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    Cenote Grill

    4.3 (950 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    CENOTE GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Enchilada bowl at Cenote Grill with chicken, Spanish rice and black beans. Half red sauce & half green.
    Lisa G.

    First time to Cenote -- we really enjoyed our meal and will definitely be back! Service was awesome. Got the enchilada bowl, which was delish! Wasn't sure if I wanted green or red sauce, so I got half and half. Liked both, but prefer red. My husband was deciding between a bean & cheese burrito and enchiladas, so the staff recommended he get the burrito "wet" (enchilada sauce on top). It was really good -- and bigger than you would expect a bean & cheese burrito to be (also had rice in it). Should have taken a photo of it. We heard it gets busy at dinner time, so went at 4:30 on a Saturday. There was plenty of seating for our party of six. By the time we left, the place was full.

    Menu
    Felina V.

    Our first time at Cenote Grill was a good one overall. No qualms about the food; everything tasted fresh and flavorful. We sat out front on the patio with our pup, and we were forgotten about after margaritas were delivered, but at least we had drinks to keep us company! Eventually decided to go inside to order. From the fleeting views I got of the interior, I'd say it's a typical Mexican American joint. I will note that 5pm on a Friday had MANY in attendance, as Cenote is directly across the street from a LARGE seniors-only mobile home park. We would go back, but perhaps on a different day of the week and time of day.

    Katherine M.

    Okay so at first I felt like this place was warm and welcoming. Food was okay one big suggestion is do not advertise these as pupusas Pupusas are not deep fried or use any of these toppings or sides Maybe promote it more like a fried quesadilla Anyways when we paid waiter came back and she said it didn't work it's probably fraud My husband confused pulled out another card and paid But that was so rude!!

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    13 days ago

    Really good food, friendly team. Off the beaten path, but worth it. We've tried a variety of dishes and loved them all.

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    5 months ago

    The food here has always been great in my experience. Try the Chicken Mole or the Chili Relleno burrito, both are excellent.

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    4 months ago

    Delicious food, friendly service, great value! Highly recommend! Complimentary chips and salsa were delicious as well!

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    Sayulitas Mexican Food

    Sayulitas Mexican Food

    3.9
    (383 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    On Thursday (6/18/2026), I ordered a burrito without cheese and was told it doesn't contain any…read morecheese. Unfortunately, when I got home, I found that it did. As someone who is lactose intolerant, that's something I have to be careful about. I called the restaurant, and the employee I spoke with said they would remake it for me the next time I came in. When I returned on Monday, Alexis helped me. It turned out my name hadn't been taken when I originally called, so there wasn't a way to verify the order. Even so, Alexis listened to my situation, trusted my word, and honored the remake. She handled everything professionally and made the situation right. Mistakes happen, but great customer service is how they're resolved. Thank you, Alexis, for taking care of it and making things right.

    This place when I moved to San Marcos would have been 5 stars a couple years ago. Was my go to…read moreprobably weekly for a long time. Customer service to this day is great, nice people. I'm not sure what changed in the kitchen but I pretty bummed on the last 5 times I've gone. I get the California every time I go and add guac for reference, I'm a simple guy. Under-seasoned meat or not enough meat, soggy or dry/stale fries, light on guacamole when added sometimes, missing cheese. The consistency has been really off unfortunately for a pretty simple burrito. My last time I went I ordered the usual California burrito no sour cream add guac, got the burrito and it had sour cream and guac.... But no meat???? It was a big tortilla with sour cream and guacamole only in it lol. I laughed at the mix up and the customer service was great getting a refund (didn't request it they just gave it to me) and replacement burrito. Still decided it was my last time going there after that as even the replacement tasted like the meat had no seasoning on it. Writing this review to hope they turn things around some time in the future, I miss coming here but can't justify spending that much $ for a burrito I'm worried to be bummed about....again.

    Photos
    Big burrito!!
    Big burrito!!
    A peek inside the CONGA (refried beans, rice, and carne asada) burrito
    A peek inside the CONGA (refried beans, rice, and carne asada) burrito
    Menu

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    Mi Rancho Market

    Mi Rancho Market

    4.4
    (265 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $

    I'm giving this place 3 stars for now because my first experience was genuinely great, but my…read moresecond visit was disappointing enough that I almost rated it 2 stars. The first time I visited a few weeks ago, I had a really positive experience. The location was a little hard for me to find, but once I got there, it seemed worth it. I walked in craving a breakfast burrito and was helped by a very nice, slender gentleman at the counter. I asked for a ham, bacon, and sausage breakfast burrito and also requested that it be cut in half. He was friendly, said no problem, and within minutes I had exactly what I ordered. That burrito was delicious. The salsa station was stocked and convenient with self-serve cups readily available, and the atmosphere was nice. The people around me were friendly, and one gentleman even mentioned this was the place that used to be near Peterson's Donuts. Overall, it was a great first impression and I left happy, already planning to come back. Fast forward to today, Saturday, April 25, 2026 around 10:30 AM, and unfortunately, my second experience was the complete opposite. This time there was a young woman working the register, and from the moment I approached, she didn't seem very welcoming. I told her I wanted to order a breakfast burrito but wasn't sure what kind I wanted today. She told me the only options were bacon, egg, cheese and tater tots, or egg and cheese. I politely asked if I could add ham and sausage and pay extra, since that's what I had ordered before. She immediately responded that they "didn't have that type of breakfast burrito." That response confused me because I had literally ordered one there before. I wasn't going to argue, especially because her tone and attitude made me feel like I was bothering her just by asking questions. I then asked if the burrito could be cut in half and never really got a clear response. I also noticed the salsa station no longer had the little self-serve cups available, so I had to ask for those too. The same cashier asked how many I needed, and I said two. A few minutes later, another woman called my name and handed me the burrito. I sat down and realized it wasn't cut in half like I requested. At that point, I had to go back up and ask for a plastic knife and fork just to cut it myself. Which was not a problem or issue for me. I ate half of the burrito, but honestly, it wasn't nearly as good as the first one. The taste was underwhelming, and by the time I left I was just so disappointed. I ended up throwing the other half away after I left. Consistency matters, especially when the first experience set the bar high. The food was great the first time, but the service and quality were lacking the second time around. My honest opinion: if someone is having a bad day, they probably shouldn't be the first face customers interact with at the register. I may update this review depending on how management responds, because I know this place can do better based on my first visit.

    When you walk in, you can go right, which is where you can order food and the left is a market with…read moreMexican ingredients, meats, seasonings and canned goods. There is a table of baked goods available. There is a seating area inside where you can enjoy your meal. I ordered the El Pastor tacos and they were ok. The meat could've been more flavored. And I ordered a side of guacamole for $0.85. I rate the tacos 6/10. The salsa bar was clean and had an option of mild, hot and very spicy. The heat was good on the mild. The area was clean and the server was nice and friendly.

    Photos
    Mi Rancho Market
    Carnitas with creamy mild green salsa, Adobado in the middle with no salsa needed, and Asasda with hot chile, which it needed.
    Carnitas with creamy mild green salsa, Adobado in the middle with no salsa needed, and Asasda with hot chile, which it needed.
    Ordering counter

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    Ordering counter
    Mi Guadalajara

    Mi Guadalajara

    3.6
    (723 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    I've been to Mi Guadalajara in Escondido a handful of times now, and my wife and I keep coming back…read morebecause, overall, it's a solid spot for Mexican food in North County San Diego. It's got that classic, welcoming family-owned vibe that's been around since the '80s, and we always leave feeling satisfied--even if it's not always perfect. The interior is pretty cool and distinctive. Think big, spacious dining areas with vibrant traditional Mexican decor: colorful murals on the walls (some really elaborate ones that give it almost a resort-like feel), solid wood furniture, chandeliers, and that open, multi-level layout that makes it feel grand without being stuffy. It's large enough that even on busier nights, you rarely have to wait long for a table, which is a huge plus. Service is one of the consistent highlights here. The staff is friendly, quick, and chatty in the best way--they remember little things, keep the chips and salsa flowing, and make you feel like regulars even if it's just your third or fourth visit. No complaints there; it's fast, accurate, and genuinely warm. Now, the food: it's always fresh, which I really appreciate--no skimping on ingredients or anything that tastes like it's been sitting around. Portions are generous, and when it's on point, it's really good. We've had some great meals here that make us think, "Yep, this is why we come back." But I'll be honest--there's some inconsistency from visit to visit. The flavors don't always match what I remember from previous times. Sometimes the seasoning is spot-on and bold; other times, it's dialed way back. Our most recent dinner was a perfect example of that. I ordered the chicken enchiladas, hoping for that rich, comforting flavor, but they came out pretty mild--almost under-seasoned, lacking that punch I was craving. The rice on the side was a bit tough and dry, like it had overcooked or sat too long, which made it harder to enjoy. It wasn't terrible by any means (nothing was inedible, and the rest of the plate was fine), but it just didn't hit the high notes we've gotten before. It's frustrating because we've had better enchiladas and fluffier rice here on other trips. That said, the inconsistency hasn't been bad enough to turn us off. The highs are high enough, the atmosphere is enjoyable, the service is great, and it's a reliable option when we're in the mood for Mexican without venturing too far. My wife and I still enjoy it and will definitely be back--we're hoping the next visit brings back that memorable flavor we love. If you're in the Escondido area and want a big, festive Mexican spot with friendly people and usually tasty food, give Mi Guadalajara a try. It's worth checking out!

    Gave this place a second try during happy hour and didn't change my mind…read more Service was decent. We were at the bar area this time. Again liked the decor, they need to curate it down a little. Music and better lighting would elevate it so much. We got two different menus and got confused but apparently one was the old menu. Drinks... 6/10. My mangoneada needed more mango and tajin, it needed more flavor. My friends thought their drinks were also just ok as well. One had to ask for more hot sauce for her michelada, they only had tapatío. She said it was bland. Foods also just ok. The birria tacos were the best part, def would order again. Tortilla didn't split, good portion and the consomé was good. Cheese dip tasted like velveta. Nachos with beef were decent. Fried ice cream was not good. I've had this dish many times and it was stale and didn't taste fried. Idk if the cereal was stale or the ice cream was so frozen but it was not good. The salsa that comes with the chips is more of a tomato based and we weren't offered other salsas. We asked and got two others but the flavor was just not there. Paid about 60 bucks with tip for two happy hour items, a mangonada and dessert. Again, if the flavors were there, it would be worth and I would be back. It's such a unique space, easy to get to, plenty of parking, beautiful art in the center portion, they are so close to getting it right.

    Photos
    Main circular dining area above.
    Main circular dining area above.
    Sunday Brunch Buffet
    Sunday Brunch Buffet
    Shrimp dish

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    Shrimp dish
    Craft and Taco Lounge

    Craft and Taco Lounge

    4.6
    (1.1k reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$
    Vegan friendly
    Vegetarian friendly

    Great local spot, that I want the world and yet no one to know about, all at once…read more I had a craving for fish tacos. Sir we ventured here. I have the El Pascado, TallGirl had the Adaboado and the Coco Loco. For good measure we also got chips and guacamole. They have stubborn cola, which is always a hit for me. The chips were fresh and crisp and perfect amount of salt. The guacamole had a lovely lime hit. It was very good (from a non guacamole lover) and I especially like it with the chipotle salsa. My tacos were so yummy! I love how each taco had some fresh fruit on it. Each bite made my mouth happy!! The service was friendly, quick and personal. I felt like we were in a place where everyone knows your name. There is outdoor seating in the front and rear patio. And about 11 tables inside. This is on the list to come back to again and again!!

    The first time I came here (few months ago) I ordered the Vegan Avocado taco and the Vegan Al…read morePastor taco. Both were amazing! I enjoyed the avocado the best. When ordering my food customer service was great. I sat own and received chips and salsa. These were great as well, the chips were amazing! Today I ordered the Vegan Avocado, Vegan Al Pastor and the Vegan Zucchini tacos. I was really looking forward to the chips and salsa but I didn't receive anything :/. Since I was the only one that just ordered in the restaurant I just figured maybe they don't offer them anymore. My food came out quickly but it was nice last time to have the chips to scope up my fallen fillings. Another customer came in and ordered and within minutes they received chips and salsa. Not sure why I didn't receive anything. I was disappointed I didn't receive any because I really enjoyed them my last time here. Atmosphere is great and a nice quiet place to enjoy your food.

    Photos
    Craft and Taco Lounge
    Homemade corn tortillas
    Homemade corn tortillas
    El camaron Pescado Coco loco Choripapa Rib taco Borrego Al pastor Elote Churros

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    El camaron Pescado Coco loco Choripapa Rib taco Borrego Al pastor Elote Churros

    Cenote Grill - mexican - Updated July 2026

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