I have no words but....WOW. Everything from the ambiance, the service and the food was SPECTACULAR. Maile, Jacob and Maria always made sure I was in good hands and my drink was always full! Maile makes the best drinks and Maria and Jacob give the best service! I want to be in their presence all the time. I'll be back every weekend! read more

This is definitely one of my new favorite Taco Tuesday spots! They have Happy Hour everyday but also and all day Taco Tuesday specials menu! Delicious tacos and large hand size portioned tacos! My favorite was the Carne Assad tacos and the Birria Taco that does come with a small cup of consome. Amazing flavors for both. They also have drinks specials and the margaritas are perfect for a hot day out. They have a small quaint indoor seating and a large patio area which both are decorated so sweet and have a very inviting hostess and bartender's. read more

El Sueño - Birria taco - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Love the vibes and the aesthetic of this restaurant! Came here after visiting Old Town and enjoyed grabbing a margarita and some tacos. We tried the Birria, Fish and Shrimp Diablo tacos and an order of Guac and it was just OK. The ingredients didn't taste or appear fresh and the birria was very dry. Didn't finish the food and enjoyed the chips and complementary nice spicy red salsa. Service was lovely. Overall would come back during HH for drinks but otherwise would skip on food. read more

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This establishment is a wonderful place to experience the charm of Old Town. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by a very polite, well-mannered, and attentive front-of-house staff, and our waiter did an exceptional job answering all of our questions. The outdoor patio lighting creates a lovely ambiance, though the outdoor heaters made the seating area slightly too warm during our visit. As for the menu, the tortillas served with sweet sauce were outstanding--a definitive 10/10 that felt like a delightful pre-dinner treat. The potato tacos were also well-prepared and enjoyable. Unfortunately, the seafood dishes did not live up to the same standard. The octopus entree was undersized, featuring only two legs, and lacked the expected charred finish and distinct seasoning; the flavor profile relied almost entirely on the accompanying chorizo and beans. More disappointingly, the Aguachile shrimp plate was quite bland and chewy, the shrimp had an overly pasty texture, and the cucumber garnish lacked freshness. Given the caliber of this establishment, I expected higher quality seafood. While I would gladly return for the wonderful service, atmosphere, and appetizers, I will likely steer clear of the seafood selections on future visits and stick to local alternatives for those items. read more

El Sueño - Octopus legs with chorizo and beans. - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

We came here for brunch but weren't aware it was over at 2pm. We were seated by the host who had a dry, rude and very unpleasant attitude, kinda like "I don't want to be here, but I have to be" No, hi, greeting or anything. We waited at our table for a while (mind you it was empty) then finally our waiter came over, we asked him a couple questions then he proceeds to tells us there is no more breakfast, then with an attitude he looks at his watch and says "well, it is 2pm" after that I just gave up on anything with this restaurant. We ordered a coffee then he proceeds to give us this whole explanation on why they don't serve coffee or don't have any milk for the coffee. Coffee comes and he brings us oat milk for a regular coffee that had no flavor. We got up and left. When we walked out we said bye to the host and again with her dry attitude just say "goooodddbyye" To the Manager/Owner of this restaurant. You need to train your hosts to have good customer service and a better attitude. If she is the first person your customers interact with, you're going to lose customers. I gave it 2 stars because the outside decor is cute. read more

I made it for both Taco Tuesday and their happy hour which is from 4-6pm, where I was able to score a $7 classic margarita and well drink as well as $3 tacos. Firstly, these are the fattttesssstttt tacos I've seen for $3. Honestly, I was convinced they must have had a surplus of meat or something because of the generous portions. I could barely finish 2 out of the 3 tacos that I ordered. Secondly, you can tell the tortillas are freshly handmade (confirmed with our bartender)!! I ordered both the steak and queso birria dip tacos. To add, both tacos had grilled cheese on the tortilla! The steak taco was really good quality that had a nice char and really big pieces of steak with pico de gallo, guacamole, grilled veggies, and cotija cheese. The birria dip taco was tender, stewed beef with melted cheese paired with a savory consome for dipping. I would say the food is really 4/5 stars but due to the sheer quantity and quality of food, attentive staff, and nice ambiance, I am bumping my review to 5 stars!! read more

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My friend wanted to try this place for lunch so we decided to go here to give it a try. We went on a weekday so the place was pretty empty and parking was not an issue. We were seated outdoors in their pretty courtyard and there was a lot of shade overhead. Ordered the chilaquiles with mole and it was good. I think I would order it with red or green salsa next time. The mole was a little plain so I added the salsa that came with the complimentary chips. The quesadilla plate was a large portion and was good. Will have to come back to try they happy hour next time too! read more

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The handmade flour tortillas and queso fundido?! WOAH. They are seriously non-negotiable. The tortillas are fresh, soft, and absolutely delicious, and the fundido is everything you want it to be. I ordered the steak fajitas, and they did NOT disappoint. They came with delicious refried beans, perfectly cooked rice, crema, and pico de gallo. And those onions and bell peppers with the fajitas? SO GOOD. Everything was flavorful, fresh, and cooked perfectly. If you're coming here, do yourself a favor and get the handmade flour tortillas and queso fundido. You can thank me later! ***They currently are reservations only on Sundays but you can choose the bar and it's full service if you don't place a reservations!!*** read more

El Sueño - Steak fajitas - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Excellent and authentic Mexican food. Tortillas made fresh next to the dining room. Generous happy hour offerings. We sampled the house margarita which was ok on the happy hour. You can get a much larger drink off the regular menu. The chips and guacamole were very fresh. Seems like the chips were house made. The potato flautas were a big hit which we really enjoyed. The roasted corn salad had less corn than I imagined. So take a look at my photo to calibrate your expectations. Overall a very good dining experience. read more

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Went for Taco Tuesday. Was able to snag a street spot fairly quickly. They had some really good deals for Taco Tuesday with tacos either being $3 or $5. The place is really cute with moss wall decor and artificial flowers. But the music was super loud at some parts of the restaurant, we had to change tables after a couple of minutes. The tacos were decent and a good size for the price. I don't think I would come back if paying full price. There was a heavy account of cheese in our carne asada and steak tacos, which over powered everything. I believe the tortilla is home made but they were very thick, the tacos would be so much better if they're thinner. We also got the octopus appetizer to start, it was a bit over cooked and taste was a bit lacking. Service was very limited, we went up to the bar area to order with the bartender and also had to go up to ask for our check as well. Will probably return in the future to give other food items and drinks a chance because this place has a lot more potential. read more

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Charming Old Town San Diego Mexican restaurant with authentic good food. Cane here on a Sunday night with hubby, daughter and son in law. I ordered the carne asada burrito and a glass of wine. The rest of party had different cocktails. They were all delicious. Daughter had an amazing vegetarian rajas burrito. This burrito was the reason she brought us here. It was Super cheesy and delicious. The service was great, absolutely no complaints. El Sueño is a charming restaurant with a rustic Mexican Hacienda vibe and live trees in dining area. They have a Happy Hour along with a taco Tuesday special. Will definitely come back on a Tuesday! read more

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Best authentic Mexican food near down town. They use good ingredients and paired with the great vibe, this place can be beat. read more

El Sueño - Bar - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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I'm always on the lookout for a good Mexican restaurant. I stopped by here for a little snack and to wait out the traffic. Inside brings you back to a nostalgic place. So I loved the atmosphere in the restaurant but I really didn't care much for the food. The salsa was pretty bland. We tried their Happy hour and ordered the potato flautas, steak taco and their watermelon margarita. The flautas' weren't hot. Which doesn't make much sense since they weren't busy. Only a few customers when we got there. The upside is that they do have a parking area for customers so in Old Town that's a plus! read more

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This place is so cute! It's located on the outskirts of old town. The menu offers a full all day breakfast menu as well as traditional Mexican cuisine. Prices are reasonable, staff was attentive and quick. The ceviche had a different kind of taste to it and the quac was ok, no free chips and salsa but the tostadas were great! read more

El Sueño - Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Stumbled upon this restaurant late at night after walking around Old Town San Diego. Super glad that they were still open. The place was chill with a bit of a romantic ambience. We got Rolled Tacos, and - I forget the official name of this - but it's like a crunch wrap. Both were delicious. I liked that my Taquitos were crunchy and did not get too soggy with all the toppings on them. The Crunch Wrap was hot, cheesy and meaty. I asked if they offered complementary chips and salsa. Our server said yes, but only the first round. I felt that was kind of a weird thing to say. But one round was more than plenty for us. Loved the 2 salsa's - especially the red spicy one. Overall, a cool place to chill and munch on some Mexican food. It's also close to the trolley station, which is helpful. read more

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Heard about the Marigold Room Popup Halloween speakeasy and had to come check it out. Sat at the bar and our bartender Taylor was amazing!! Made the best drinks and was so funny, definitely coming back!! 10/10 fun Halloween vibes read more

This review is strictly for the pop up speakeasy. The marigold room was unfortunately very disappointing. My two girlfriends and I went the opening night. The decorations were underwhelming. There was only one server for all of the tables - she was very sweet - and she worked her bum off. Service was not great with one server but the kitchen staff did not know which table ordered what menu item so we had to grab their attention that we had ordered the specific food item in their hands. The guac was flavorless, with a side of extremely salty yellow salsa and watery pico de gallo. Their $16 drinks came in very tiny glasses and the flavors were not exciting. We got the Beetlejuice which was just masked as an expensive margarita. Each table should've had their own bottle of water; our small Glasses of water were gone with a few gulps. It was very chaotic, unorganized, and the staff looked flustered. I don't know how much time they had to set everything up, but they need more time in the future. The single server needed at least 1-2 other staff members to support her. read more

Came here primarily for happy hour. The inside decor is a very cute set up with pink barstools and greenery everywhere. The Watermelon Margarita was $8, which is good pricing for HH. For food, the potato flautas were a lot smaller than expected. It was one flauta cut into two pieces. It also lacked a lot of flavor, very bland. They also didn't taste very hot. The steak tacos were better. read more

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I love the Marigold Room! If you want a great drink, come visit the bartender Taylor. They were amazing and have great service. Their Halloween drinks are so cute too! We had such a good time. read more

El Sueño - Drinks - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

I love Mexican food and this place will satisfy your cravings for it. Nice spot in old town SD with cool vibes. Our server suggested a secret menu item so we tried that and it was really nice. Drinks were good served in fancy cups. So do ask for chefs secretenu when you go there next time. As compared to other Mexican food this place is a bit pricey but you get what you pay. Food is a little mild on spices but I am sure they can always make that adjustment. Overall nice experience on a weekend evening- good food, nice music and ambiance. I will give it a 7 on DVFM score. Cheers and enjoy !! DVFM- DEES VALUE FOR MONEY SCORE ! read more

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Visited this cute, charming, vibey restaurant located in Old Town. Wasn't sure what to expect based on the mix reviews..The ambiance and music was gr For food we ordered the tableside tortillas with sweet chili butter, surf and turf fajitas, wagyu chorizo burger, and the California burrito. They were all fairly good. The negatives were that I had asked my steak temperature to be cooked medium well and it came well done instead (no pink at all). Our server was friendly but unfortunately not attentive. Had to look for him to bring plates for our appetizers, refill our water, etc. read more

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I was skeptical at first with this spot being in Old Town, but this place was truly amazing. Authenticity? I'll leave that to the experts. I just know this place had me eating till I was stuffed, STILL wanting more. - Chips were amazing, super crispy - Elote was extremely juicy, perfectly sauced - Cali burrito had a delicious tortilla and everything inside was yummy as well read more

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I came across El Sueno from Tiktok, and it looked cute and aesthetic, so I was excited to try it. We got the free chips with both a red sauce and green sauce. They were pretty good, although the chips were unevenly salted, as some chips were plain and others were too salty. For my entree, I got the carne asada street tacos. I loved that they came with guacamole, as I'm a huge guac fan, and that's normally extra! I also loved the taste of the asada. It was marinated well. My only complaint was it got a little greasy. read more

El Sueño - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Had some time to kill before our train in Old Town so we decided to grab dinner at El Sueño. It's one of the easiest restaurants to walk to from there, and we're so glad we went! Francisco was such an attentive server, he always made sure we were well taken care of. Loved the birria burrito and taco plate, always appreciate when the tortillas are made in house. One of our top spots in the Old town area, and we'll definitely be back! read more

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I feel this place is all show no go. Come for aesthetics, not for the food. And with that being said, you're paying for the aesthetics, not for the food. Decorated nice, fancy branded napkins, pretty drinks, fun menu. Everything that looks nice in photos. But the food was average, over priced, and didn't give me the "I need to come back" feels Pros: chips on chips on chips, they just kept coming! Love that. Two different salsas served with the chips-- verde and rojo (this was spicy). Homemade hand pressed tortillas. Guac was chunky (personal preference) Cons: expensive. $15 for tacos, $40 for fajitas. And nothing special about them. Drinks were inconsistent--first margarita was great but then after that they all tasted different. The ratios were off and I think they switched tequilas. The limes were so dry. Like we couldn't squeeze any juice out of the limes. The tequila tasting menu was hard to understand. And you can only tasted the * tequilas and basically all the normal tequilas you would have at home have the * read more

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The food was decent, but the bartenders were inconsistent. We ordered two specific drinks that they misidentified. They apologized and promised to cover the cost of the second order. However, when we paid, we noticed that the second drink order had been mistakenly added to our receipt. This was supposed to be covered by their initial mistake, but it wasn't. The first drinks were on happy hour, and we had a special type of tequila that was discounted by three dollars during that time. We had checked our receipt again, but it showed that the discount had not been applied. The atmosphere and decor were great, but the poor service and mistakes made me hesitant to return. read more

Was intrigued by their social media, so we came in with our party of 9 for a Sunday brunch. We had reservations for an early brunch (10:00 am,) so it was pretty empty when we arrived. When I walked in, there was no one to greet or take me to my table. I wandered around a bit bit didn't find anyone, so I found myself to their outdoor patio when I ran into a waitress. I was directed to our table in their cute patio. It's decorated with colorful florals and has an overall Spanish vibe. Service was a little slow. Iced teas were not freshly brewed, so we didn't enjoy them. I ordered their Piloncillo French Toast and it was DELICIOUS! I also enjoyed a cup of their Cafe de Olla and it did not disappoint. ‼ Warning, their parking will cost you $30! If you can, park for FREE on the street, or next door at the Bazaar or across from the Bazaar is the CalTrans and there's FREE parking on weekends there. Why they are charging to park when you're choosing to spend money at their establishment already is beyond ridiculous!! I would NEVER pay that much for parking. That's more than one meal! read more

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The food was average and service was good. We went for taco Tuesday, however I wish they had the same specials inside as they do outside and vice versa. The taco deals are good on Tuesday read more

El Sueño - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

I'm back again to try some different dishes, one year later! In continuation of my birthday celebrations, I opted to come here with a small group of friends. Chicle was sweet and also alcohol forward. It was in a big glass & I was unable to finish! The chips and salsas are always a hit, my fave being the red spicy salsa. I actually put this in my tacos :) The soft shell crab tacos was something that I never tried before and I actually enjoyed it! We finished off with Churros and ice cream, topped with a sparkler for my bday! Staff were so sweet and accommodating! Totally enjoyed my experience here. read more

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It was very awkward walking up. The hostess just kind of looked at us. We let her know we had a reservation, and she told us it would be a bit and to wait to the side. It was only like 5:15 and not busy yet, so that was strange. Once we were sat, it took our server a long time to come over. I felt very bad for him because he had too many tables and was doing his best. We ended up ordering food and drinks altogether because we were worried it would be awhile before we saw him again. After about 15 minutes, our food ended up coming out before our 2 margaritas and 2 beers. The food wait wasn't bad, but the cocktails took like 20 minutes. I would hate to see what the drink wait is when it's actually busy. Our server was very apologetic, but obviously frustrated. I got the pato tacos, and the other 3 of us got different dishes. While none of us thought the food was bad, no one was overly impressed. We never got checked on once everything we ordered was out. We had to flag down the server for our check, as we had a show to get to. We had been excited to try this place, as some food is Old Town is a little lackluster. Overall though, it falls into the category of tourist food at tourist prices. Unfortunately we would not plan to go again. read more

El Sueño - Carnitas tacos with rice and beans - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Don't believe the Instagram recommendations! We arrived 1.5 hr early tooreview and make sure our large party would be ok with this restaurant. Spoke to a manager who was all upbeat gung-ho. Told him we had mixed aged and told him we wanted two tables pulled together in the middle. Great great no problem. Arrive to find out he left before 5 and did nothing to set up our table and nine we are available. Stuck with a booth staring at a white wall for half the party. Problem #1. Then the waiter was the Only waiter on the entire outdoor patio on Taco Tuesday!! And eventually the Entire patio filled up making service Terrible the entire meal Not the waiters fault. Management for not covering the floor and there was zero management presence the entire evening. Problem #3. Then DJ on a patio T 5 pm for taco Tuesday filled with families. Kids and old people!! Massively loud techno midnight party music. Loud loud loud. Three speakers were right next to our booth. We asked 3x could they turn them off. Turn them down or tell the DJ to stop or play different music. Appropriate fun Mexicans music. Told by staff impossible. All sound systems are connected. Luck not turn down or disconnect the speakers in the garden!, RUINED the evening even more! Could have gotten over the terrible service. But the music was a disaster at 5-7pm. I'm not an old person and rave music is great at midnight either cocktails!!! But not for taco Tuesday with family! Problem 4. NO fun decor celebrating Dia De Los Muertos like everyone else in Old Town. Very boring un fun decor. Food was ok. Chips were stale. I felt bad as it was. Y suggestion for 8 people to go eat here. Never again read more

For and service was amazing. They were very helpful since our baby doesn't eat most not home cooked. read more

We met friends there today. There was a mix up with the keys to the kitchen, bar areas. Taylor was the server there and she handled it soo well. Once they got things open, she was taking care of 5 tables and she was incredible. Very aware of each table and we never felt unattended to. Food was really good, margaritas were amazing. We sat on the patio and it was so perfect. Great place, we'll be going back for sure. Major kudos to Taylor, she was great! read more

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Yesterday (10/3/2026) it was 104 degrees in Old Town and throughout San Diego. We didn't feel like cooking so we came here to sit in the bar area. They have no ceiling fans/no fans at all of any kind and no AC. The doors were wide open but at that temperature it was no relief. Even their bottled beer in the fridge was not cold. It was sweltering so we just drank our drinks and got out of there. How can a business not even have a ceiling fan in San Diego. Unbelievable, no wonder it was practically empty compared to other restaurants. read more

El Sueño should be called La Pesadilla. My friend and I were excited about trying this chic Mexican restaurant in Old Town. On paper all amazing, beautiful decor, great patio, modern and cozy. However, the entrance is managed by teenagers chatting with each others and ignoring the guests. No smiles, no good night, totally ignoring us. The restaurant was pretty empty when we arrived and we went to the bar but soon I told my friend that would be better to get a table. I went several times to the girls who kept chatting and told me they will go check with us at the bar. No one came, we waited cocktail in hand for at least 45 minutes and we left to eat cheaper and better treated ar Mike Red tacos. When we left, no goodbyes, no sorry, nothing. Please hire professional hosts, this was unbelievable. Other than that, pretty place. read more

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This place is amazing. It's not traditional Mexican food in my opinion. It's more of a modern interpretation. I got the Duck Tacos (which had a mole sauce over it), and it was one of the most delicious things I've eaten in a long time. My wife had the birria tacos, which was also very good. Service is friendly, no complaints. Ambiance is more modern, and you're in Old Town of course. Highly recommend. read more

El Sueño - Birria Tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Visited for Drinks top of the day and was welcomed to a very beautiful Ambiance. I was early to the establishment yet great service was still delivered. My order being Espresso Martini & was suggested a Mexican Candy! Maile the Bartender/Server made every drink to Perfection! Would try food another time as my time was short. Evenings & Nights can get busy, perfect for a Day or Evening Out! read more

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I love mezcal, as you know, and the Bad Bunny didn't disappoint. Spicy, Smokey, and subtly sweet. The Cadillac margarita was very fresh. The drinks did take forever to come out tho. The rolled tacos were pretty great. Rolled tacos are a dime a dozen, and it takes a lot to stand out. These did, balancing crunch, tender chicken, and spice. Guac was rich in cilantro and onion, which I'm into. The enchiladas suizas were tender, flavorful, and vibrant w a tangy tomatillo kick. The husband, of his surf and turf fajitas, said he was v pleased. Thick cuts of steak and fat grilled shrimp served w the standard fajita accoutrements. The space is cute, I'd only eaten in their kitschy indoor dining area previously, but the patio is nicely lit. The service is slow and feels incoherent and flustered. read more

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Food and service were fantastic. Nice comfortable place. Cute decor. Nice patio. A bit loud, not good for conversation. I recommend and will be back. read more

El Sueño - Pollo burrito - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

If you're in Old Town, El Sueño is a must-visit. I've been here for both breakfast and dinner, and it never disappoints. For breakfast, the Mexican eggs and masa pancakes are absolute standouts. The menu feels really thoughtful and beautifully incorporates elements of Mexican culture. Pro tip from a regular: order the hot chocolate with a shot of espresso--it makes the perfect mocha. Dinner is just as good. The birria enchiladas are a must, and honestly, you can't go wrong with any of the tacos. Their homemade tortillas alone are worth the visit. And don't skip the frozen piña colada--it's the perfect way to cool off after walking around Old Town on a hot day. Service is always friendly and attentive, with the manager frequently checking in, and the overall vibe is fun, relaxed, and great for any occasion. Highly recommend! read more