Diners' Choice: Mexican restaurants in San Diego

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Mexican cuisine in San Diego? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Blanco Cocina + Cantina - Coronado

4.8

4.8 (246)

$30 and under

Mexican

Coronado

About the restaurant

Secure your spot and experience Blanco’s fresh twist on Mexican food. Lounge long and on with tantalizing tequila flights and easy but innovative tacos. Go for the classic but fresh burrito or bowl layered with savory fillings like spicy Machaca short rib or red chili chicken, fresh salsas, and our famous house guacamole. Whether you’re hungry for something flavorful or thirsty for something fun, we’ve got everything you want at Blanco.

Top review

Robert

Dined 1 day ago

Always great food and service! Get the cheese crisp.

South of Nick's - Del Mar

4.8

4.8 (795)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Del Mar

About the restaurant

An essential stop in San Diego for Southern California Mexican Cuisine.

South of Nick's Mexican Kitchen & Bar features Classic Mexican favorites, prime steaks and seafood with a So Cal twist. Fine Tequilas & Margaritas

Our food and drink meets the highest standards of quality, freshness and seasonality and combines both modern-creative and traditional styles of cooking.

Nick’s is dedicated to perfecting the dining experience through continuous innovation, offering the highest quality food and beverage, and executing impeccable standards of hospitality. The deeply instilled Nick’s culture is personified by its Ladies and Gentlemen – professionals who share a single focus and are inspired and committed to offering great service and creating positive memorable experiences.

Top review

Rawan

Dined 4 days ago

A very nice venue overall! Great service and value for money. All the recommendations were spot on. Food was fresh, well cooked and presented.

Discover more

La Puerta Mission Hills

4.8

4.8 (33)

$30 and under

Mexican

Banker's Hill

About the restaurant

La Puerta Mission Hills is the second addition to the La Puerta family. We offer the same menu as our sister restaurant in the Gaslamp which has celebrated 13 years of operation. We are dedicated to bringing a unique dining experience to the Mission Hills neighborhood which features delicious Mexican food, an extensive agave selection, handcrafted cocktails and margaritas made with fresh squeezed juice.
We invite you to join us and experience our hospitality in what we hope will be your go to Cantina for years to come.

Top review

Yanelly

Dined on Jun 4, 2025

Delicious food and good customer service one of my favorites spots to dine at!

Cocina de Barrio North Park

4.7

4.7 (22)

$30 and under

Mexican

North Park

About the restaurant

*Brunch hours are on a walk-in basis only.

Cocina de Barrio by Chef Jose J. Flores

Welcome to Cocina de Barrio, the newest modern-urban Mexican restaurant located in North Park! We are proud to feature the culinary richness of Oaxaca as well as other Mexican regions. Stop by and enjoy our bar stocked with plenty of tequila and mezcal selections, beer, and wines sourced from Valle Guadalupe.

Don't forget to join us during our daily brunch (where we add a Mexican kick) and our happy hour every Monday-Friday from 3-5pm! Stay Chido!

Top review

AllieVIP

Dined 3 days ago

it was great! I would love it if the happy hour could go a little later than five. It’s hard to get there on a workday.

Cocina de Barrio

4.7

4.7 (431)

$30 and under

Mexican

Hillcrest

About the restaurant

*Brunch hours are on a walk-in basis only.
Thank you for your cooperation & support during this time!

Cocina de Barrio by Chef Jose J. Flores

Bienvenidos a Cocina de Barrio, the newest modern-urban Mexican restaurant located in Hillcrest, San Diego! We are proud to feature the culinary richness of Oaxaca as well as other Mexican regions. Stop by and enjoy our bar stocked with plenty tequila and mezcal selections, MUCHA cerveza, and wines sourced from Valle Guadalupe.

Don't forget to join us during our daily brunch (where we add a Mexican kick) and our happy hour every Tuesday-Friday from 3-5pm! Stay Chido!

Top review

TomVIP

Dined on Apr 5, 2025

Pretty pricey but good - the food was delicious but $30 entree is a little insane.

Puesto La Jolla

4.7

4.7 (2204)

$30 and under

Mexican

La Jolla

About the restaurant

Mexico City born. California raised. Puesto brings the vibrant soul of CDMX through a Southern California lens-bold, modern Mexican with an edge. Seasonal menus, creative takes, and the best ingredients in the hands of better chefs. Every tortilla starts with organic blue corn, made in-house like it's been since 1200 BC. Puesto is family-founded by the Adler and Lombrozo brothers, first-gen Mexican Americans raised on tamales and tradition. It's a love letter to the flavors they grew up with, reimagined with Mexico City energy and SoCal spirit. Made by food people. For food people.

Top review

CarlyVIP

Dined 1 day ago

The food was amazing and our server was nice but i have been to this location multiple times now and every time i always feel very rushed and the staff is eager to get us out even though we haven't been there for awhile.

Discover more

Experience

Taco Tuesday!

El Agave

4.8

4.8 (2553)

$30 and under

Mexican

Old Town

About the restaurant

Experience the true flavor of Mexico at San Diego’s premier Mexican cuisine destination.
Established in 1996, El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria offers its patrons a unique dining setting within
the largest tequila museum in the United States – with over 3,000 tequilas on display – also
repeatedly voted the #1 tequila bar in the country. Nestled in historic Old Town, San Diego, it is the
perfect place to enjoy a business lunch, romantic date, rehearsal dinner or to simply relax and
unwind sipping find tequila with friends.

Top review

Kimberley

Dined 1 day ago

Enjoyed a tequila tasting and delicious dinner. The staff were particularly friendly and knowledgeable about tequilas and introduced us to new favorites.

Cocina 35 Liberty Station

4.6

4.6 (173)

$30 and under

Mexican

Shelter Island / San Diego Bay

About the restaurant

Our team is dedicated to bring to you the essence of Mexico, the flavors, aromas, culture, service and textures that were given to us, growing up cooking right next to our grandparents in Mexico.

We are the only restaurant in San Diego that specialized in Chilaquiles the Most traditional Mexican Breakfast.

Top review

Nicollette

Dined 4 days ago

We had a great time at Cocina 35. I celebrated my birthday there with family and it was amazing. Food was served fast and fresh. Everything tasted delicious and service was excellent! Will definitely come back!

Cocina 35 Otay Mesa

4.5

4.5 (23)

$30 and under

Mexican

San Ysidro

About the restaurant

Mexican Breakfast? You got to try the Best Chilaquiles in San Diego!

Top review

ChristopherVIP

Dined on May 31, 2025

Delicious good, good service and nice ambiance! Will visit other locations!

La Doña

4.7

4.7 (20)

$30 and under

Mexican

Point Loma

About the restaurant

Located just steps from the Pacific Ocean, La Doña brings vibrant Mexican flavors to the coast with fresh ingredients and a modern twist to Ocean Beach. From house-made classics to bold takes on traditional favorites, every bite is crafted with care and authenticity. Pair your meal with hand-crafted cocktails, a carefully curated selection of San Diego’s finest craft beers, or a refreshing classic Mexican cerveza. Whether you’re gathering for family dinner, toasting with friends, or simply savoring the moment, La Doña is where great food, good vibes, and unforgettable memories come together.

Top review

Jessie

Dined 2 days ago

We had a birthday here with 17 adults and 7 kids. Carly did an outstanding job taking care of our group!

Discover more

Explore Diners' Choice best of San Diego