Chef&#x27;em Mariscos

We came in on a busy Friday and had Avery as our server. Avery was extremely attentive, went above…read moreand beyond, and gave amazing service on a busy night. A great experience and amazing food, we will return!

Found this place during happy hour and it's a great little gem! Chill, laid back vibe on a Monday…read morenight but I'm sure it's packedon the weekends and during local events. I had the 3 Little Birds (homage to Rasta life) because I love Mezcal. It was perfectly smokey and a tad sweet. I started with the guac app but it was way too much for one person; definitely a shareable item. The guac was very fresh and light, with panela chunks to elevate the dish. It was a shame to leave it unfinished. Additionally I had an a la carte pollo asado taco which was divine! The thigh meat was expertly marinated and piled high on a cheese encrusted homemade tortilla. Since I'm a salsa connoisseur, I requested the habanero salsa, which was just my speed... but not for the faint of heart. The salsa verde was good but the showstopper was salsa rojo which had a nice smokey, fire roasted flavor that made me want to order some too take home. Also, I received awesome service from Emily on 9/28/26; shout of to her for taking great care of me! I can't wait to come back!!!

8.1 mi•Bird Rock, Pacific Beach

Restaurant

Chicken with fried cheese tacos

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Harland Hazy IPA

Oscars Mexican Seafood

4.4(3.7k reviews)

Amazing tacos! I always come here when I'm in the area. The ceviche and tacos are outstanding…read more Despite the line, the order came out fast. The seafood is fresh and i really enjoyed the battered fish taco. Seating is very limited.

Food: 4.5/5 Service: 5/5…read moreAmbiance: 4/5 Busy place but it's thankfully quick! Also had to wait in line but not for too long. The guac is so fresh and delish - just need an extra squeeze of lemon. Sauces and condiments are up for grabs and a lot of it is self-service so it can feel more chaotic. The fish tacos, shrimp tacos, octopus tacos, and ceviche were all good! Not a 5, but a solid 4.5 :)

Juan making my delicious tacos in the back!

Fish Ceviche on a tostada! Yum!

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Marlin taco! Awesome!

RED O

4.2(2.4k reviews)

3.3 mi

This was a great location. I think it was hidden which prompted to it being closed. Sad as we had…read moregreat happy hours here but delicious food was definitely enjoyed while it was open. Service was always great and the ambiance was enjoyable.

An elegant space with high ceilings and interesting murals…read more The chicken enchiladas suizas, guacamole, and street corn were excellent. Service was friendly and attentive. A great choice for Mexican food near UTC!

Red O Tablita

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Passion Fruit Butter Cake

La Puerta

4.4(614 reviews)

9.4 mi•Mission Hills

La Puerta, a local Mexican inspired cocktail bar and restaurant with a phenomenal open-air…read moredining/bar located in Mission Hills. For my last couple of trips in, which have all gotten me into Sean Diego early afternoon, La Puerta is normally one of my first stops as their afternoon happy hour is second to none and offers 50% off appetizers, quesadillas and cocktails...so it's a no brainer! I have sampled my way through the cocktails and appetizers, and while everything is tasty, my favorite cocktail is easily the Gin & Juice, and tastiest appetizer is the cochinita flautitas with the chipotle sauce. While I am not a connoisseur myself, my friends love this spot for the impressive variety of liquors, especially good quality tequilas and whiskeys. The G&J is floral from the hibiscus, earthy from the aquafaba and hominy and then classic from the citrusy gin and lemon. A perfect, well-balanced and delightful cocktail! The flautitas are perfectly fried mini taquitos that are filled just enough with the goods and queso, then a quick dip in the chipotle sauce does them good! Service was solid from entry to exit. We were after a table originally, but saw a few spots at the bar, so we bellied up there. The bartenders were friendly, knowledgeable and fun to interact with. The space is gorgeous, super vibey, clean and well kept. Absolute perfection that holds to the theme, but also speaks to the neighborhood. Overall, La Puerta always finds itself on my "to do" list when visiting San Diego, and for good reason!

A few of my friends were visiting from NYC & we were looking for some late night eats/drinks and…read moredecided to come here. It was around 10:15pm on a Thursday night and the kitchen was about to close. We ordered a bunch of food and shared. Here's a run down of everything we had: STREET TACOS: we tried the following:: (they were out of the shrimp) El pastor tacos (5/5) Pollo asado tacos (4.5/5) Carne asada tacos (4/5) the steak was overcooked IMO It comes with rice and beans on the side and it was all delicious!! We also ordered fries which were delicious and the Al pastor quesadilla. I will definitely be coming back for these because they were fire!! The spicy margs are also delicious! The ambiance is 10/10, it's beautiful inside and our waiter was fast & efficient. I'll be back!

Weeknd HH drinks (half off)

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Taquitos

Quixote

4.0(728 reviews)

9.0 mi

•$$$

The food was delicious, the restaurant was beautiful, and the service was wonderful. The only thing…read morethat threw me off was the bathroom situation which wasn't anyone's fault at all (besides whoever decided to pee on the seat). 9.8/10 experience

Amazing food, drinks, and service. Our server Anthony was so accommodating. I didn't care for the…read moreambiance in the "red room" and felt claustrophobic, he happily moved us out front, brought us dessert for our birthdays, took our photo, and gifted us candles. He made our experience 10/10. After reading some other reviews im finding out we sat in "hell" originally, that explains a lot

Dramatic dining space!

Chamoyada dessert, the mango sorbet was the highlight!

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Sangre Santa. Taste like a sangria. It was delicious.

Cocina de Barrio

My sister recommend this location when a friend of mine and I were looking for a place to have…read morebrunch on a Saturday and I am so happy she did! We got there early and got a good spot in the Patio. The service was amazing Jose and Karen provided what felt like white glove service in a fun atmosphere. I saw Jose take a glass of Milk with a Paleta Payaso to a kid as a surprise and the look on the child's face was worth his efforts! Bottomless mimosas were good! We had the Mango Habanero Aguachiles and the Breakfast Tlayuda as well and both were superb. For me the Aguachiles needed a bit more spice so Karen recommended their matcha salsa and that went well with everything! Will definitely be coming back! Thank you all for a great experience!

I have not been here in a while. Lo siento! I have missed it so much! Ordered the house…read moremargarita to start off the evening!They have changed the menu a little, but they still have my favorites. The big tortilla with beans and chorizo...sooooo good! I can never pronounce the name of it...LOL! But I also ordered the taquitos, another delicious starter! I then had the green mole with ground pistachios over chicken...oh sooooo good!!!!! I love coming here! The staff is always friendly! The server said it had been a while. The outside patio is always welcoming!!! They are also dog friendly! Cako Approves!

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Mango-Tajin Popsicle Margarita

Coasterra

4.0(4.1k reviews)

11.3 mi

•$$$

We had such a wonderful experience at Coasterra! From the moment we arrived, everything was…read morefantastic. Our server, Case, was absolutely amazing. He was friendly, attentive, conscientious, and timely throughout our entire meal. He made sure we had everything we needed without ever being overbearing. My mother even said she would eat at Coasterra every day if Case were her server, that's how impressed she was with his service! He truly went above and beyond and made our dining experience extra special. And the food was AMAZING! Everything we ordered was delicious, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. You can definitely tell there is care put into the food. The meals are a little on the pricey side, but considering the beautiful setting, quality of the food, and exceptional service, we felt it was worth it for a special occasion. We will definitely be back, and hopefully we'll get Case as our server again! He is a true asset to Coasterra.

We stopped by Coasterra during happy hour on a weekday and had a wonderful experience. We were…read moreseated outside, and between the perfect weather and breathtaking waterfront views, it was hard to ask for a better setting. We only came for drinks this time. My husband ordered an IPA and said it was one of the best he's had in a long time--refreshing, flavorful, and exceptionally good. I went with the espresso martini, which was delicious and hit the spot. A special shoutout to Stephanie, our server, who was incredibly friendly and checked on us regularly throughout our visit. Great drinks, outstanding service, and unbeatable views. We'll definitely be back.

Located on Harbor Island, Coasterra offers stunning views of the San Diego Bay, downtown skyline and Coronado Bridge.

View from patio

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Main dining room

Oscars Mexican Seafood

4.2(2.2k reviews)

9.4 mi•Hillcrest

Hands-down the best seafood and fish taco place in San Diego! A must order is the Taco Especial…read morewith smoked fish, shrimp, scallops, tomato, cilantro, onion, melted cheese and avocado. I highly recommend pairing this with the chipotle sauce, which is offered along with all of the other sauces. The Battered Fish Taco and Tuna Ceviche Tostada is also a must. Every time I have visitors to San Diego and they want authentic Mexican Food I take them to Oscar's. I won't eat my fish tacos anywhere else! This place is definitely a local establishment. Note that parking is tight in the parking lot, but you can also park on the street around the corner. The food is worth the search for a spot if the lot is full. This eatery is legit!

I don't get it…read more Saturday 10:45am. Party of 8. They have some outdoor seating but was able to get a spot inside to fit us all. Very small location! We sat under the TV and it was so loud that we couldn't hear each other talking even while right next to each other. We asked them to turn down the volume which wasn't an issue. Food was okay. As a seafood restaurant, I was expecting the seafood to be great. I enjoyed the turf in my taco more than the surf! The tacos I had were good and seems to be their main focus on perfecting because everything else was below mediocre. I usually prefer a lot of lime in my ceviche but this was waaayyy too lime-y. And I have never seen elotes sitting in a soup! Plus, the rice and beans were bland! Their sauces are very good though!

Inside | IG:@socalsnomnoms

Battered Fish Taco

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Fish Ceviche

California Burritos

4.3(1.4k reviews)

6.3 mi

This is my first time dining inside this California Burrito Restaurant…read more I was driving around in this area and I saw this California Burrito Restaurant and I wanted to give this place a try. I enjoy eating authentic Mexican cuisine. I parked my car in their parking lot then I walked inside their front door. I talked to the owner Caesar and asked him How long has he been in business at this Starling Drive location in San Diego, CA? Caesar said he's been operating his California Burrito Restaurant business for 20 years now. Caesar also said to me that he works with his wife and grown children at his Mexican restaurant every day. My order was placed by Caesar today for my lunch time meal at 12:30 PM. I ordered one Beans and Cheese Burrito. The price is $7.50. Then I had to pay a tip of 20 percent that came up to $1.25. The tax was $1.50. My total purchase today was $9.25. I had to wait at least 30 minutes later until my order number 109 was called to the front counter today. There was non stop walk in customers coming into this California Burrito Restaurant at the lunch hour between 12:30 AM to 2:30 PM today. Their majority of their customers were of Mexican descent and I saw only 3 Black People placing their orders with Caesar today. I was the only Asian person ordering from this California Burrito Restaurant this afternoon. I also noticed 2 Nurses picking up their orders today who work for Sharp Memorial Hospital today. This man and woman nurse were of Caucasian descent. It's interesting for me to get to know the population of people who are living nearby this Starling Drive location. Caesar called my order number 109 today. Then I was served a really HUGE Beans and Cheese Burrito. I also drank cold ice water today. It was a beautiful day today because the weather conditions were very cool and cloudy. I sat down at this window seat so I could see the outside. The Beans and Cheese Burrito was very tasty the beans were refried and thete was a very generous amount of shredded cheddar cheese. The Tortilla was heated up and slightly toasted. This Beans and Cheese Burrito was a HUGE Size. I wasn't sure that I had an appetite to finish eating this Beans and Cheese Burrito but the flavor was amazing! I kept taking small bites on this Beans and Cheese Burrito for my lunch time meal this afternoon. I also received excellent customer service from Caesar and the rest of his family I saw was working very hard in the back kitchen area preparing and making their very popular Carne Asada Burritos. I also saw Caesar and an older lady sweeping up the floor and also mopping up the floor inside their front entrance to their California Burrito Restaurant Caesar told me to come in again soon to try their Steak Carne Asada Burrito. This item is the most popular food in their California Burrito Menu. I told Cesar the owner 3 I will dine inside his restaurant again soon. I love Carne Asada Burritos.

When i saw that there was an actually spot called California Burrito, you bet that I had to try a…read moreCalifornia burrito at California burrito lol Got the California burrito, carne asada taco, chicken taco and menudo. Portions were massive but unfortunately there was not much flavor, and im not too keen on hot salsa since i cannot handle spicy. It was ok but unsure if this would be a go to spot. The staff here are friendly and at the time i came, a Wednesday night around 5pm, there was a steady stream of people ordering to go and also eating there The place itself isnt that big. Theres counter space with about 5 stools inside and 4 tables outside. This is more of a take out spot. Parking may be limited depending on the time of day/night you go.

Sausage, Eggs, Cheese, and Potatoes Burrito

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Puesto at the Headquarters

4.1(5.7k reviews)

12.1 mi•Downtown

Locally owned & operated

Private events

Our server Rachel went above and beyond. I have an allergy and dietary restrictions and she made…read moreme feel so safe and helped me through the menu. The food was amazing as well. My wife loved her beef tacos.

Daniel was a great server, food was perfect, and ambiance was excellent! Always a great time here…read moreat Puesto!

Ribeye Taco

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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

7 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Hasan Ç.

6 years ago

I was tired of waiting in line of Walmart on Imperial and saw this place on the corner of Imperial and 22nd. I had their Gobernador Taco, Shrimp Ceviche and ice cold Jaritos Guava. It is literally amazing taste for very affordable price! They said they just opened and they give little Chef's Special soup portions for free to their customer. Absolutely a must go! read more

Bil B.

125

442

6 years ago

I've driven by hundreds of times and never stopped. Today I made it a point to actually stop. Chef'em has the absolute best fish tacos I've ever had bar none. Absolutely outstanding and at $1.99 a bargain. Absolutely outstanding. read more

Stephen R.

6 years ago

Great service! The marisco's were fresh & cooked perfectly. The prices are amazing for gourmet style tacos! Will definitely be back for more as this will be a regular spot for me. Look forward to trying the whole menu. read more

Fırat K.

6 years ago

the best street burrito ever ! This food truck is amazing with their menus and employees ,Thank you guys , see you for next time.

Muhammed Ali B.

6 years ago

İt was delicious. ı recommend here to all of you Keep going this taste . everyone need this delicious food

Seçil Ç.

6 years ago

Fish taco and shrimp taco.. extremely delicious and cheaper than others, recommend it.

Michael Y.

5 years ago

Their fish tacos and carne asada fries are great! Thanks guys!! read more

Chef'em Mariscos - foodtrucks - Updated October 2026

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Jarocho’s Birria

4.1

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Located behind the Best Buy on Mira Mesa Blvd by the 15. I've driven by them many times and glad I…read morefinally stopped by! They have a great taco Tuesday deal where they have select tacos for $1.50. They typically have Adobada as part of the deal and the day that I visited, they also had chicken and carnitas. They can get very busy on Tuesdays, so I recommend coming early! Tacos were delicious! Surprising winner for me was the Carnitas taco. Very flavorful and tender. They have a few tables there with a shade overhead, but seems like most people take to go or eat in their car. Can't wait to come back!

This Taco truck is behind the Best Buy in Miramesa. There's always a line on Tuesday's because of…read moretheir $1.50 street tacos, so get there early. I think they get there about 6pm. We got there around 7:30 and waited about 10 mins to order and then about half an hour for the food. And while we were waiting (around 8pm) they ran out of food. So.. I would suggest getting there early on Tuesdays. They have chicken, Al pasto and carnitas for their Taco Tuesday specials for $1.50. They use to have the tripe tacos as well but I haven't seen them in awhile. They also ran out of carnitas today (by the time we got there) so we just got chicken and al pastor. The Al pastor is very flavorful. I really like the carnitas, the flavor is very good, tender with a little bit of crisp. Their red hot sauce is good but not too spicy. There are about 4-6 tables of set up if you want to eat there. Staff is very friendly and are pretty quick considering all the people that come through there. They take cash and card (there is a small fee).

La Mexican Fiesta

4.0

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Took Calle Cristobal to go home and wanted to pickup something fast to snack on since it's almost…read more2p. I forgot about this cute little Mexican food place . I stopped by and got taquitos and rice. The lady who works there is really friendly. The store has been there for over 30 years and the business is not doing so great as newer families and businesses roll in MiraMesa. I thought to post this to support small local business. I love their food there. They also have beer.

A very underrated spot in the heart of Mira Mesa. It's tucked away in a small shopping center and…read moredoesn't look like much from the outside, but the food is fantastic. The steak and shrimp were tender and exceptionally well seasoned. The green salsa was herby and green with just enough kick to be interesting, and the red, while too hot for my taste in large quantities, has a delicious flavor of roasted chilies. The flavor of the mix ins in the burrito were rich and delicious as well. As if that wasn't enough, the food came out very quickly and the staff were friendly. I look forward to coming back and trying more on the menu.

El Rapido Y Sabroso

4.5

(38 reviews)

Delicious $1.50 al pastor tacos on Tuesdays! Where else can u find a deal like that?! The wait can…read morebe alittle long but the tacos are pretty good! I love that they don't double the tortillas! Located behind the Best Buy!

Got to try this place on Tacos Tuesday, where they featured $1.50 per Al Pastor taco. It was such a…read moregood deal, and the tacos came out fresh and packed with lots of meat. The al pastor was the perfect texture, not too chewy or dry, and very flavorful. It even came with pineapples! I will definitely come back to try their other menu items!

Birria MI Gusto ES

4.5

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Don't miss the opportunity to check this delicious birria taco truck out! Great food , quick and…read morefriendly service.

I was asked, like many places do, to leave them a review. Happily in this case I am quite content…read moreto publicly endorse them! Don't have birria too often, as most SD taco shops simply don't have it. This taco truck specializes in it, and despite the higher than average cost for their burrito or quesadilla, is worth the $16 craveable flavor. The burrito in particular is grilled slightly crisper on its side for a little more flavor & crisp. If you're looking for something small and cheaper with all the flavor, recommend the $5.50 birria quesotaco or $8 mulita. Over the past 3 weeks, I've probably visited them at least six times, having multiple tacos, quesotacos, burritos, and a quesadilla. Consomme is not complimentary and is a $3 side, however each birria item is an sufficiently juicy delicious mess! If that mess is a concern, the burrito can be the most manageable mess if you keep the wrapper on the bottom while eating from the unwrapped top. Don't forget to grab extra napkins & use the hand sanitizer! Please note they're only open & present during work weekdays, and only til 1p. If you're nearby in Sorrento Valley, Miramar, or Mira Mesa, give Birria MI Gusto ES a shot.

Zoe's Place

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I love Zoe's place! I've had the chicken Alfredo twice and it's so huge! You can share it!…read more Literally everything on the menu is bomb! The burgers, fries, pretzels and charcuterie are all great! Tip: Order right when you get there! Let it be the first thing you get when you're at the brewery!

My boyfriend had his company holiday party at AleSmith and we were allowed to select any meal we…read morewanted from the food vendors. Zoe's place caught my eye because I love Italian food and wanted protein. I got the chicken panini and my boyfriend got the pepperoni flatbread. Both are really good. The chicken was perfectly cooked and juicy and the bread was soft but had a nice crisp to it. Paired with the drinks it's the perfect choice when you're here at alesmith.

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Bought the half and half burrito and it was delicious. It had carne asada and pollo asado in the…read moreburrito. The price was great for how big it is. The service was great and quick. It was my first time there but it won't be my last , I'll definitely be back

Honestly this place has fallen off. It used to be absolutely amazing but sadly that amazement is…read moregone. The wife and I stopped for dinner. I got the surf and turf bowl which lacked flavor and was mostly lettuce and beans. 4 small pieces of shrimp and maybe a pinch of meat. My wife got a pollo asado burrito and had requested no pico or guacamole. Paid for extra cheese, rice, beans and cilantro and onions. Guacamole and pico BOTH left in the burrito barley any rice. NO CHEESE at all like come on.

Isabela’s Mexican Food

4.0

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We stopped here for a quick taco each as an afternoon snack. There are great deals in combination…read moreplates, which include rice and beans. The place was empty inside, with 2 teenagers from Scripps Ranch High School sitting outside in the front patio seats and finishing up their sodas. I walked in and the place was clean and seems to be recently renovated. The chairs and tables were clean and inviting. I also like the wall art of Mexican Food Dishes that they had. The menus were very clean and clear, making for an easy ordering experience. We ordered: 1 carne asada regular size taco, and 1 pollo asado regular size taco, to go. The gentleman that took my order was older and he has good customer service. After I placed my order, he showed me the salsa bar to the left of the counter. I thanked him and proceeded to get the salsa verde (tomatillo). One other man came in to make a to go order while I waited for my food. I was able to catch a Women's UEFA Soccer game on the television inside the dining room; this was convenient. After about 10mins, our 2 tacos were ready. We ate them in the car while parked in the lot. The tortillas were a bit tough and had an authentic flavor, just too tough. The carne asada was also tough meat to chew and the flavor was just OK. My Husband's pollo asado taco was also OK. We remembered why we had not been back here after visiting about 5-6 years ago when we lived in the neighborhood. It's just not our taste style to eat here. The flavors are not as bold as we like and the tortillas are tough. The tomatillo salsa was decent and the customer service and location condition is great.

Hidden gem that I found after doing Pilates upstairs! It's quiet, seems very low key... produces…read morereally really good food. I'm pretty picky about my Mexican food, living in San Diego after all. I got a potato taco, birria taco, and nopales taco. All good! The potato was a bit not crunchy enough but I ate it last so maybe that's why, but flavor is still there!

Donato's Taco Shop

3.9

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I skipped lunch and was absolutely starving, so I decided to grab something quick. My spouse works…read morenearby and is always talking about how good the burritos are at Donato's, so I thought it would be the perfect place to meet up. He ended up getting tied up at work and couldn't make it, but I'm so glad I stopped in anyway. The service was warm and welcoming from the moment I walked in. I ordered the shrimp tostada and draft beer combo, and everything was made fresh. Almost no one else in the area that's quick has beer! So I was so surprised. The tostada was delicious, loaded with flavor, and exactly what I needed after missing lunch. The cold draft beer was the perfect addition. Now I completely understand why my spouse is always recommending this place. Great food, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere. The next time I'm on Miramar Road and need a bite to eat, Donato's will definitely be my first stop!

Service was nice and friendly. Most of us ordered rolled tacos for a quick and go lunch. Well done…read more Complimentary chips and salsa is a nice bonus.

Rodrigo's Taco Shop

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Always worth the drive no matter where you're coming from…read more Delicious food, excellent service and a clean and comfy dining area. You must try their carne asada fries or chips. Everything else is on point too. You won't be disappointed. Been coming for years and plan on doing so until I kick the bucket. Be sure to tip. Friendly family owned establishment. Support small business!

This is not a review about their food even though for us it was less than ok…read more Yesterday my husband and I placed an order to go in person. We used our cc card and hit "skip" for the tip. When asked, my husband told him he didn't want a receipt. As we sat waiting for our order I noticed the register showed a paid amount of $7 more than the order cost. We asked him about it, and he started stammering and said the amount is different because of the tip. So obviously he added an unapproved 20% tip to the order. I said to him, "so, if people don't ask for a receipt you automatically decided to add the maximum tip?" He agreed to refund the tip. Needless to say, we were both disgusted and very disappointed. Unfortunately, from now on, we will have to ask for a printed receipt even at sit down restaurants. Don't judge, we always tip 20% at sit-down restaurants.

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