten about us and left us waiting for a check for 40 minutes. I ordered a hamburger with two slices of cheese, when they served it the hamburger only had one slice. I asked the waitress if she could just take it back and add another slice of cheese. I am more than happy to pay for it. She blew a huffing sound, shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes and said whatever and walked away with the plate. When she brought it back, she sat the plate down and said, “Do you have enough cheese now”. My wife and I have actually enjoyed going to this place, but that waitress has turned me off for a while for sure.”
“My wife came here last week and was adamant about bringing me here the following week.
The place itself is absolutely gorgeous, the service was top-notch, and the food was really, really tasty.
My family is from Mexico, so I grew up on this type of food. The standard needs to be high in this place definitely filled the shoes!
Ivan waited on us and he was fantastic. Made great recommendations and we were completely satisfied with everything that we ordered.
It was surprising to know that they have been in business under a year, and I really hope that this business sticks around for a very, very long time because they absolutely deserve the business. Let’s support!”
“I would recomend to come here for a view, ambience, and meet up. For food, it’s okay but not special considering their price point. Fresh catch halibut might not fresh at all cos it’s a bit fishy and it’s over cooked and it’s pricey for its quality. Lobster was better tho, juicy and fresh. The rest were so so. Calamary was plain and not crunchy on the outside and not hot when served. Clam chowder, well … just ok and too much potato in it. Battered fish and shrimp were slightly better if you eat it with avocado ranch. I loved the place, the pond was beautiful, and friendly staffs.”
“3/5 for a first timer during restaurant week… the special menu was $50 per person…. we never got any bread with our dinner (and didn’t realize we were left out until we were on dessert)… and, portions were small, so the bread would have been nice, especially for $50… also, the server made us make our food order at the same time as our drinks… personally, i like to have a drink or two before i order my food… so, the service was rushed in that sense… and no one asked me if i wanted a second glass of wine i had the veal and my friend had the lobster ravioli… both tasted decently but, again, small portions… the burrata was amazing and the desserts (tiramisu and lava cake) were pleasant i think i’d like to try again on a night that isn’t as busy, and order off of the actual menu”
24 Hour Restaurants
“Delicious tacos!! Great, fast service with hard working people! There's also a great salsa bar with a beautiful variety of options. I love their cabeza tacos! As well as their carne asada tacos! Flan is also very flavorful as well! Restrooms are located outside, and they have a drive through available as well.”
“They were kind and fast with my order, but the cashier couldn't figure out how to split my payment even tho I explained it to him step by step, he just couldn't seem to get it together...so it was very inconvenient for me, but I figured out a way to pay for it in just one payment, thank goodness, or I would have been one sad, un-fed lady!! And it was on Xmas night around 9pm, so my options were already SUPER limited...Lol”
“I'm a connoisseur of good Mexican food and fast foods I also have a lifelong friend that is Mexican with autonic food from all of his family as well so I really like Vallarta Express I go out of my way in Carlsbad La Mesa I drive from El cajon to La Mesa to go to Vallarta Express past 15 Mexican places on the way to go there only so that should say something anyways love all of their meats burritos tacos everything is awesome just go there and you'll love the food
I highly recommend it. recommend.”
“First off I want to start by saying is McDonald’s . It’s busy many of you all just have no patience what so ever! I always come to this McDonald’s and if had a problem they were more than welcome to fix it for me no time! There quick with my food and sometimes I have to wait but I don’t have a problem cause I know how busy it can get. Even when I go inside and sit down, they bring my food and drinks to me, although they don’t have too. The coworkers are very nice I treat them with respect I get it back, they great me almost every time Maybe not all but it’s no biggy. I’ve seen many people get upset with the workers, not too long ago I seen a man throw the money over the counter at a young lady and told her to go get his coffee now because she’s going to make him “late” and then proceeded to tell her she didn’t belong here and she was being rude because she didn’t take his order first, all because she was trying to take out and order to a car who was outside. I don’t think I’d be consistently coming here if they were messing up my orders and or being rude. I have no problem with this McDonalds ??♀️”
“I haven't had BBQ this good in San Diego. If you are craving legit smoked meats this place is awesome. service is as good as the food.”
“What a great place!! We stumbled across this place when we were out to dinner. The staff is friendly and kind. The owner Deano does all the work with the awesome bands they host on the weekends. From Country to hard rock. We haven’t heard one band we haven’t loved. If your looking for a great bar with great music this is the place. Everyone is welcome in this bar. Great atmosphere and you can even order food and eat while while you listen to fantastic music or play pool and watch sports. This is a true fabulous neighborhood bar. Come And enjoy. Char and Mark Handy”
Takeout Restaurants
“It is true that they have changed. And the last time I went in I walked out because the prices went up so much I thought it was ridiculous for a sandwich. . Almost $8 for a 6” sandwich.? Although my favorite thing ever is one of their Italian subs, but I’ve gone to Jimmy Johns for an 8” for $7.25. And they’re really good.”
“First time here and not disappointed. Didn't have a long wait like others said. The doma was excellent. I got the combo to try their meats - beef kabob, chicken Tikka, and beef shawarma. All were seasoned well, especially the shawarma...very bold. But it's the cook on the meat that set them apart! All 3 were tender, juicy, and savory. Too many overcook these but they just melted in my mouth. Highly recommended.”
“Took a wrong turn on the freeway and that lead us to this place. We had been wanting to come in and took this as a sign. We went for the two meat meal- brisket and pork ribs with bbq beans and cole slaw. Delicious!! Brisket was fork tender and full of flavor, pork ribs were seasoned perfectly and just right. The baked beans and slaw were just as good. We liked that they let you put your own sauce on. The tables have their house made sauces, bbq and a bbq mustard. Both fantastic! They have beef ribs but only on Sundays, so we’ll need a return trip( oh darn!) Definitely have some new fans here. Oh and worth noting, we got one meal which was plenty for the two of us.”
“Came here for the first time and split a sundae with my wife. The flavor and portions were on point, my only bummer was that there weren’t enough toppings. I feel like a good sundae should have either chocolate sauce, nuts, or something else with each bite. There were sadly more than a couple masked bites with just the frozen yogurt (which admittedly was very tasty).
The server was very friendly and served people quickly, so all told it was a positive experience.”
“Small place with BIG flavorful burritos. I got my mom and brother a breakfast style burrito and I tried the California Burrito. I shared part of the California Burrito with my brother as it has become his favorite now. It was huge and stuffed with meat. It's not a fancy place, but has delicious food and nice employees. We decided to try it after I saw a video on Instagram that someone posted recently.”
“I had an issue with my payment card. I had to go back home about 15 minutes away and come back with a different card and they did the nicest thing and re made my order! I appreciate it thank you! And my order was delicious carne asada fries, carne asada chips and a fish taco.”
“I recently started working in the same building as Jordan's and decided to try it out this week since I didn't pack lunch. I got the potato soup and half a grilled cheese sandwich with bacon. The food was good, definitely tasted homemade and rhe portions were huge. I would definitely go back!”
“Took a wrong turn on the freeway and that lead us to this place. We had been wanting to come in and took this as a sign. We went for the two meat meal- brisket and pork ribs with bbq beans and cole slaw. Delicious!! Brisket was fork tender and full of flavor, pork ribs were seasoned perfectly and just right. The baked beans and slaw were just as good. We liked that they let you put your own sauce on. The tables have their house made sauces, bbq and a bbq mustard. Both fantastic! They have beef ribs but only on Sundays, so we’ll need a return trip( oh darn!) Definitely have some new fans here. Oh and worth noting, we got one meal which was plenty for the two of us.”
“If you want to treat your guests to a one-of-a-kind experience than Marcello is your guy. The food is unbelievable and the portable wood fire pizza to have at your location will have your guests talking about your party for months to come. He was completely professional and worked with guests who had food allergies. Best pizza I have had here in San Diego. Marcello goes above and beyond to make sure all your guests have a tastebud experience right out of Italy.”
Drive-Thru Restaurants
“I enjoyed my first visit at Marathon coffee very much. The coffee was fantastic, the service was great, and the atmosphere was lovely. They have a beautiful greenery wall for a relaxing atmosphere that doubles as a good place to take selfie.
I will be going to Marathon Coffee every time I visit Grossemont Center.
Thank you for the great conversation and delicious coffee. I really needed the caffeine.”
“Igotyourcake is an amazing cake business!!! Tim is an excellent pastry chef!! He is friendly, funny, easygoing, and all about meeting your cake needs! I did too many cake tastings before finding him and I wish I found him first! His cakes are tasty, decadent, artistically constructed, and pleasing to the eye. His talents will amaze you. When my fiance (now husband) went to our cake tasting Tim went above and beyond our expectations (I won’t go into detail because I want you to be as surprised as we both were), and delighted our taste buds! If you think you’ve found another cake with someone else…try a cake tasting with Tim, you won’t be sorry you’ll be mind blown!!”
“Stopped by for some lunch and got an incredible California burrito. Under $15 and a ~5 minute wait, the value and convenience were already notable.
The burrito itself was huge. Each bite was clean, a little bit of everything. The fries had a distinct crisp, the meat was tender and not chewy, the guac was good, both sauces were excellent, and it was seasoned well but not overly salty.
Plenty of indoor seating and the TV wasn’t insanely loud (pet peeve of mine!). Parking was straightforward but I can see it being tough during a lunch rush in this small lot.”
“I love La Mesa Bistro team working is very nice, friendly and efficient. It’s clean and you can eat indoor or outside The food is all very good and ready quickly! My favorites açaí be wil and grilled Cheese on sourdough with artichokes and avocado. It’s fabulous- sorry I can’t remember the benefits of it. ?”
“Hidden gem of La Mesa! Cute family owned shop with many coffee options. I got the Fox, which is a honey cinnamon macchiato. They also have little pastries such as apple turnovers and muffins. Pricing was very reasonable. The staff is great too! Michael was very friendly and welcoming.”
“Every time we’ve gone, the food is good. They also have a good choice of craft beers on hand rotating. The service can be either really good or really bad. They have forgotten about us and left us waiting for a check for 40 minutes. I ordered a hamburger with two slices of cheese, when they served it the hamburger only had one slice. I asked the waitress if she could just take it back and add another slice of cheese. I am more than happy to pay for it. She blew a huffing sound, shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes and said whatever and walked away with the plate. When she brought it back, she sat the plate down and said, “Do you have enough cheese now”. My wife and I have actually enjoyed going to this place, but that waitress has turned me off for a while for sure.”
“Bold flavors that took us pleasantly by surprise. We’ll be going back.”
“My wife came here last week and was adamant about bringing me here the following week.
The place itself is absolutely gorgeous, the service was top-notch, and the food was really, really tasty.
My family is from Mexico, so I grew up on this type of food. The standard needs to be high in this place definitely filled the shoes!
Ivan waited on us and he was fantastic. Made great recommendations and we were completely satisfied with everything that we ordered.
It was surprising to know that they have been in business under a year, and I really hope that this business sticks around for a very, very long time because they absolutely deserve the business. Let’s support!”
Cheap Eats
“Found Whiskey Business at a local postal annex and way more flavorful than our "other" Whiskey Business, my husband abd I impressed so we will be trying others. Great videos and great coffee. Will be stopping by since your physical location is only 10 min from us.”
“My experience at BMH Italian was wonderful and definitely deserves five stars. From the moment I walked in, the staff were friendly, welcoming, and treated us with kindness and respect. The service was fast and organized, and the employees made sure our order was prepared exactly the way we wanted it.
The food was fresh, delicious, and full of authentic Italian flavor. We tried several items, and everything was excellent. The pizza was flavorful and perfectly baked, the pasta was rich and satisfying, and the Italian sandwiches were carefully prepared with a generous amount of ingredients. The portions were excellent for the price, and our food arrived hot and beautifully presented.
The restaurant has a calm, comfortable, and family-friendly atmosphere. The dining area was clean and relaxing, and the prices were very reasonable considering the quality and portion sizes. It is clear that the owners and staff genuinely care about their customers and work hard to provide everyone with an enjoyable experience.
I highly recommend BMH Italian to anyone who enjoys great Italian food. Be sure to try their pizza, pasta, and Italian sandwiches. It is a wonderful local restaurant that truly deserves support. I will definitely return with my family and friends. I wish the entire team continued success!”
“Came in 2/14 and got a surf and turf burrito, and Cali burrito. Service was excellent, and it smelled so good. Once we got home and ate, my surf and turf was on point. Been trying different burritos around SD, this is definitely in my top 5. Will be coming back for sure. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️”
“I've been a fan coming here for my pizza fix for close to two decades now, and I Iove it. Their Philly Cheesesteak pizza is an absolute masterpiece, and their homemade tiramisu is a dream. 😋 They mostly do take-out, but they also deliver (within most of La Mesa). Frank & Andy are good guys and worth giving a try.”
“Visiting this fest in particular was a first for me. I thought they did a good job about having variety among vendors. It would be nice to see more authentic oktoberfest food options, although I'm new to CA so- not sure if that cuisine is here or not. Great Brat/Sausage varieties and a couple pretzel spots. That was the most I saw within Bavarian cuisine though.
Could also use some seating or public restroom Options outside of the ticketed Beirgarten areas. Overall a nice visit though.”
“The first time I visited the taco shop. I ordered the ground beef roll tacos, it was an option for small ones or big ones I order big ones and they were delicious. Taco shops rarely sell a ground beef roll taco. The service was pleasent and the food is a good price. I will be returning soon.”
“OMG !!!!
Who thought of this idea for a curry dish…??!!!
SOOOOO FREAKING DELICIOUS
THE “GOLDEN CRUNCH CURRY UDON” is the best ‘curry dish’ I’ve EVER HAD !!!!
Happy TUMMY 😊”
“The food is excellent. Fresh delicious dishes. Too bad the service isn't better and the room is too loud. This food deserves better.”
Latest Reviews
“First off I want to start by saying is McDonald’s . It’s busy many of you all just have no patience what so ever! I always come to this McDonald’s and if had a problem they were more than welcome to fix it for me no time! There quick with my food and sometimes I have to wait but I don’t have a problem cause I know how busy it can get. Even when I go inside and sit down, they bring my food and drinks to me, although they don’t have too. The coworkers are very nice I treat them with respect I get it back, they great me almost every time Maybe not all but it’s no biggy. I’ve seen many people get upset with the workers, not too long ago I seen a man throw the money over the counter at a young lady and told her to go get his coffee now because she’s going to make him “late” and then proceeded to tell her she didn’t belong here and she was being rude because she didn’t take his order first, all because she was trying to take out and order to a car who was outside. I don’t think I’d be consistently coming here if they were messing up my orders and or being rude. I have no problem with this McDonalds ??♀️”
“All the staff here are AMAZING! They have been such a great staff and has welcomed me and my daughter since day 1. The buffalo chicken strips are amazing along with the blue cheese side which is phenomenal and the steak fries are so good. Burgers are amazing too. Love Johnny B’s!”
“The first time I visited the taco shop. I ordered the ground beef roll tacos, it was an option for small ones or big ones I order big ones and they were delicious. Taco shops rarely sell a ground beef roll taco. The service was pleasent and the food is a good price. I will be returning soon.”
“I love La Mesa Bistro team working is very nice, friendly and efficient. It’s clean and you can eat indoor or outside The food is all very good and ready quickly! My favorites açaí be wil and grilled Cheese on sourdough with artichokes and avocado. It’s fabulous- sorry I can’t remember the benefits of it. ?”
“I live out east nowadays, but I visit my hometown in La Mesa yearly. Came to Curbside for the first time last year, and just now went back again. I wish we had food like this around here when I was growing up!! My gosh, the short rib beef is incredible. Had it on a salad last time, and just now had the short rib taco along with an equally impressive fish taco. I got a few bites of the beef kebab too, and it was just as top-notch! Great seating options with a view of La Mesa Blvd. Good beer list too. And wonderful staff. I wish I had more time to try more of the menu—but I’ll be back every time I’m in San Diego down the line. Wishing the best to Curbside!”
“What a great place!! We stumbled across this place when we were out to dinner. The staff is friendly and kind. The owner Deano does all the work with the awesome bands they host on the weekends. From Country to hard rock. We haven’t heard one band we haven’t loved. If your looking for a great bar with great music this is the place. Everyone is welcome in this bar. Great atmosphere and you can even order food and eat while while you listen to fantastic music or play pool and watch sports. This is a true fabulous neighborhood bar. Come And enjoy. Char and Mark Handy”
Most Popular Restaurants
“The restaurant is quite lovely, as was our server Brenda - the best I've ever personally had the pleasure of dining with. We split our entree and still had more than enough for each person's portion. Brenda was very considerate and generous with every accommodation we requested of her. Everything was great and served promptly and thoughtfully. Fantastic food and service.”
“Met Toran at our work event and he shared his story… What an amazing business! Everyone needs to go and try this pudding!!! I will always support a business that supports the community and will always show up when asked! Thanks for the amazing pudding, and for showing up!”
“Had a great experience at this location. I had only ever been to the Bonita location once before but the customer service was horrible there. I don’t recall her name, but the lovely curly-haired lady was very kind and helpful while I was choosing a drink. Excellent service! Arely, I believe was her name.”
“Shout out to Nick and his night manager tonight I have had the shittiest day and you guys will never understand how you literally just turned my night around. This is the only chipotle I go to because you have the best customer service and the best portions, and after tonight you guys just solidified that tenfold.”
“I'm a connoisseur of good Mexican food and fast foods I also have a lifelong friend that is Mexican with autonic food from all of his family as well so I really like Vallarta Express I go out of my way in Carlsbad La Mesa I drive from El cajon to La Mesa to go to Vallarta Express past 15 Mexican places on the way to go there only so that should say something anyways love all of their meats burritos tacos everything is awesome just go there and you'll love the food
I highly recommend it. recommend.”
New Restaurants
“If you want to treat your guests to a one-of-a-kind experience than Marcello is your guy. The food is unbelievable and the portable wood fire pizza to have at your location will have your guests talking about your party for months to come. He was completely professional and worked with guests who had food allergies. Best pizza I have had here in San Diego. Marcello goes above and beyond to make sure all your guests have a tastebud experience right out of Italy.”
“Kids under 5 was free so that was good. Service was decent. Didn’t have to look a waiter for refills. Tablet on the table made ordering extra items easier. Had to ask for grill exchange twice. Extra items came at a reasonable time. Free refills which is always a plus. Lots of space between tables. Wait time was very short. Good music. Friendly staff.”
“First time visiting and went on a Friday around 6:30 PM during the farmers market. They were pretty busy, but the customer service stood out immediately! I was warmly greeted, which I really appreciated. Overall, a wonderful experience. The price for a 16oz taro with boba was about $7. I ordered my boba as a slushie instead of a milk tea & it was really good! Great spot for families and kids. I highly recommend and will return on a less busy evening.
-great for”
“There were only two people serving a packed house and they were both extremely attentive and professional. The food however, has never been as good as the wine and atmosphere. The ribeye, ordered medium rare, came out medium well and a very poor cut and way over-salted. The salmon was also overcooked with a side of woody asparagus. I will go back, however, for the wine and service. It's a good place to sit with friends and share a bottle of wine.”
“Just so everyone understands, the business owner make made to order bread that is available to pickup at preset times. I was excited to try the bread after researching the business and it is absolutely phenomenal. I had high expectations at it far exceeded them. I got sourdough, sea salt foccacia, and two types of cookies. Everything was amazing.”
“pork nugs, salad, wings,.pizza. it's all delicious.”