50 Best Mexican Restaurants near Rancho Santa Fe

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

“Loved this place! The food was amazing!!! Everything we ordered was delicious, but my favorite was definitely the tuna tostadas. And the churros for dessert were SO good. The staff was so friendly and welcoming, and the whole experience was amazing. 100% recommend!“

“El Pueblo Mexican Food & Bar in Carmel Valley was outstanding! The food was fresh, flavorful, and authentic, with something on the menu for everyone. The fish tacos and margaritas were especially delicious. The service was friendly, attentive, and made us feel right at home. The atmosphere was lively yet relaxed—perfect for a family dinner, date night, or catching up with friends. We’ll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend this local gem!“

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

“EXCELLENT!!!! Was driving by looking for breakfast in the area Leucadia/SAN DIEGO, saw this place as I drove by. Food was excellent! Organic, I had the steak and eggs. Superbly cooked. GIA helped me and was a lovely delightful young lady.😊 The atmosphere was very chill and mainly locals were there as there was a family vibe. Live music was also the reason it even more pf a vibe. Highly recommend.“

“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!“

“My wife and I ate here at the suggestion of my daughter and Son-in-Law! Wow! The food was outstanding! Everything on the menu was DELICIOUS! Being from Texas this was the best Mexican food I have ever eaten. Truly authentic! Five ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and then some!!!👍🏽👌🏽“

“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“

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

“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!“

“Super small little Mexican place that offers really good $2 tacos on Tuesdays and I might be every day but they're attached to the gas station right there off the freeway great for a quick bite to eat and they do have seating I think indoor and outdoors but not somewhere I would go with like my family for dinner but definitely pick up food for my family for dinner or if I was just me and my fiance we would definitely sit down and eat on our way to or from North County.“

“Consistently delicious and friendly service.“

“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“

“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....“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ High-End Vibe, Incredible Value & Five-Star Service!
If you want a phenomenal Mexican dining experience that treats vegetarian and vegan guests with world-class care, South of Nick’s is an absolute must. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and exudes a chic, high-end atmosphere, all while delivering spectacular food and service at an incredibly approachable price point.

Flawless Vegan & Vegetarian Dishes
The food here is terribly fresh, beautifully presented, and elevates classic flavors:
The Starters: Plentiful, warm chips paired with a bean dip and dual salsas that are to die for—one with a wonderful spicy kick, the other deeply savory.
The Guacamole: Made with ultra-fresh ingredients; truly out of this world.
El Gringo Taco Salad: Utterly delicious! It literally dances in your mouth, served in a unique, crisp, rectangular edible bowl.

An Absolute Five-Star Crew
The fantastic energy starts at the door with an upbeat, friendly host team. Our busboy was also remarkably attentive and conscientious throughout the meal.

🏆 Noah is Off the Charts!
The true star of our dining experience was our waiter, Noah. Vegans and vegetarians are understandably discerning and often face menu anxiety, but Noah completely melted all of that worry away. He was incredibly astute and thoughtful, proactively ensuring every dietary need was flawlessly met.
Noah is a phenomenal ambassador for the restaurant. I actually tried to speak with the manager to rave about him, but they were unavailable. I truly hope management reads this because Noah is an absolute treasure—I would return again and again just to sit in his section.

Thank you, South of Nick’s, for the exquisite food, gorgeous ambiance, and amazing staff. We will be returning very soon!“

“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 food tastes very good. One quesa birria taco is enough for a person. Very good portion sizes. Salsa bar is limited, with only spicy options. Their Birria based dishes are good compared to sea food. Very refreshing to see a fresh sliced avocado on a below $10 taco.“

“Highly Recommended Miguel's Cocina Mexican Restaurants🥰“

“My favorite burritos in San Diego. I grew up on Mission-style burritos in the bay area. Impossible to find those in San Diego, but at Caliente I get the veggie burrito and add whatever meat I want. That is as close to a Mission-style burrito I can find in town. Everything is excellent, fresh, and good quality. Ask for the orange habanero sauce, it’s amazing!“

“very food“

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

“There must have been a pound of egg, ham and cheese on the breakfast sandwich, it was delicious. Also, something happened to my order and they remade it. I never would have known it, but they told me it would take a few extra minutes to remake. All around wonderful experiences.“

“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.“

“Always great food fast service and very friendly“

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

“This place is amazing, it’s our first time here and it’s the best place for Mexican in N. County by far. Creative, innovative menu, everyone found everything to be delicious. Crazy good offering of plant-based dishes. Highly recommend!“

“the birria tacos are good I recomend them“

“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“

“I had a fantastic experience at Lienzo Charro Mexican Restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious, full of authentic flavor, and clearly made with care. The portions were generous, and everything came out fresh and hot. The atmosphere was lively and welcoming, making it a great spot to relax and enjoy a meal. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. Overall, it was a great dining experience, and I’ll definitely be coming back again soon!“

“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.“

“Was in town and picked a random place to eat from Google and I am so glad I did. This little taco food truck was amazing! Simple menu and great prices. Highly recommend the shrimp burrito add jalapeños. Will definitely be back if I find myself in the area again.“

“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!“

“First time here I came to San Diego to sell some car parts. Lol. I was already in the parking lot looking for a place to eat with the family. I saw this taco shop and it was packed and you know about packed restaurants it usually a good place to eat. I havd the carnitas tacos the number 12 and kids got the same and wifey got the menudo and all we have to say about his place "IS IT WAS THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD I HAVE HAD IN A LONG TIME!!!!!!" I I give this place 5*'s I live in Temecula and I will be back. It is well worth the 1 hour drive. Thanks for the food!!!“

“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 ❤️“

“Excellent, tasty flour tortillas.“

“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!“

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

“We only had burritos, but holy cow! This is a gem. We live in L.A., and I honestly might drive down here for lunch again. This is the kind of business that should be patronized during these times, so that it survives to provide REALLY GOOD FOOD.“

“I checked out Mexico Lindo on South Juniper Street in Escondido recently and was really impressed! First from the outside, such a beautiful tree lined sidewalk and nostalgic façade. There is also parking and an entrance in the rear. This family run establishment could not have been more homey and comforting. Very old-school plastic covered, vibrant Mexican tablecloths, tables dotted with crusty bottles of hot sauce and so forth. The place is really a throwback to a bygone era in dining. Worthwhile visiting just for the vibe. The service itself was outstanding. Warm, friendly, welcoming, and personable. I felt like part of la familia the whole time.

The menu here features many of the Mexican restaurant basics like enchiladas, burritos, tacos, seafood, etc. I ordered the enchiladas, one cheese and one chicken. Both come smothered with their delicious, richly flavored mole sauce. Topped with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and crema. Such an excellent dish despite the enchiladas being rather conservatively filled. Not sure if they have chips & salsa service here but I wasn’t offered any. My Modelo Especial was served in a bottle, nicely chilled with a side of lime wedges. I look forward to visiting again soon. Highly recommended if you haven’t been.“

“Our friend recommended this place, saying you don’t need to go far to find the best tacos.
And he was right! I loved all the tacos they offer, especially the tripa and lengua. They were so juicy and full of flavor!
Definitely coming back again!“

“IE native here who just moved to Encinitas recently! Serranos is our go-to spot for fast friendly service and delicious food. I love the breakfast burritos, chile verde, al pastor tacos, fish tacos, best taquitos everrrr, and of course their AMAZING salsas. Lucia and the kitchen staff are always kind. Thank you for always filling our bellies and the amazing prices. You can’t beat $8 burritos and $1 tacos.“

“Great atmosphere,delicious food and marvelous customer service.“

“The service is good. The food is decent. It's very Americanized. I would not consider it authentic Mexican food. Nor does it taste very homemade even though they do make flour tortillas from scratch from what I was told when I dined you there.“

“You gotta try the taquito burrito!“

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

“Bar area not so great. Food good but not atmosphere“

“My husband stumbled upon this place on the way to his dentist. and he liked the sign. It is now our weekend spot for (literally) tacos & tequila (and a beer for my hubs.) The food is incredible, the drinks stout, and the service is top notch. We always feel so welcome every time we're there! Tacos and Tequila is amazing! (Shout out to Jose, Michael, Laura, Christian, and Marissa!)“

“We went last week and liked it so much we're going back today!“

“Great food and fast service“

“Queso fundido the elites and the steak plate“