This was our first time dining here and the last. The ambience was so quiet & bored , Food was good and a good portions but it took about 40 minutes to bring the plates to our table, even though it wasn't packed (now I know why ). I wouldn't recommend it
Lourdes
Food took over an hour to come out and it wasn't good/ cold! Our server was good, but this place has definitely changed for the worse. The quality of the food is definitely disappointing!
daniela
My experience was terrible was celebrating my birthday was super excited about this place but was disappointed we got there on time , we got sat nobody came to greet us till 40 mins later we got our food an hour later . It was cold my whole party was disappointed, my waiter tried his best but the kitchen was running late , overall we only liked our drinks and waiter was cool .
Leila
Server forgot about us multiple times, food was late and cold. Had to wait for check for a long time as we were not checked on
Raquel
Ambiance was amazing! Great place for a birthday celebration. We booked on OpenTable stating this was a birthday and received a call confirming our birthday reservation. We had a great table on the patio waitress was friendly but never celebrated the birthday girl. Don't offer any desserts.
Alexis
We had to wait way to long to get drinks, food also we were celebrating a birthday which was NOT ACKNOWLEDGED!!!
Lisa
Horrible customer service. The manager was extremely rude to us after they made many food/order errors.
Bonnie Riehl
Had a great lunch here! Fish tacos were very good and Lindsay was a fantastic server.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kristen Contreras
If I could give El Sueño more than 5 stars, I absolutely would! 🌮✨ This is hands-down one of the BEST Mexican restaurants in San Diego. From the moment we walked in, the energy was vibrant, welcoming, and fun. 🤩
Food: Everything we ordered was out of this world. We started with the elotes as an appetizer—they were absolutely bomb: creamy, perfectly seasoned, and full of flavor. I had the tacos, which were cooked to perfection, packed with flavor in every bite. My son’s burrito was huge and absolutely delicious, and my daughter’s chicken quesadillas were incredible—the chicken was tender, flavorful, and she loved them so much she didn’t even want to share! We finished our meal with churros and ice cream, which were warm, crispy, and the perfect sweet ending. Every single bite was amazing. 😋
Service & Atmosphere: The team at El Sueño truly makes this place special. Amberly, the hostess, was unforgettable—her energy was contagious! She welcomed us with the biggest smile, friendly conversation, and such an upbeat, bubbly personality that set the tone for our whole experience. Mailie, our server, was just as amazing—super sweet, thoughtful, and knowledgeable about the menu. She gave us great recommendations and made sure our dining experience was absolutely perfect!!!
Between the incredible food, top-tier service, and the lively atmosphere, El Sueño is a must-visit. I’ll definitely be back every time I’m in San Diego! 🌟
Sat down fast. Very attentive wait staff. Food was delicious. Mostly authentic flavors. Good drinks.
Lindsey Terry
Expensive
Adilene Botello
Terrible Experience — Will Not Be Returning
Truly one of the most disappointing dining experiences I’ve had. Received a call from the hostess shortly before our reservation time to let us know her manager has made a session to close the kitchen because of a slow night. Essentially insinuating to not show up but we were literally pulling up as she called. Hostess was sweet just doing her job but can’t say the same from the waitress.
Unfortunately, the service from our waitress was cold and dismissive. She made no effort to make us feel welcome, didn’t check in after bringing our food, and ignored requests like adding cheese to a dish. We were never offered refills or any basic hospitality.
What made it worse was watching her happily engage with another table of white men while barely acknowledging our group of Latina women. In a restaurant claiming to serve Mexican food, this felt especially uncomfortable and discriminatory. She only got chatty when it was time to pay the bill expecting a tip. Lol
Mind you when asked for the bill she just showed the total on her device and didn’t even ask if we wanted to see a breakdown or split it.
The food itself was far from authentic — and no aguas frescas? That should’ve been the first red flag.
For those reviews stating the food is good, I’ll let you know they’re not coming from POC so I’d take that with a grain of salt.
I’ll be reaching out to the restaurant directly, but if you’re a POC, I’d strongly suggest going elsewhere. The service, atmosphere, and food just aren’t worth it.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
je55icaLee
We were excited to try this placing after seeing some posts about it and unfortunately left with the agreement we would never come back. To start, the table for two was kind of small. The outdoor patio was cute, but the music sounded like you were at a day club (not the vibe you want for a weekday dinner date). The waitress was attentive and kind. The food was terrible. The chips were stale although the salsas, especially the spicy ones, were good. We started with the calamari which was very underwhelming; something didn't feel right about the seasoning & batter. My boyfriend got the wagu chorizo burger. There was too much going on (which was ironic next to the basic fries they served with it). I got the Del Mar Enchiladas, and I ended up sending them back. There was no flavor; it was like eating textured oil (because they were so greasy). We decided not to order anything else and picked up something else on the way home.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
adilene
Unfortunately, my experience here was deeply disappointing, and I will not be returning. Shortly before our reservation time started , I received a call from the hostess informing me that the kitchen was closing per the manager's instructions. We were literally pulling into the parking lot, still well within our reserved time. While the hostess was kind and simply following orders, the overall treatment we received from the staff was unacceptable. Our server, in particular, made us feel like an inconvenience rather than welcome guests. There was a noticeable lack of warmth or basic hospitality — she did not greet us kindly, offer assistance with the menu, or check in after our food was served. I requested cheese on my dish, which was omitted, and no one came by to confirm if everything was correct. We were also never offered refills, despite clearly needing them. What made this experience worse was observing the waitress engage enthusiastically with another table of white men while being cold and dismissive toward our group of Latina women. It felt uncomfortable, and quite frankly, discriminatory — especially in an establishment that brands itself as a Mexican restaurant. Ironically, the food lacked authenticity, and the absence of even basic staples like aguas frescas should have been a red flag. I will be contacting the restaurant directly to express my concerns. If you're a person of color, I would strongly caution against visiting this place — not only due to the poor service, but because you're truly not missing anything in terms of food or atmosphere.
This was our first time dining here and the last. The ambience was so quiet & bored , Food was good and a good portions but it took about 40 minutes to bring the plates to our table, even though it wasn't packed (now I know why ). I wouldn't recommend it
Food took over an hour to come out and it wasn't good/ cold! Our server was good, but this place has definitely changed for the worse. The quality of the food is definitely disappointing!
My experience was terrible was celebrating my birthday was super excited about this place but was disappointed we got there on time , we got sat nobody came to greet us till 40 mins later we got our food an hour later . It was cold my whole party was disappointed, my waiter tried his best but the kitchen was running late , overall we only liked our drinks and waiter was cool .
Server forgot about us multiple times, food was late and cold. Had to wait for check for a long time as we were not checked on
Ambiance was amazing! Great place for a birthday celebration. We booked on OpenTable stating this was a birthday and received a call confirming our birthday reservation. We had a great table on the patio waitress was friendly but never celebrated the birthday girl. Don't offer any desserts.
We had to wait way to long to get drinks, food also we were celebrating a birthday which was NOT ACKNOWLEDGED!!!
Horrible customer service. The manager was extremely rude to us after they made many food/order errors.
Had a great lunch here! Fish tacos were very good and Lindsay was a fantastic server.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If I could give El Sueño more than 5 stars, I absolutely would! 🌮✨ This is hands-down one of the BEST Mexican restaurants in San Diego. From the moment we walked in, the energy was vibrant, welcoming, and fun. 🤩
Food: Everything we ordered was out of this world. We started with the elotes as an appetizer—they were absolutely bomb: creamy, perfectly seasoned, and full of flavor. I had the tacos, which were cooked to perfection, packed with flavor in every bite. My son’s burrito was huge and absolutely delicious, and my daughter’s chicken quesadillas were incredible—the chicken was tender, flavorful, and she loved them so much she didn’t even want to share! We finished our meal with churros and ice cream, which were warm, crispy, and the perfect sweet ending. Every single bite was amazing. 😋
Service & Atmosphere: The team at El Sueño truly makes this place special. Amberly, the hostess, was unforgettable—her energy was contagious! She welcomed us with the biggest smile, friendly conversation, and such an upbeat, bubbly personality that set the tone for our whole experience. Mailie, our server, was just as amazing—super sweet, thoughtful, and knowledgeable about the menu. She gave us great recommendations and made sure our dining experience was absolutely perfect!!!
Between the incredible food, top-tier service, and the lively atmosphere, El Sueño is a must-visit. I’ll definitely be back every time I’m in San Diego! 🌟
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I asked for a refill and she called me a fish
Restaurantji Recommends
Sat down fast. Very attentive wait staff. Food was delicious. Mostly authentic flavors. Good drinks.
Expensive
Terrible Experience — Will Not Be Returning
Truly one of the most disappointing dining experiences I’ve had. Received a call from the hostess shortly before our reservation time to let us know her manager has made a session to close the kitchen because of a slow night. Essentially insinuating to not show up but we were literally pulling up as she called. Hostess was sweet just doing her job but can’t say the same from the waitress.
Unfortunately, the service from our waitress was cold and dismissive. She made no effort to make us feel welcome, didn’t check in after bringing our food, and ignored requests like adding cheese to a dish. We were never offered refills or any basic hospitality.
What made it worse was watching her happily engage with another table of white men while barely acknowledging our group of Latina women. In a restaurant claiming to serve Mexican food, this felt especially uncomfortable and discriminatory. She only got chatty when it was time to pay the bill expecting a tip. Lol
Mind you when asked for the bill she just showed the total on her device and didn’t even ask if we wanted to see a breakdown or split it.
The food itself was far from authentic — and no aguas frescas? That should’ve been the first red flag.
For those reviews stating the food is good, I’ll let you know they’re not coming from POC so I’d take that with a grain of salt.
I’ll be reaching out to the restaurant directly, but if you’re a POC, I’d strongly suggest going elsewhere. The service, atmosphere, and food just aren’t worth it.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
We were excited to try this placing after seeing some posts about it and unfortunately left with the agreement we would never come back.
To start, the table for two was kind of small. The outdoor patio was cute, but the music sounded like you were at a day club (not the vibe you want for a weekday dinner date).
The waitress was attentive and kind. The food was terrible. The chips were stale although the salsas, especially the spicy ones, were good. We started with the calamari which was very underwhelming; something didn't feel right about the seasoning & batter.
My boyfriend got the wagu chorizo burger. There was too much going on (which was ironic next to the basic fries they served with it). I got the Del Mar Enchiladas, and I ended up sending them back. There was no flavor; it was like eating textured oil (because they were so greasy). We decided not to order anything else and picked up something else on the way home.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
Unfortunately, my experience here was deeply disappointing, and I will not be returning. Shortly before our reservation time started , I received a call from the hostess informing me that the kitchen was closing per the manager's instructions. We were literally pulling into the parking lot, still well within our reserved time. While the hostess was kind and simply following orders, the overall treatment we received from the staff was unacceptable. Our server, in particular, made us feel like an inconvenience rather than welcome guests. There was a noticeable lack of warmth or basic hospitality — she did not greet us kindly, offer assistance with the menu, or check in after our food was served. I requested cheese on my dish, which was omitted, and no one came by to confirm if everything was correct. We were also never offered refills, despite clearly needing them. What made this experience worse was observing the waitress engage enthusiastically with another table of white men while being cold and dismissive toward our group of Latina women. It felt uncomfortable, and quite frankly, discriminatory — especially in an establishment that brands itself as a Mexican restaurant. Ironically, the food lacked authenticity, and the absence of even basic staples like aguas frescas should have been a red flag. I will be contacting the restaurant directly to express my concerns. If you're a person of color, I would strongly caution against visiting this place — not only due to the poor service, but because you're truly not missing anything in terms of food or atmosphere.
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