We came here while we were in Southern California, and this place was really good…read more The ambience was great, the way the tables were set up, the music, everything just felt good and welcoming. The food was delicious. I had the carne asada plate and also tried a taco, and everything was on point. I knew what I wanted and how to pick it, and my food did not disappoint at all. My husband had the taquitos and enchiladas. His experience was a little different because he went more on the veggie side, and a lot of his dishes had potatoes, so after a while it started to taste the same for him. But overall, the food itself was still good. The service was great, drinks were good, and the overall vibe made it a really enjoyable experience. I would definitely come back if I'm in the area again.

Food service was amazing They have so many delicious meals…read moreto try highly recommend you won't leave unsatisfied Will fersure be coming back !

Like coming here for Taco Tuesday. They offer carnitas, chicken or adobado. All three were very…read moretasty. My fav were the carnitas & adobado. Best was the salsas! Green & red pack some heat. Really tasty!

I had the California Burrito, best I've had in years! The carne asada was well seasoned and the…read morefries are very crispy and well seasoned too.

Another amazing meal! My wife said the beans were special. The portions are always MASSIVE. I…read moreordered 3 mini birria tacos and the chunks of meat in those tortillas almost moo'd they were so big. I need to visit and eat in person because Rancho Grande El Toro might be one of my favorite Mexican spots in the area.

I like this place. It's not super authentic or fancy. It's just comforting and low key. I don't…read morereally like table and chairs. I prefer booths, but I don't mind it here. The staff are friendly and accommodating. The restaurant is a little on the darker side, you don't get blinded while you're there. It's not so dark that you can't see clearly. It's a perfect balance I'd say. It's a clean place. However, stay out of the bathroom. I went in there once and it looks like it needs some serious remodeling. I don't go there to use the restroom though. I gave them four stars because of the bathroom, but the food and service are definitely five stars.

The food was absolutely delicious, and I was so impressed by the quality and flavor of every dish…read more It is clear that a lot of care goes into the preparation, and knowing that Cocina Del Mar is a family-owned business makes the experience even more special. It is wonderful to support a local establishment that truly cares about the food they serve and the community they are part of. Thank you for providing such a fantastic dining experience. I look forward to visiting again soon!

Covina Del Mar San Diego, CA…read more Food: Is there anything better than authentic Mexican food... when in the mood. We ordered Fish Tacos and Steak and Chicken Sopas. The fish taco had a great presentation and tasted great... grilled fish moist and flavorful along with the fresh Pico. The Sopas were delicious l enjoyed the chicken more than the steak nevertheless I would definitely order them again. Service: A bit of a language barrier nevertheless we work through it. Our waitress was so friendly and patient with us. Ambiance: Cantina vibe, clean and well organized.

OMG so so good California burritos (we got carne asada and…read moremy son likes one with chicken) Carne asada fries And the young lady that works there is so friendly and accommodating

There are taco shops and then there is the real thing. I knew this tiny hole in the wall was going…read moreto kick ass even before I walked in. You enter and there is an awesome salsa bar with many salsas, Mexican carrots and onions, chopped onions, and so much more, Mexican soccer (ok, futbol) on the tube, homemade aguas frescas, and real cooking happening behind the counter. You should be convinced by now that this is the real deal. I beg you: please do not order a bean and cheese burrito here. The adobada burrito is wonderful. It is perfectly-sized and the meat is freshly-cooked, well-seasoned and delicious. I have no doubt every item on the menu tastes great, probably even the bean and cheese burrito. With your burrito, you get two small plastic cups for salsa and a baggie for carrots or peppers or whatever. It is 25 cents for each additional salsa cup, which seems a little steep. But whatever you do, make sure you get the chipotle salsa. It may be the best salsa in history. It is honestly that good. I drove 25 minutes getting there and another 25 minutes getting home in order to try this place out, and there is a taco shop a quarter mile from me that I happily passed. I would make this drive every time.

Horrible customer service. We waited over 10 minutes at the window while staff were clearly there,…read morebut no one acknowledged us at all. We were the only customers no line, no crowd yet still completely ignored. Not even a simple greeting. After standing outside the truck for that long with no response, we decided to leave without ordering. Unfortunately, we never got the chance to try the food, so I can't speak on its quality. However, the pricing is on the higher end pricing. As for the atmosphere, parking is very tight and the setup is outdoors, which made the wait even more uncomfortable. Really disappointing experience.

Randomly saw this place on chance and wanted to try. Don't see a lot of seafood looking trucks so…read morehad to check it out. Got fish tacos and they were pretty solid. Some of the best breading I've had on a fried fish tacos and all the flavors were there. My only fault would be the fish to tortilla ratio, in which the amount of fish we got was really inconsistent from taco to taco. IMO, very important when it comes to tacos. Service was fine. Overall a fun experience, great vibe, and a good time!

Yummy little taco shop in vista, the cashier was very friendly & welcoming! I tried a quesabirria…read moretaco that came with the broth it was delicious & a crunchy beef taco which was just ok didn't have too much flavor I also tried a bowl of menudo and that was extremely flavorful and yummy! I'll be back to try more items

Delicious and Authentic Mexican food in Vista! Feels like someone's abuela made it with love! The…read moreMachaca Breakfat Burrito, queso birria, and chile relleno were the stars of the show the last time I went here! The dinner specials are always unique and delicious! Their sauce game is on point!!

This was my fav place. Went tonight and three strikes--food was awful, portions significantly…read morereduced, and took over 30 minutes at 5:30 pm to get two carnitas street tacos and enchiladas suizas. One of customers asked if ownership had changed and lady behind counter said yes. I am super bummed. The carnitas was awful. It wasn't shredded and it wasn't charred crispy. Beans and rice--bland and beans were too mashed. Enchiladas suizas--the chicken was good. The sauce wasn't. Just a super drag after a bad day. Now I have to find a new Mexican place.

We had been to the previous San Marcos location and enjoyed the food. They are no longer there. We…read morejust discovered this location and had a very tasty dinner. Order at the counter & they bring you the food to your table. Food wasn't spicy but flavorful. Would have liked a little more heat. Heard the burritos are yummy. Will try those next time. Friendly service. Family run restaurant. Lots of parking in their lot. Off the beaten path in the Ocean Hills area. Local clientele.

Based on recommendations and tried it and food was very good server was great that night he served…read moreand waited all on his own and did it with a smile and was very gracious Try the Baja fish tacos

Came in for an early dinner and to try this place out. Have heard many things via social media…read more For starters, we got complimentary chips & salsa. The salsa was good IMO, though the rest of the table thought it was too spicy. For drinks we chose a Mexican Candy ($15) and Hibiscus Margarita ($14). They were okay. I think not really worth the price (barely any buzz). I'll probably stick with a beer next time but that's okay. For food, we ordered the Chile Relleno & Cheese Enchilada ($20), Queso Birria Taco Plate ($18) and for me, the Fajita Mixta ($26). Everyone liked their food. For me, I've had better fajitas elsewhere (Mariscos Hualtulco is my fav) but these were still good (except no green bell pepper for some reason). I noticed the *new* menu price for the fajitas was $29 (Mixta), but on the bill it was still $26 (old menu price). So be aware, the new price is coming obviously. I want to try the Molcajete but $38 is a stretch! Atmosphere was okay. It was a Saturday and although it was early, I expected a more vibrant feel, but maybe that comes later in the night. There was plenty of seating. Parking was okay, but the lot was oddly packed however even though the restaurant was not. I would come back to try something else on the menu, but with so many great Mexican options in our area, they need that extra something to attract more patrons. A happy hour with $10 margs for starters would be nice.

Their meat is not just flavorful, but it's so tender! Generous with the guac, and their hot sauce…read moreselection has really great flavors and kick! Especially this one green sauce Their veggie taco has grilled mixed veggies that were not over cooked or dry. I enjoyed how they took care of the veggies with the same amount of care with the meat. Flavored nicely and cooked well! Place has a dog friendly patio and can get packed. Service is also pretty decent!

This place is great!…read more Wife and I came out on a date night to this local spot we've been trying to come to for months. It was on a Friday night, the place was packed, and difficult to find a spot to park. The line to order was almost out the door, but still fast to get through, and we were quick to choose what we wanted before struggling to find a spot to sit and talk. After about 15 minutes, our order was ready and we got to enjoy our food. We started with the Carne Asada Nachos, Refried Beans on the side. The meat was flavorful, very tender, and plentiful atop a pile of crisp and fresh tortilla chips. The cheese was nice and salty and the sour cream was warm to the point where it drizzled over it all nicely. All in all, it was a very tasty start to the night. The only two issues I had with it were that the guac was a bit overly pureed, making it kind of runny. And the refried beans had a very sour flavor, making me think that they were over the edge of going spoiled. I had to thank my wife's aversion to eating beans, helping us avoid having them spooned on top, which would have ruined this course. I also had an Al Pastor Taco, Craft Coast Style. The whole it was crisped up well, the cheese forming a great crust on the inside of the taco. The meat was sweetly marinaded, flavorful and delicious. On top of it was a good amount of beans, onions, cilantro, and guacamole, making for a good sized taco without any overflowing. It was pretty damn tasty. So, our first trip out here had more highs than lows, resulting in a very positive initial dinner. I'm sure those beans were just a one-off, at least I hope they were. And there's still hope that the guac may have had too much lime or had been overly mixed this time around. A second trip is definitely in the cards, with more of the family to expand what comes to the table.