We found El Tejate on a whim because we were looking for something refreshing while charging the EV. They specialize in Oaxacan food and one of their traditional beverages is the Horchata con Nieve De Tuna (classic horchata topped with a scoop of vibrant red prickly pear sorbet). We ordered at the counter and the person gave us a sample of the red prickly pear sorbet. The drink was very refreshing, not overly sweet and turns a vibrant magenta when the sorbet mixes with the horchata. It's definitely a great treat. read more

Been here a few times and we ordered in tonight. I had chicken mole enchiladas, they were very filled with chicken wrapped around a delicious Oaxacan tortilla. The mole was perfect with raw onion and cilantro on top. I think a little cheese on top would make it even better. My husband had a nicely seasoned pounded piece of pork that came with rice ( which is delicious much better then orange Spanish rice, it tasted like it had a bit of broth and vegtables in it) and beans. It came with fresh tortillas and a spicey salsa. As a treat he never had before he got the Tejate drink. Which is a creamy corn, fruit and cocoa drink. It was very different and tasty. This restaurant is Oaxacan so the dishes are authetic, not Tex Mex like most Mexican places loaded down with yellow cheese. Give them a try for authetic flavors. read more

El Tejate - Cecina Especial - Mexican Near Me - Escondido, California

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Best Mexican restaurant ever. Totally unique experience, authentic and high quality, second time here. Order the Tlayuda Mixta and hot chocolate. Amazing. read more

Absolutely delighted with how fresh the food was. Very authentic hand made tortillas, mole Brought from Oaxaca according to waitress. Hidden gem for sure. read more

El Tejate - Mexican Near Me - Escondido, California

We live in Chula Vista, we have been coming for 3 years, recommended this to hundreds of people. However, we are crossing out this place out of our radar. Also. I will let my friends and family to do the same. This place, once again. Its prices are on a steady climb. 22.99 for a Tlayuda with 3 super mini slices of tomato ( see pics). The used to offer chips and salsa while you wait for your food, that's gone. Front door has been loudly slamming for the past year now. Soo annoying when ur eating. Horchata and Chilacayoya water, super sweet. No taste of chilacayota what so ever. Horrible. We are no coming back. read more

El Tejate - Tlayuda - Mexican Near Me - Escondido, California

Went there on a Tuesday afternoon so it wasn't busy, I ordered to go while my kids finished their JiuJitsu class so I didn't have to wait. Since it was my first time there and I couldn't decide between mile rojo or negro, the cashier offered me to taste both and I am sooo glad she did that. I ordered the mole Negro and it was phenomenal! Ye, the prices are higher than "Roberto's" but the food is of higher quality and way better taste. If you think this place will be cheap because of Mexican food from Oaxaca, you're wrong if the expectation for flavors is of "Americanized Mexican food" again, you're going to the wrong place. I can't wait to ho back and try a few different things from their menu. read more

Bad service, bad attitude, and somehow they tipped themselves. Didn't know that was part of the experience

Why do they make their own hours? I went at 745pm just to buy coffee beans and the door was locked. 3 employees were standing behind the counter. Once the realized I tried to open the door they all walked to the back read more

Absolutely phenomenal, we decided to take a chance here despite the reviews and were pleasantly surprised. The beans were delicious and the cheese was heavenly. The service was wonderful, they were very polite and helpful. Don't be afraid of the reviews and give this place a chance. read more

Food was FANTASTIC. Corn tortillas made from scratch, sauces full of flavor, truly so delicious. Will be coming back!!

Muy mala experiencia Lamentablemente, tuvimos una pésima experiencia en este lugar. Desde que llegamos, la atención fue grosera y poco profesional. La señora que nos atendió tuvo una actitud muy prepotente y despectiva hacia mi familia. No solo nos habló de forma grosera, sino que además tardaron mucho en atendernos, a pesar de que el restaurante no estaba lleno. Lo más decepcionante fue que, en lugar de ofrecer una solución o disculparse, decidieron corrernos del establecimiento de una manera completamente inapropiada. Es una lástima que un lugar que debería ofrecer hospitalidad y buen trato a sus clientes termine siendo una experiencia tan desagradable. No lo recomiendo en absoluto. Nadie debería ser tratado así, mucho menos en un lugar público. read more

2 chile Rellno plates 1 the relleno was crunchy like was not cooked properly 2 hardly any rice an beans 3 food was served cold .. do not recommend this place ... way to expensive read more

El Tejate - Mexican Near Me - Escondido, California

The food was not all that good. The service was even worst than the food was somehow. Thought that the food would make up for the customer service, but unfortunately that was not the case. The servers had revolting, and snappy attitudes. They were not attentive to the needs of the customers. We had to get up multiple times to get what we had asked for ourselves. Don't see how this is a step up from just eating at home. Where is the competence or should say incompetence. The restaurant is very bright, but unfortunately the trashy food and customer service makes you lose your appetite. If I could give this place 0 stars I would, but that is not an option so I am left with giving it a very undeserved 1. read more

The food was delicious but the service was not good they took 2 hours to take out 5 meals and they added a $30 tip without my permission and my fries were really cold/hard read more

We went in to grab a quick bite while waiting for our car to charge at the convenient Tesla Supercharger in this parking lot and, wow!! so happy we did! It's Oaxacan and we've never eaten this type of food; so much fine flavor, all the food well-prepared and it came out quick (!) We had gracious and efficient service. Portions were huge!! My husband got a coctel and the flavors were so balanced and fresh (in the spoonful of liquid that I tasted, I discerned cucumber, celery (maybe?), avocado, along with the fresh shrimp & octopus and it was NOT too salty). I got a breakfast of: scrambled eggs w/chorizo (not too greasy or salty!), yummy rice with veg (tasted like my Mom's rice from her arroz con pollo), and black beans (again, Not salty but so, so flavorful). The tortillas were so different from ones I'm used to but, still...so yum and went great with the food. And the salsa on the table: yummy and, again, so different! Delicious and kinda like...should I say? Like mole? We look forward to eating through this menu in the future. read more

Food is amazing! I always get a tlayuda and it's absolutely authentic. Customer service is great too. The restaurant is very clean.

Food is good... My second time here because of the chapulines plate And Tlayuda As a restaurant owner I going to said a few things... as soon I get inside it was so quite you can hear the plates and forks. was no music so we told the waiter to turn on the radio a least. Getting in there was so depressed, it's needs more colors in the walls. Bathroom need to be clean, staffs need to be more efficient and happy. We asked for dessert and it was almost none. They only have jello's Overall food was great. read more

El Tejate - Inside - Mexican Near Me - Escondido, California

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Good food The service as good, I really enjoy the ambiance Thanks for make authentic food I love Oaxaca I'm good with that read more

El Tejate - Best torta in Escondido for sure - Mexican Near Me - Escondido, California

The food and service have been consistently top notch for Authentic Mexican Food since I started coming here in 2018!! I highly recommend this place!! read more

Food was not good, 16 dollars for chicken nuggets??? INSANEEEE , do not recommend service was very very slow, 30 dollar tip that was added . Do not recommend do not come here read more

Horrible service and absolutely rude staff and management. They even refused to allow a young child, who started crying, to use the restroom because she didn't buy anything. "Just buy a soda" they told her. She was probably 5 or 6 years old! The food was bad too! read more

If you want to eat fresh food made from scratch this is the spot. We got the chille relleno and it was so delicious!! read more

El Tejate - Chille relleno - Mexican Near Me - Escondido, California

La comida esta deliciosa y el servicio es excelente la señora que nos atendió nos hiso sentir como en casa es mi mejor experiencia en un restaurante mexicano gracias! Recomiendo este lugar. read more

The food was good. However, the experience of sitting in peace and enjoy our food with my family did not happen. My family and I had to hear a back and forth with the owner and customers of an incident that happened over the weekend. How upset he was for receiving a bad review and due to this that person was no longer welcome at the establishment. We are in our right to express how we feel about a place. This should be a motivation for the establishment to improve not to ban people from revisiting and reposting a positive review. We will no longer be visiting this restaurant in the future. We might get banned due to this review. read more

This place is a joke. I ordered 3 cecina plates to go and 3 sodas. It added up to be $70 which I didn't mind paying for UNTIL I got home and opened the plates I had ordered for me and my family the portions were SO SMALL. It was one very small thin piece of cecina, beans, rice and salad. The woman who also took my payment wasn't very welcoming or friendly so clearly customer service isn't a priority here. I'm ALL for supporting local but I won't be coming back here. read more

Very delicious, authentic Mexican food. Great service. Love the Tortas!! Definitely a hidden gem . From the the outside looks sketchy but the food is delicious! read more

La comida muy sabrosa las meseras hacen lo que pueden pero el ambiente es oesado una vez que llega la dueña del establecimiento muy encarada no se preocupa por el cliente y una manera de vestir tan vulgar que se agacha y se le ve todo el rabo.. debería mejorar su actitud y agradecer a sus empleados ya que y que por ellos es que regresa uno.. read more

They had promised a mariachi today from 5 until they close which never arrived although we had waited countless hours it felt like an eternity to be fully let down with nobody showing up. After that when I got the check they had added a 18 percent tip without letting us know and we weren't even a party of 6 and on top of that we where asked to add more for the tip. They took a fair amount of time for a big plate that was to share but they had to go ask to go back and make a small one person serving since they had forgotten it at the beginning. I would not recomend going the food is expensive but there are other places that are well known which are also known to be expensive but still much cheaper.i wouldn't recomend going here and I will not be returning at any future date. read more

Great service. Ordered a huitlacoche empanada and a drink they didn't serve anymore so the cashier offered to give me another drink in exchange. Got their horchata with ice cream fruit and nuts and it was so good. Will come back again later! read more

First time here and of course it was outdoor seating because of covid that being said it was great ! Fast and friendly service, my dad and I shared a "tlayuda mixta" I'm sure I spelled that wrong but it's so good!!!! It's like a giant tostada with black beans, Oaxaca cheese, avocado and meats. Sooo good! Even their chips and salsa that are complimentary were delish. Highly recommend checking this place out. read more

El Tejate - So good - Mexican Near Me - Escondido, California

There were 2 couples when we arrived at the restaurant and it still took too long to get our food. I had the green chilaquiles and sauce was too salty. Server never came back to ask if we needed anything. Took too long to get our bill. For me the worse is the QR menu. Places need to bring back the regular menus. Not everyone at our table has a phone so we have to pass our phone around to see the menu and it's so small. read more

My friends recommend me to eat your soup name Tlalpeño so I order it so when I got it it was hot the way I like my soup but when I started tasting the vegetables and rice I felt it was undercooked and the chicken some pieces were hard and some were soft and also the soup didn't even taste like chicken it didn't had any flavors. read more

they added a 30 dollar tip without consent the food was good but very expensive they took very long to give our food half of it was cold the service wasn't that good either read more

Their mole enchiladas are the best. Loved the black mole salsa. It was so flavorful and I tasted real Mexican food. The restaurant is very nice and spacious. They have a great menu with lots of options. I had a michelada and it was really good. I went with a group of friends and we had an amazing time there. Vanessa help us and she made sure all our orders were perfect....check out Vanessa and this place. You'll Love it and no regrets at all. read more

El Tejate - Black Mole plate the best - Mexican Near Me - Escondido, California

Stay away from this place! If I could give it zero stars I would. Long wait, terrible service, and disgusting food. This was the only place we could find that had empanadas, so we ordered 5 (2 chicken, 2 cheese and 1 squash) came up to $69, which I wouldn't mind paying if the food was actually good, but they turned out to be a flat tortilla filled with a chicken that was way too spicy for anyone to eat, Cheese that was beyond salty, and squash that smelled rotten, no sides, disgusting flavor, completely inedible and most certainly not worth the money or the long wait. Called them to politely express my disappointing experience but received no apology, no refund, or any attempt to make things right. Don't waste your time or money at this place, instead head over to Cuscatlan on Grand in Escondido they actually have good service and great food, even if they don't have Empanadas. read more

El Tejate - Dry Salty cheese on a dry tortilla. My dogs food looks better than this. - Mexican Near Me - Escondido, California

Tired of numbered Taco and Burrito combinations with Mexican orange rice? I was, so I came to El Tejate to introduce my palate to Oaxacan cuisine. This is a local's restaurant and there is little English spoken here. It's okay, pointing at the menu is fine. If you have ever wanted to try Mole, then this is your place. I've had it elsewhere but nothing compares to El Tejate. Now if you've never had it, maybe it wont be your cup of tea. What you will get out this experience is a true tasting of Oaxacan food. What I've sampled.. All came with a white rice ( had white onions mixed in) and Black beans. Tezajo a la Mexicana - Seasoned strips of flat steak with grilled veg. Kinda like steak Fajitas. Even though it's cooked with Jalapeno, it wasn't very spicy. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/qCFcse8RfeAlU8dj8YsSDg?select=1xh2mNgxrqp8e6mn_xCAuA Mole Rojo con pechuga - Breast of chicken with Red Mole sauce. Seemed a little pricey for a single breast, but the mole is top shelf. I think I like the black mole more. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/qCFcse8RfeAlU8dj8YsSDg?select=1F6KSbjX_PSntbX0ldUIRg Enchiladas Mole Negro - Enchiladas with black mole sauce. Now this is how mole should be. Very rich and tasty. Would order this again. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/qCFcse8RfeAlU8dj8YsSDg?select=xlEAwvEQ809glVEbPtohdA Try it if you're looking for something different, authentic.. read more

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Hi la verdad no lo recomiendo el servicio pésimo he tenido un par de experiencias malas pero esta última si creo que fue la más desagradable sobre todo con el servicio de las empleadas , una vez fui atendido por la misma dueña y ella misma me cobró dos cervezas de mas , mas un cargo de 60 dólares de propina read more

This location has terrible, very slow customer service and you can expect to wait over 45 minutes after ordering meals. However, with the company of great friends this wait time is nothing. The food isn't terrible but definitely not worth the extended wait period. Today I left with a Togo order for my loved one to enjoy as his job leaves little time for good meals. He found this inside his torta and well a picture is worth a thousand words..... read more

El Tejate - Torta oaxaqueña with the gift of hard plastic. - Mexican Near Me - Escondido, California

Food was great, very authentic food. The portions were great size. The drinks were also very good.

I just moved to Escondido. I wanted to get some authentic Mexican food. My wife suggested this restaurant, after she had the pleasure of eating there previously. I was NOT disappointed- this place has AUTHENTIC Mexican (Oaxacan to be more precise) cuisine. This place is great. They have outdoor seating ( I think because of the pandemic) and indoor seating. The staff is friendly and prompt serving super delicious food! They have amazing mole, and like I said VERY AUTHENTIC food. Yes - even down to the Chapulines (roasted grasshoppers) - which are difficult to find on this side of the border. Everything from the Aqua Frescas to the Chocolate con pan is 100% delicious! I recommend this place highly. It's super casual and they serve alcohol (for those who partake) ...my wife had a Margarita- she said it was delicious as well. I will definitely be back! read more