My family and I have been going to Por Favor for over 20 years. The food is always good, the Cadillac Margarita even better! Everything they serve here is amazing (I've tried most of it). But my favorites include El Bandito and La Grande. The enchiladas are savory and the Chile Relleno is really good. For dessert though, you have to try the Deep Fried Ice Cream! Or if that's not your thing a Bunuelos!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Enchilada with Rice and Beans, Chile Colorado, Chips and Salsa
John Bell
Great place for authentic Mexican food. Tons of food for the price.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chili Reno
Lola Chi
I will never forget the vegetable tamale I ordered in 2009 from this place. It was a single boiled carrot and a single boiled celery stick in a tamale. I don’t recall any seasoning involved. I never returned. But I think about that tamale often and mention it in group settings that involve Mexican cuisine discussion.
Food: 1
Joshua Hutchins
This place was a bit of a let down. We sat ourselves and waited for too long for our server. Eventually the chips came but they were burnt and oily. When we finished our meal, which was OK at best, it took another 15 minutes to get the bill. We waited so long I went to the bar to pay. Not sure if this is tied to the El Cajon Location, but I heard El Cajon is amazing, and La Mesa was just disappointing
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Justin Fiedler
Worst Mexican food I have ever had. Food was completely flavorless. Margarita was basically sugar water. All for an expensive price. Won't be back.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Cat Roberts
I was so excited to go eat Mexican food and drink margs. I ordered the large house marg. It was so weak and horrible. It tasted like Welch’s grape juice. I had to order another shot of tequila just to even taste a hint of it. Then we ordered the enchiladas verde. We cut into them and the cheese wasn’t melted. It was just normal shredded cheese. Not really into eating handfuls of shredded cheese unmelted. We were super disappointed and only budget to eat out a few times and I felt like we just wasted our money. We’ve eaten here before and it has been better but won’t be going back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Mary M.
Never liked por favor I get the runs from the salsa prefer other Mexican places like Casa de Pico, or senior burrito, mementos or Antonio s haciendas even el toritio is better
Sandy Graciano
Love this place! Killer margaritas. Huge, sharable portraits and great staff. Authentic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Marjon F.
My friends and I stopped by here as we were making our way to Octoberfest. We sat at the bar top to grab a few drinks. It did look like there's a bit of a wait to sit down for food, but you could also order food at the bar! We ordered a few beers and shots of tequila. The crowd seems very nice, chill, and alive. The Ambiance is very rustic Mexican style, with high ceilings in the dining room area. Overall I had a good experience up until collecting the check. It took us a while to flag down the bartender, although the bar was not busy, we requested the check, and dropped it off and picked up my card, and then held my card next to the register for solid 10 minutes. It's a pretty small bar so you can see the register, and my card saying right next to it. I thought it was pretty unprofessional and uncomfortable to hold my card unnecessarily by the register. We saw the bartender right in front of us making drinks for others instead of ringing up my card. We had a flag down another bartender to help process our check. Honestly this kind of ruined my experience. I hope this is not the standard experience for other visitors.
Alex Stachowiak
Very friendly staff and I enjoyed learning about the history of La Mess.
The food is always amazing, and their Margaritas are Sooo good!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Karen A.
The salsa is watery and the beans and rice didn't taste right. Taco was very hard, and not that good. Margarita tasted just ehh. I've eaten at many Mexican restaurants, but this is the worst I've ever had. I won't go back. I feel cheated. I just wanted to throw up and start over. I don't recommend this place, and I wish we never went. Thumbs down from three people who know food. The only positive thing I have to say is they have nice pics on the wall. The servers were nice. They probably don't eat there.
William “Bill” Stacy
Sat outside streetside and had great service. The food was very good and came very
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bill M.
Fulfilled the need for food but it was sub par at best. The lake of beans and romaine lettuce in the beef taco had me wondering. The rolled tacos were totally over cooked and the wait staff was totally lacking. I'd pass on this place if I was you. They should rename the place POR FLAVOR!
Karen M.
Kinda feel bad writing this but I wouldn't recommend this place. Downtown La Mesa deserves nice restaurants. The service is very slow, the floor is dirty, the food is not good. I wish the workers the best but this place must not be managed or staffed well at all. If you are planning a very long and drawn-out dinner then select this place since you'll be waiting a long time for each step of your meal. I'm sorry.
My family and I have been going to Por Favor for over 20 years. The food is always good, the Cadillac Margarita even better! Everything they serve here is amazing (I've tried most of it). But my favorites include El Bandito and La Grande. The enchiladas are savory and the Chile Relleno is really good. For dessert though, you have to try the Deep Fried Ice Cream! Or if that's not your thing a Bunuelos!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Enchilada with Rice and Beans, Chile Colorado, Chips and Salsa
Great place for authentic Mexican food. Tons of food for the price.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chili Reno
I will never forget the vegetable tamale I ordered in 2009 from this place. It was a single boiled carrot and a single boiled celery stick in a tamale. I don’t recall any seasoning involved. I never returned. But I think about that tamale often and mention it in group settings that involve Mexican cuisine discussion.
Food: 1
This place was a bit of a let down. We sat ourselves and waited for too long for our server. Eventually the chips came but they were burnt and oily. When we finished our meal, which was OK at best, it took another 15 minutes to get the bill. We waited so long I went to the bar to pay. Not sure if this is tied to the El Cajon Location, but I heard El Cajon is amazing, and La Mesa was just disappointing
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Worst Mexican food I have ever had. Food was completely flavorless. Margarita was basically sugar water. All for an expensive price. Won't be back.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I was so excited to go eat Mexican food and drink margs. I ordered the large house marg. It was so weak and horrible. It tasted like Welch’s grape juice. I had to order another shot of tequila just to even taste a hint of it. Then we ordered the enchiladas verde. We cut into them and the cheese wasn’t melted. It was just normal shredded cheese. Not really into eating handfuls of shredded cheese unmelted. We were super disappointed and only budget to eat out a few times and I felt like we just wasted our money. We’ve eaten here before and it has been better but won’t be going back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Never liked por favor I get the runs from the salsa prefer other Mexican places like Casa de Pico, or senior burrito, mementos or Antonio s haciendas even el toritio is better
Love this place! Killer margaritas. Huge, sharable portraits and great staff. Authentic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
My friends and I stopped by here as we were making our way to Octoberfest. We sat at the bar top to grab a few drinks. It did look like there's a bit of a wait to sit down for food, but you could also order food at the bar! We ordered a few beers and shots of tequila. The crowd seems very nice, chill, and alive. The Ambiance is very rustic Mexican style, with high ceilings in the dining room area. Overall I had a good experience up until collecting the check. It took us a while to flag down the bartender, although the bar was not busy, we requested the check, and dropped it off and picked up my card, and then held my card next to the register for solid 10 minutes. It's a pretty small bar so you can see the register, and my card saying right next to it. I thought it was pretty unprofessional and uncomfortable to hold my card unnecessarily by the register. We saw the bartender right in front of us making drinks for others instead of ringing up my card. We had a flag down another bartender to help process our check. Honestly this kind of ruined my experience. I hope this is not the standard experience for other visitors.
Very friendly staff and I enjoyed learning about the history of La Mess.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The food is always amazing, and their Margaritas are Sooo good!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
The salsa is watery and the beans and rice didn't taste right. Taco was very hard, and not that good. Margarita tasted just ehh. I've eaten at many Mexican restaurants, but this is the worst I've ever had. I won't go back. I feel cheated. I just wanted to throw up and start over. I don't recommend this place, and I wish we never went. Thumbs down from three people who know food. The only positive thing I have to say is they have nice pics on the wall. The servers were nice. They probably don't eat there.
Sat outside streetside and had great service. The food was very good and came very
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fulfilled the need for food but it was sub par at best. The lake of beans and romaine lettuce in the beef taco had me wondering. The rolled tacos were totally over cooked and the wait staff was totally lacking. I'd pass on this place if I was you. They should rename the place POR FLAVOR!
Kinda feel bad writing this but I wouldn't recommend this place. Downtown La Mesa deserves nice restaurants. The service is very slow, the floor is dirty, the food is not good. I wish the workers the best but this place must not be managed or staffed well at all. If you are planning a very long and drawn-out dinner then select this place since you'll be waiting a long time for each step of your meal. I'm sorry.