50 Best Mexican Restaurants near Rancho Santa Fe

“Cocina del Rancho offers amazing REAL Mexican food. We are always happy when we dine here 😄“

“Shout out to Jason, Dean, and Nathaniel. This is my favorite restaurant and bar in San Diego after trying many Mexican restaurants and bars across North County. Even if this place were only a restaurant or only a bar, I would still come here for either experience. The food, drinks, and atmosphere are all excellent.“

“I didn’t expect much but was surprised to get the tastiest food I ever ate in Mexican place. I suppose it was because the Taco Oasis shack was a first for me,beng used to restaurants, but those people know how to prepare the most tasty tacos I’ve ever eaten. They also add avocado no extra charge. Carne Asada Taco only $3.50 each. What a deal!“

“cheese enchiladas to go were very good! Food ready in minutes! good job!“

“Haggos is the best!!!! We live a few blocks away and it's our go-to for a delicious, healthy meal! Whether we're grabbing a drink and some food on a Friday night or just need something quick to pick up during the week, Haggos is always the move. We rave about how good it is every dang time so now we are raving about it here 😂. We love the Chicken Bowl, Beef Bowl, any of the burritos - and their tortilla soup is SO good too. Highly recommend!“

“Consistently delicious and friendly service.“

“Everything is great about this place! Great food, great service, and great staff!“

“Muy buenos tacos y excelente servicio de el personal hoy en 05/01/2022,los contrate para un evento especial,excelentes tacos con tortillas hechas a mano,toda la comida en general fue excelente incluyendo el personal muy amables,volveré a contratar este buen servicio en otra ocasion“

“The food and service is always good, I was wondering what is their signature dish? And has the restaurant had a food critics review? I love you read it! See you soon Casa de Bandini!“

“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.“

“starting from the service 🙌 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ el jugo de tamarindo hecho fresco por ellos on point 👌 👏 😍 👍 y las quesa birrias OMG fuera de este mundo 20 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💯🎯my new favorite spot .I am Puertorican and this Mexican food restaurant is a must must must visit....“

“This restaurant has it all. The food is excellent with the best flavors of Mexico's finest dining experiences. The vegan options are delicious, not just an afterthought as is usually the case in so many restaurants. I had the Caldo de Piedra which is a very flavorful seafood soup and which wasn't overly spicy but just spicy enough. It had a wide variety of the freshest seafood, and was brought out in a steaming rock bowl. A chef made our guacamole right by our table side with the freshest ingredients, and then they handed us the best, tasty, house-made tortilla chips. That was a unique and creative experience. Our main server, Christian, was attentive and charming. The whole evening was outstanding.“

“This place is streamlined to be fast. Much of the original menu is ceviche, raw seafood in various forms, the aguachilies are big bowls of raw seafood with onions, cucumbers, and spicy tart sauce to chemically cook the raw seafood.

Most of the original tacos have cooked seafood: octopus, Marlin, bacon wrapped shrimp were the ones we got. The tacos are enormous and super tasty, but if you are sensitive to spice, ask for the sauces to be served on the side. My sister is very sensitive, and she was grateful she got it on the side, so she was really able to enjoy her food.

We want to go back sometime to try out the birria. There is a drive thru! And they were doing a booming business through the evening so you know everything is fresh.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ South of Nick’s – Mexican Kitchen & Cocktail Bar
South of Nick’s is an upscale Mexican dining experience with amazing food, a top-tier cocktail program, and a great atmosphere. Tia was our server and she was outstanding, anticipating everything we needed and making our early dinner effortless. We sat outside for the fresh California air and even though it was a little chilly, the radiant heaters kept it warm and cozy. The bar is fully stocked with a tequila selection that’s second to none, and my margarita was perfectly balanced. I had the Combo Tres Enchiladas and it was excellent, and others loved the Cabo shrimp. We also shared the chips with black bean dip, guacamole, taquitos, and tacos — everything fresh and packed with flavor. I also loved the kitchen windows where you can see how clean and dialed-in the team is behind the scenes. Parking is easy in the automated garage, but I’d recommend going early — and next time I’m grabbing the fire pit seating and working through more of the drink menu.“

“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!“

“Great food. we tried the chicken fried steak and eggs, theeeee cheesiest quesadilla, and I also tried the fish taco, carnitas and carne asada taco. man, talk about filling...Staff was friendly and checked on us often...Great spot to enjoy some great food“

“Highly Recommended Miguel's Cocina Mexican Restaurants🥰“

“Of all the Mexican food places I visit, I think this restaurant possible has the best food at affordable prices. Yes, prices have gone up, but that's an everywhere problem.

I love the bean and cheese burrito, and nothing else I've found in San Diego County comes close“

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

“very food“

“Great spot good food and the employees are the best“

“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!“

“the birria tacos are good I recomend them“

“This has quickly become my favorite joint around town- the food is classic and amazing, without a doubt some of the best bang for your buck in terms of quality and quantity! The service is very good, they’re super friendly and the food comes out fast. It’s in a nice spot so close to the beach and just off the highway so it’s always nearby! I never wanna see this place leave- 11/10!“

“This place is always good , no matter what you get. It's a favorite go to of a friend of mines.

Their staff is friendly their food is authentic, and their chiles quiles and Mexican egg benedicts are phenomenal.

Their margaritas are the right proportions and their mimosas are generous.

10/10 totally great. Will absolutley be going again,( probably sometime this week honestly) 😄“

“I found JR'S TACO SHOP about 3 months ago. I just love the food there. I have had just about every thing on the menu and i loved 90% OF THE FOOD AND LIKED THE OTHER 10% I JUST GLAD I FOUND IT. THAT WAS THE BEST WRONG TURN I HAVE EVER TAKEN. THANK YOU JR'S TACOS“

“This is a small Mexican joint tucked away at the back of the Trader Joe's area on Mira mesa Blvd. near Scripps Ranch. Entry is after the Trader Joe's entry. You cannot directly enter from any the Trader joes mall. The food was really good. We tried the bean and cheese burrito and the Al pastor tacos with chips. The salsas were amazing. Definitely worth a try.“

“Best grilled shrimp taco I've ever had, quite literally. The flavors, the presentation, it was exquisite. I walked in on a whim, due to the inviting ambiance, and the food, drink, and service (special shout out to Rudy!) was phenomenal. Highly recommend when visiting Del Mar!“

“I’ve been here a few times before, and this place always satisfies my cravings for good Mexican food. 🌯🔥 It never disappoints! This time I decided to order online and just swing by for pickup, and the whole process was super quick and easy. 🙌
I went with the Hot Cheetos Burrito — packed with carne asada, crunchy Hot Cheetos, cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo, and sour cream. It was bold, flavorful, and definitely a fun twist on a classic burrito! 😋 I also ordered 6 rolled tacos topped with guacamole, lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes — crispy and delicious. Plus, we got a traditional carne asada burrito with guacamole and salsa fresca, which was solid and satisfying as always. 🌮✨
Everything tasted fresh and well-prepared. Pickup was smooth, and I appreciated that they already included salsa in the bag — such a nice touch! 🌶️ Overall, a great experience again, and I’ll definitely be back when the Mexican food cravings hit! 💛“

“I would gladly come back here just for the asada tacos, they are really good. Beef was juicy and the meat seems good quality.

Also ordered the pastor which I didn't like (it doesn't come from a trompo), it was just like asada with extra sauce.“

“Always great food fast service and very friendly“

“Buddy and I wanted breakfast burritos and randomly found this place off google maps. It’s amazing find. Very simple unassuming shop but incredibly nice people working (I believe it’s a family who runs the whole place) who went above and beyond, and very tasty burritos with large portions!“

“Love there tacos. They are delicious 😋. They have a big variety“

“really great authentic traditional Mexican food. guacamole is top notch, bean and cheese is classic, carne asada is tender and juicy, cooked just right. tortillas also perfectly cooked. casual table service, clean seating environment. without a doubt, this is my new go to spot“

“If you’re taking your food to go, make sure you double check that the order is correct. If you don’t, you’re stuck with it & it’s usually not the amount you paid for it. Other than that, it’s still one of the best Mex spots to eat in San Diego.“

“Excellent, tasty flour tortillas.“

“Well this review is long overdue. We recently had a business trip to San Diego, CA.
Since we don't live there anymore we craved Mexican food.

Our first impression was great the atmosphere was festive and the restaurant is clean.

My husband ordered a 'California Burrito' and for myself a 'Tostada Salad'.
The food arrived quickly since we had just arrived in San Diego and made our way to the only viable restaurant that was still open, yet is was about 10 min before closing.

Linda our waitress was super nice esp. since she didn't mind how late we arrived.

During our stay we ate there about 3 times. Well it was easy to just walk there from the hotel. Then we got some exercise walking back to the hotel, better for digestion.

By the photos you will see our dishes from previous days. To me food was amazing, full of flavor and add fast add we can tell, close to authentic Mexican cuisine with appealing presentation. Our waitresses were Linda, Claudia and I think Janet. They were incredible and professional and their uniforms were clean, with a little color from makeup.

I enjoyed taking photos of the restaurant as it was well decorated, full of charming, spacious style.

Definitely I recommend On The Border Mexican Grill Restaurant!“

“Mi Guadalajara is now featuring an outstanding Sunday Brunch Buffet! Since they’re my favorite Mexican restaurant in Esco, I was excited to check it out and everything was excellent. I was really impressed with the thoughtful balance of Mexican and American favorites, serving both breakfast and lunch type dishes. It’s quite the varied spread that would satisfy just about anyone. I particularly enjoyed their Mexican shrimp cocktail, house-made tortillas, omelets, pork adobada and a penne pasta dish with diced ham tossed in a flavorful Mexican-style cream sauce. There’s also a nice selection of sweets and desserts. Brunch is served every Sunday from 9am – 2pm and very reasonably priced for all you can eat. I believe there is also a special full-service brunch menu if you’re not interested in the buffet. Highly recommended.“

“found the Las Vegas Sayulitas 2 yrs ago when staying at the Luxor. there burritos are beyond spectacular. big and so delicious. I can't say it enough. and the sauces on the little sauce bar are outstanding. I've never had anything like those sauces. the hot green sauce and hot red sauce are phenomenal. I like the green the best. I lived in AZ years ago. went back home to upstate NY. there is no place near me that even comes close. I love Sayulitas and wish I had one near me. you can't go wrong if you love Mexican style food“

“Excellent service and a wonderful variety of sauces and salsa to choose from which made the experience even more fun and flavorful. I absolutely loved their chicken enchiladas, they were rich, cheesy and perfectly seasoned. The burrito was packed with fresh ingredients and full of flavor. Everything tasted so authentic and the warm and friendly service made the meal even better. I will definitely be coming back.“

“You gotta try the taquito burrito!“

“Great food and fast service“

“I love tacos El Pueblo!!!! A San Diego classic with the famous $1.39 fish tacos (at the time of this writing) their service is fantastic. The staff is friendly. The food is great. The salsa is awesome! And the complimentary pickled carrots are a classic. I sincerely hope you will read this review and visit this esteemed establishment to give them your business as opposed to visiting a crappiestablishment such as Chipotle.“

“Just tried this place and oh my, is it ever delicious homemade fresh food!
We had both Chicken with green sauce and Beef with red, and both we so tasty!!! We will definitely be back!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Queso fundido the elites and the steak plate“

“This is my FAVORITE Mexican food in all of North County. The food is AMAZING, horchata is amazing, the employees are really kind and I appreciate that they are following COVID guidelines not letting anyone inside...food is either ordered to go or there are a few tables outside you can sit at. Definitely recommend ❤️“

“No sabes a donde ir a comer?, ve ahí y no te arrepentirás.“

“Very glad I found this place. It is a legit, Mexican taco shop with good prices, good portions, and good food. Many of the taco shops in the area are super overpriced and will give you a tiny burrito. Not this one. It's an honest taco shop and feels almost nostalgic since so few of these places exist in the area.“

“If you like a nice warm sandwich with fresh, crunchy vegetables and freshly baked, warm, crispy bread, then you have to try this place! They make some of the best sandwiches I've ever had, and I've traveled quite a bit. Their tortas are even better than many I've had in Mexico. The restaurant is clean, organized and efficient. You can eat there or take it to go. We really like the pork loin (lomo) but we'd enjoy any of them. If you've never had a torta sandwich, treat yourself and start here. I hope they stay in business! Please try them. You'll go back again.“

“We enjoy the friendly, fun atmosphere of Hernandez Hideaway. The Mexican food is excellent, service quick and friendly, and the drinks powerful. We have a great time each time we go.“