"This is the place I trust." A quote from a good friend of mine which is all the proof I need…read more As for everyone else. Fresh tortillas, fresh meats grilled, adobada spicy and flavorful, cactus on top, open kitchen where you can see the passion on full display. Super friendly staff, and working hard too, loved these people. Nice atmosphere as well. I don't want to eat tacos anywhere else now! I need me some El Gordo fuego!!

Great, but didn't quite live up to the hype! This is the only Tacos El Gordo location I've tried,…read morebut I've heard that the carne asada at this location is much better than the downtown location. The adobada was really good though! We got it both in taco form and as fries, and I definitely preferred the adobada. Overall, solid tacos, but I think my expectations were just a little too high going in!

If you like cabeza tacos, COME HERE. My new favorite taco spot, even more than the famous big…read morehitters of San Diego. Authentic flavors, and the place is full of tons of loyal local customers. Not super busy yet so you can definitely get a table even at 6PM on a weekend night, but with how it tastes it won't stay that way for long. Great service. Great variety. Great salsa. Amazing food. Tasty agua fresca (try adding some lime). The drinks come in these massive cups and are worth it. Consider trying the green chorizo and the pork belly as well! Incredibly rich and savory. Those were actually my personal favorites; for those that don't like cabeza, don't let it stop you from coming either. Their other tacos smack as well. The chef himself came to greet us and thank us for coming in, and the staff are all kind and check in on how you like the food. Would love to see them grow and thrive as a business!

Fantastic Mexican spot! Don't let the unusual cuts scare you, everything is had was delicious…read more We ordered the head meat, cheek, tongue, lips, tripas, al pastor, and asada tacos along with the chicharron de queso and the head soup. I love soups, and this was definitely a hit. Tender meat with a deep beefy aroma, devoured it even on a hot summer day. Of the tacos, I especially liked the lips and cheeks. Will be back to try other unusual cuts in the future.

Authentic Mexican food and affordable prices. Fast service…read moreand clean ambiance great food and fresh ingredients fish tacos and quesadillas were probably the

Fabulous service from start to finish. I ordered combo #5: Chimichanga, Rice & Beans. So far, so…read moregood. I can only eat half of this, this evening. The portion sizes are very generous.

Had the carne asada plate and chicken tacos. The carne asada plate was 7.0 out of 10. The beans…read morewere a bit dry, the rice felt like it was refrigerated, and the car was good. Good amount of food, did enjoy the chicken tacos. Food overall was okay-good Not bad but didn't stand out

A random Mexican spot in SD will always be better than anything in LA. This proves it…read more 5/5 food Really really tasty hard shell taco. Loved the shredded chicken. My wife told me the best burrito she had eaten was the surf and turf that we just ate. Their salsa... Spicy! 5/5 service Very friendly and always refilled the free chips. I'm never in Chula Vista but if I am, I'd come back 4/5 ambience Feels authentic but is small and on the older side

Love the food here! Everything was so delicious and flavorful. The portions were generous, too. The…read morestaff was friendly and attentive, and they checked on us throughout our meal.

We're from out of town and staying in San Diego because our son had a soccer game in Chula Vista…read more My husband was craving a Mexican breakfast, so we searched for something close to the soccer field and found El Patio. We're so glad we did! The food was delicious, and the restaurant itself is such a cute spot. The decor and atmosphere are really charming and welcoming. They were pretty busy when we were there, but you would never know it based on the service we received. Our server, Gerardo, was amazing! He was so friendly, attentive, and genuinely nice. He kept us updated on our food, stayed on top of our refills, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. Just a really cool guy who made us feel taken care of even with how busy the restaurant was. Between the great food, adorable atmosphere, and impeccable service, we were really happy to stumble across this little gem. If we're ever back in Chula Vista, we would absolutely come back. Definitely a great breakfast spot and an easy five stars from us! From your friendly, Chiefs fans :)

We very much enjoyed our meal at El Viejon in Chula Vista. When dining in, you order at the counter…read moreand they bring your food to your table. It is a small location but they really have maximized the space. We had no trouble getting a booth. We ordered the fish ceviche bowl to share, which was delicious. A generous shareable serving and the fish was perfectly "cooked." Ceviches are served with your choice of tostadas or chips. I would prefer more pico and perhaps some avocado. But overall it was a 9/10 dish. I also ordered a grilled fish taco with rice and beans. The fish taco was so flavorful and stuffed full with toppings and a large piece of grilled fish. This taco was outstanding. 10/10. My partner had the surf and turf nachos which he also rated highly. I think they could have used a little more cheese. But he said the steak was tender and juicy. The shrimp were seasoned well and there were a lot of them! Everything was delicious and we will be back for sure!

We had the pleasure of having lunch here on Friday afternoon. Service and food were both excellent…read more My sisters and I ordered carne asada nachos and the surf and turf burrito. Everything was delicious and tasted fresh. Staff was friendly and they thanked us as we left the store. Very nice experience for our first time trying it. Highly recommend and we will definitely return.

Recently found out they have protein tacos. I ordered online and picked up within 10-min of…read moreordering. I just got back on keto and this is a game-changer. Yesss!!!

Solid food. Clean space. Fast service…read more I found the meat a bit too salty for my liking, but overall still yummy.

We went to Kalaveras for Happy Hour and we really enjoyed it! This was the Chula Vista location on…read more3rd Avenue, used to be the old Fudruckers. Parking shouldn't be an issue, they have spots in the front but then there's the big garage right behind it, and it's free. There's also street parking but you might have to pay. The place itself is very spacious and clean. They also have an outdoor patio for dogs. I do know later in the evening it gets louder and more like a club vibe, but it's not bad. Service was perfectly fine. I had no issues at all. Staff greeted us with a smile when we walked in. They were always checking up on us when we needed things. No issues at all. I thought everyone was doing their jobs. Happy hour is so worth it here. $1.99 tacos! I had the carne asada, birria and Chicharonnes tacos! While the meat portions look small, y'all need to realize this is happy hour street tacos! Adding some salsa from the self serve bar, it was so worth the price. We had 11 tacos, cheese nachos, 2 beers and 1 margarita and it was about $50! So worth it! I highly recommend Kalaveras for Mexican food. Great vibes. Great happy hour prices. I think this place is good for large groups also. It may not be kid friendly later into the night but it's very worth it!

Was visiting San Diego for the weekend and my friend recommended Kalaveras for Sunday Brunch…read more They opened at 10, and we were one of the first to get there. The brunch buffet is definitely worth the price. The food was excellent, the service was attentive and fast and the music and indoor area was cool. I can't wait to be back in San Diego to have brunch at Kalaveras again. Authentic Mexican food, friendly service and great vibe.

Great fish tacos, happy hour, bar and service. Can't beat it!…read more 4.5 / 5 This is my go-to spot for less than $2 / per Fish Tacos. Tasty/affordable - get 3 or 4 of these and that's a full meal. Are these the best fish tacos you'll ever have, no. But, for that price, you truly can't beat it = especially when comparing to 'tastier' fish tacos like at Oscars or other spots when they cost $7+ each. They also have a great salsa bar with a spicy and delectable pico de gallo. Their bar/happy hour is pretty extensive- catch the game with a margarita OR whatever drink they may have on special for the time. 4.5 / 5 It's great for any padres game, football game - especialy when you're looking for someething low key. This place does get busy, so sometimes you have to be patient - but just grab a drink.

Just in case you didn't know.... I need to update…read more.......... El Pueblo is still amazing as always it's the perfect place to grab a casual bite and a tasty cocktail at a relatively reasonable price The service is always stellar here. Yeah they're slammed and they make mistakes and sometimes it takes longer than others but there's generally a reason for it. I can get loud and rowdy on game days so be prepared. There are days that are quiet and calm, and you can have a great conversation You have a choice of sitting at the bar or indoors or side patio with high tops or back patio with tables and fire pits. All our excellent choice Choices. If you want to sit down and order from your seat, the bar is your only option. Other than that, you can order food from either the food counter or from the bar. drinks must be ordered at the bar. Salsa and water are self serve. Soft drinks are also self served after you've bought the cup. Come on in and have a fabulous time and don't expect some five Diamond treatment. Just a good time.

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!!!