En route to our weekend in Rosarito, my boyfriend and I decided to get the vacation started early with a visit to La Pinata in Old Town. After all, we were meeting friends at the Old Town Transit to Uber to the border and then catch a ride to the resort so we were free to start drinking without having to drive. Obviously, margaritas were in order and we each ordered one along with a bowl of guacamole. As I reached into my purse to show my ID, I suddenly discovered that my wallet was missing. After a brief moment of panic, I remembered that I had my passport tucked safely into another pocket of my purse so at least I could get a drink to calm my nerves over my missing wallet. While I fretted over its location, which thankfully ended up being back in my car at home where it had fallen out of my purse earlier in the day, the margarita hit the spot. The mango flavor was delicious but I did find that I ended up with a lot of ice at the end without any flavor and I don't recall that being an issue with other margaritas. The guacamole tasted fine but I wouldn't say it was anything overly special. My favorite part of La Pinata was the quiet atmosphere. After being overwhelmed by the crowds and mariachi at Casa Guadalajara next door, we were relieved to sit back on La Pinata's peaceful patio and not have to scream to be heard over all the noise. Much more our speed!
Jeff B.
Truthfully, it's a solid 4.something stars, but I feel compelled to round up to counter the bougie bozos who demand the best meal they've ever had to give anything above a 2. This place is solid, the portions are generous, the food is delicious, the prices are solid, and the drinks are great (had a margarita) and aren't watered down in the slightest. The staff was very friendly, wait times were minimal, seating and atmosphere is pleasant and authentic. That's what I look for in a dining experience, so maybe if you're the kind of jerkoff who puts 5 $1 bills on the table at the start of the meal, you should go to Taco Bell and harass the staff there instead (or better yet, don't harass any workers, you're not that important or special). Anyway, solid place, will go back again easily.
Kim G.
Yummy! Love that you can have chips or a cheesy tostada when you sit down. The pinatas and decor are adorable and the pinatas are changed out so they are not ratty and old. Their food is very good. Love their sauces and fresh produce! Great parking and great service!
Deb W.
This is a cute little place that is a hidden gem. Nice spicy salsa, great flavors. They have a private parking lot too.
Trini H.
This is only my second or third Yelp review. I visit San Diego about 3 times a year. I'm Mexican and I'm self admittedly picky about my Mexican food. I decided to take my son to old town for some "authentic" Mexican. I thought I couldn't get bad Mexican food in San Diego but I was wrong. This place was recommended by a shop owner in old town. She told us that the locals favored this place and it was like gramma's house. When you walk in it's quaint. Not busy but not empty either. Cute decor and you have plenty of time to notice it because you will wait at least 5 minutes before anyone notices that you are there. We opted for patio seating. The service was average once we got to our table. My son ordered the guacamole enchiladas, I ordered Chile verde. The chips were not fresh and the salsa way too spicy for table salsa. We received our food and immediately I was disappointed. The portions were generous but they used cheddar cheese. In my opinion Cheddar cheese has no place in an authentic Mexican dish. My sons plate looked impressive until he started eating it. The enchiladas were covered in a sauce that had so many bell peppers(again not really appropriate in Mexican food dish like this) in it I'm sure to hide the very flat cheddar cheese filled tortillas. The quacamole had canned tomatoes in it or they were very ripe and cut way too big. He left most of his food on the plate. My chile verde was ok Not the best I've ever had, again lots of cheddar on my beans. I was very disappointed in this place. I wanted to like it but I just couldn't. If you want good authentic Mexican food pass this place up. It's just not available here.
Carleen H.
I feel like this place is a little underrated on here. Is it the best Mexican food you will ever have? No. But it's a fun atmosphere and good food. The meant items are a little pricy but it think worth it. We enjoyed a large helping or guacamole (which I loved! Most places I order it is subpar). There were four of us and we each had enough to take home for lunch the next day. They were pretty busy for a Saturday night. Yes there are other much busier places nearby that might have possibly had better food but wasn't willing to wait to eat. Very much enjoyed our time and can't wait to go back!
Lindsey S.
I'm upset that this restaurant has a low rating because it is amazing! As far as food for value goes, la pií±ata has all the other restaurants in old town beat. They also give you wayyyy more food than the other restaurants at a cheaper price. The margaritas aren't as watered downed. Really the best value and taste in old town
Miguel V.
The place was nice. We had come here because many people recommended this place for their margaritas. Maybe I'm an alcoholic, but these margaritas were not strong enough for me. If I'm paying 20 dollars for a pitcher then I expect to have a drink that can at least get me buzzed. Other than the weak drinks, the food was good and I enjoyed it, but nothing was special. The main reason for the 4 stars is its location, which is right outside of Old Town touristy area and is a good stop after walking around in the hot sun all day. The wait staff was also friendly and the outside area of the restaurant was very aesthetically pleasing and had just the right amount of shade to keep things cool on a hot summer day.
Kyrra C.
I don't understand all the bad reviews... my husband and I came here because we wanted to visit old town. It was SO good. The parking at the restaurant was convenient for visiting old town - I made sure with the waitress we could leave the car parked while we browsed after dinner. The portions are HUGE, there's no way we could finish them. I ordered the guacamole enchiladas which came with a ton of guacamole! Everything was yummy and service good :)
Katie Y.
Came to La Pinata for a late lunch due to recommendations from several San Diego locals who suggested this place due to authenticity and delicious margarita pitchers. At first impression, the place seemed very quaint. Apparently the restaurant has been around for over 80 years. There were many food options, and different choices for margarita flavors. At $20 a "pitcher," the pitchers were quite small, although enough to pour out 3 glasses, but not very alcoholic either. The food was good, but nothing spectacular, and overpriced (although admittedly was in the Old Town touristy area). Overall, food was average, nothing special. Seems to only attract a tourist crowd. I'm sure you can find countless other authentic Mexican restaurants in San Diego.
Yuck. Nothing about this place is good. I have been out of California for a few years, and this is the quality expected from areas without decent Mexican food, not San Diego. Apparently, La Pinata changed ownership recently , which accounts for the change in menu and taste . I read this on Yelp, but my inlaws were insistent on going to the "same place " we ate last time we were in town. I really think the problem is quality . For example, the beans tasted as though they were from a can. The salsa is really heavy on cumin with not much else for flavor . Nobody in our party of 9 enjoyed their meal.
Esmaeil K.
We were there last night for my daughter's birthday The food was average , cheeps were horrible , my wife had to throw up when she got home. We tried Fajita there 25 grams meat like four shrimps in it. Atmosphere and staff were great.
Abigail English
Had great outdoor seating. Really enjoyed the location as well. Had a really nice waitress and really good food. This restaurant really made my trip to San Diego a great time.
Lori T.
A docent at the Whaley House recommended this place, a bit off the beaten tourist path. Charming place, friendly staff, and delicious food!
Miguel Barajas
We had an amazing time for my mother's birthday. The staff was nice and super accommodating. The food was okay, but maybe we're just biased because we eat Mexican food everyday. But overall it was an amazing experience.
En route to our weekend in Rosarito, my boyfriend and I decided to get the vacation started early with a visit to La Pinata in Old Town. After all, we were meeting friends at the Old Town Transit to Uber to the border and then catch a ride to the resort so we were free to start drinking without having to drive. Obviously, margaritas were in order and we each ordered one along with a bowl of guacamole. As I reached into my purse to show my ID, I suddenly discovered that my wallet was missing. After a brief moment of panic, I remembered that I had my passport tucked safely into another pocket of my purse so at least I could get a drink to calm my nerves over my missing wallet. While I fretted over its location, which thankfully ended up being back in my car at home where it had fallen out of my purse earlier in the day, the margarita hit the spot. The mango flavor was delicious but I did find that I ended up with a lot of ice at the end without any flavor and I don't recall that being an issue with other margaritas. The guacamole tasted fine but I wouldn't say it was anything overly special. My favorite part of La Pinata was the quiet atmosphere. After being overwhelmed by the crowds and mariachi at Casa Guadalajara next door, we were relieved to sit back on La Pinata's peaceful patio and not have to scream to be heard over all the noise. Much more our speed!
Truthfully, it's a solid 4.something stars, but I feel compelled to round up to counter the bougie bozos who demand the best meal they've ever had to give anything above a 2. This place is solid, the portions are generous, the food is delicious, the prices are solid, and the drinks are great (had a margarita) and aren't watered down in the slightest. The staff was very friendly, wait times were minimal, seating and atmosphere is pleasant and authentic. That's what I look for in a dining experience, so maybe if you're the kind of jerkoff who puts 5 $1 bills on the table at the start of the meal, you should go to Taco Bell and harass the staff there instead (or better yet, don't harass any workers, you're not that important or special). Anyway, solid place, will go back again easily.
Yummy! Love that you can have chips or a cheesy tostada when you sit down. The pinatas and decor are adorable and the pinatas are changed out so they are not ratty and old. Their food is very good. Love their sauces and fresh produce! Great parking and great service!
This is a cute little place that is a hidden gem. Nice spicy salsa, great flavors. They have a private parking lot too.
This is only my second or third Yelp review. I visit San Diego about 3 times a year. I'm Mexican and I'm self admittedly picky about my Mexican food. I decided to take my son to old town for some "authentic" Mexican. I thought I couldn't get bad Mexican food in San Diego but I was wrong. This place was recommended by a shop owner in old town. She told us that the locals favored this place and it was like gramma's house. When you walk in it's quaint. Not busy but not empty either. Cute decor and you have plenty of time to notice it because you will wait at least 5 minutes before anyone notices that you are there. We opted for patio seating. The service was average once we got to our table. My son ordered the guacamole enchiladas, I ordered Chile verde. The chips were not fresh and the salsa way too spicy for table salsa. We received our food and immediately I was disappointed. The portions were generous but they used cheddar cheese. In my opinion Cheddar cheese has no place in an authentic Mexican dish. My sons plate looked impressive until he started eating it. The enchiladas were covered in a sauce that had so many bell peppers(again not really appropriate in Mexican food dish like this) in it I'm sure to hide the very flat cheddar cheese filled tortillas. The quacamole had canned tomatoes in it or they were very ripe and cut way too big. He left most of his food on the plate. My chile verde was ok Not the best I've ever had, again lots of cheddar on my beans. I was very disappointed in this place. I wanted to like it but I just couldn't. If you want good authentic Mexican food pass this place up. It's just not available here.
I feel like this place is a little underrated on here. Is it the best Mexican food you will ever have? No. But it's a fun atmosphere and good food. The meant items are a little pricy but it think worth it. We enjoyed a large helping or guacamole (which I loved! Most places I order it is subpar). There were four of us and we each had enough to take home for lunch the next day. They were pretty busy for a Saturday night. Yes there are other much busier places nearby that might have possibly had better food but wasn't willing to wait to eat. Very much enjoyed our time and can't wait to go back!
I'm upset that this restaurant has a low rating because it is amazing! As far as food for value goes, la pií±ata has all the other restaurants in old town beat. They also give you wayyyy more food than the other restaurants at a cheaper price. The margaritas aren't as watered downed. Really the best value and taste in old town
The place was nice. We had come here because many people recommended this place for their margaritas. Maybe I'm an alcoholic, but these margaritas were not strong enough for me. If I'm paying 20 dollars for a pitcher then I expect to have a drink that can at least get me buzzed. Other than the weak drinks, the food was good and I enjoyed it, but nothing was special. The main reason for the 4 stars is its location, which is right outside of Old Town touristy area and is a good stop after walking around in the hot sun all day. The wait staff was also friendly and the outside area of the restaurant was very aesthetically pleasing and had just the right amount of shade to keep things cool on a hot summer day.
I don't understand all the bad reviews... my husband and I came here because we wanted to visit old town. It was SO good. The parking at the restaurant was convenient for visiting old town - I made sure with the waitress we could leave the car parked while we browsed after dinner. The portions are HUGE, there's no way we could finish them. I ordered the guacamole enchiladas which came with a ton of guacamole! Everything was yummy and service good :)
Came to La Pinata for a late lunch due to recommendations from several San Diego locals who suggested this place due to authenticity and delicious margarita pitchers. At first impression, the place seemed very quaint. Apparently the restaurant has been around for over 80 years. There were many food options, and different choices for margarita flavors. At $20 a "pitcher," the pitchers were quite small, although enough to pour out 3 glasses, but not very alcoholic either. The food was good, but nothing spectacular, and overpriced (although admittedly was in the Old Town touristy area). Overall, food was average, nothing special. Seems to only attract a tourist crowd. I'm sure you can find countless other authentic Mexican restaurants in San Diego.
Restaurantji Recommends
Yuck. Nothing about this place is good. I have been out of California for a few years, and this is the quality expected from areas without decent Mexican food, not San Diego. Apparently, La Pinata changed ownership recently , which accounts for the change in menu and taste . I read this on Yelp, but my inlaws were insistent on going to the "same place " we ate last time we were in town. I really think the problem is quality . For example, the beans tasted as though they were from a can. The salsa is really heavy on cumin with not much else for flavor . Nobody in our party of 9 enjoyed their meal.
We were there last night for my daughter's birthday The food was average , cheeps were horrible , my wife had to throw up when she got home. We tried Fajita there 25 grams meat like four shrimps in it. Atmosphere and staff were great.
Had great outdoor seating. Really enjoyed the location as well. Had a really nice waitress and really good food. This restaurant really made my trip to San Diego a great time.
A docent at the Whaley House recommended this place, a bit off the beaten tourist path. Charming place, friendly staff, and delicious food!
We had an amazing time for my mother's birthday. The staff was nice and super accommodating. The food was okay, but maybe we're just biased because we eat Mexican food everyday. But overall it was an amazing experience.