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I'm glad I tried this out for seafood! It's a sit-down sports bar which was a surprising combination, but the food really delivered. I did see some people who were dressed a little nicer in casual dresses and heels, but I also saw people dressed casually like you would expect at a sports bar. I had the smoked tuna enchiladas which came with rice and beans. The smoked tuna amount was generous and the sauce was excellent. My boyfriend got the surf & turf burrito which he liked, and he thought the pickled red onions were a particularly nice touch. Alana was our server and she was great. I'll definitely come back sometime soon!
Great looking place with nice interior design with the staff energy and everything else to match. This place specializes in seafood and I'd say it is one of the best seafood I've had in a long time. Smoked Tuna taco - Great taste! Fried fish taco- perfectly crunchy outside and dressed Baja style as it should be Octopus taco - cooked perfectly, nice snap and soft chew
My friend and I came here for brunch and really wanted to love this place. We ended up leaving just liking it. That's honestly what made the experience frustrating because there were definitely things we enjoyed and I can see the potential here. To be fair, we visited during graduation season. There were already several larger parties dining when we arrived, so the restaurant was definitely busy. The space itself is beautiful. The disco balls, greenery, decor, and even the bathroom all contribute to a really fun atmosphere. It feels trendy without trying too hard. Unfortunately, things got off to a rough start. We stood at the host stand for about five minutes before anyone greeted us. Once we were seated, it became pretty obvious why. Throughout our entire visit, I only saw one server working the floor. There were multiple tables, larger parties, and only one person trying to manage everything. I honestly felt bad for her. The menu is huge. There are tons of brunch options, seafood dishes, coffee drinks, and matchas. I ordered the matcha with tiramisu cream top while my friend ordered a matcha with a banana cream top. About ten minutes later, we were told they were out of the banana cream top. Not the end of the world, but it felt like something that should probably be known before taking orders. The matcha itself was decent quality, but neither drink seemed fully mixed. There were clumps of matcha powder sitting at the bottom, which made the last few sips pretty unpleasant. My Tiramisu Matcha mostly tasted like regular matcha with cream and cocoa powder. I never really got that tiramisu flavor I was expecting. The Strawberry Matcha ended up being the better drink because the strawberry flavor actually came through. For food, I ordered the Pork Belly Taco and the Pulpo Macho. My friend ordered the Seafood Fajita. The Pulpo Macho completely stole the show. The octopus was tender and packed with flavor. The blue corn tostada underneath held everything together surprisingly well. There was freshness, acidity, seasoning, and a little bit of heat in every bite. The creamy sauce underneath balanced everything out perfectly. Easily my favorite thing we ordered and the reason I would come back. The Pork Belly Taco was unfortunately the biggest disappointment of the meal. The menu describes it with a sweet and spicy mango sauce, so I was expecting something packed with flavor. Instead, the taco felt dry. The pork belly seemed overcooked. The pickled onions didn't add much brightness. I kept looking for that mango sauce flavor and never really found it. I ended up reaching for the table salsas just to give the taco a little more life. It wasn't terrible, but it definitely didn't live up to the description on the menu. My friend's Seafood Fajita was probably the best value at the table. It arrived sizzling hot and loaded with shrimp, octopus, mussels, white fish, peppers, and onions. It also came with rice, beans, and tortillas on the side. The portion was huge and could easily feed two to three people. Even before it reached the table, you could smell it coming. The biggest issue throughout the meal was the service. Once our food arrived, we barely saw our server again. Getting checked on took forever. Getting the check took forever. At one point we were genuinely wondering if we needed to get up and find someone. The thing is, I don't even blame the server. She was clearly stretched thin and doing the best she could. This felt much more like a staffing issue than an employee issue. Unfortunately, the slow service, drink issues, and disappointing taco made it hard to overlook the negatives. I'd still give it another chance because there were definitely some bright spots.
Our monthly go-to spot for delicious Mexican food and fresh seafood! They recently remodeled the place, and it's looking really nice! The atmosphere is great, and I absolutely love their choice of music. But let's talk about the Tamarindo Margarita! It's seriously the BEST! A few times they've run out of tamarindo, and I get so disappointed because that's one of the main reasons I come here! And if you're here, you MUST try the octopus tacos--so good! I come here at least once a month for the Tamarindo Margarita and their fresh seafood. Definitely one of my favorite spots for a good Mexican meal and a fun atmosphere!
Hair of the dog and mariscos are truly the best cure for a hangover! Came here following a long weekend of college football game wins and celebratory bar visits. Got an ice cold mango michelada and their mixed seafood ceviche, along with a few appetizers, and it did just the trick to help me recover and get ready for the week ahead.
Great ambience, excellent service, and amazing ceviche. Came here on a Saturday morning and were able to be seated rather quickly. The restaurant was almost full but the service was fast. Ordered the Steak and Eggs and Ceviche de Cameron. Will pass on the steak next time as it wasn't their specialty, but the star of the show was definitely the Ceviche. Definitely recommend.
This was our second time going to el viejon and it didn't disappoint. We ordered a full order of aguachile, the tuna tartar, Ensenada fish taco, and the smoked tuna taco. Everything was delicious, the portions were huge. Overall, the vibe is chill and clean. The only small thing is that it would've been helpful to know we had ordered enough food, just as a friendly heads up.
Finally was able to check this place out after a debate over where we should have dinner, and I gotta admit that I was surprised. The food was delicious(Check out their nachos!) and will for sure be back to try out the other items on their menu. Very friendly staff and the environment was a vibe.
Craved some Mexican food after a long hike and it hit the spot. All the food was so flavorful. I got shrimp tacos. The tortillas were homemade as well as the salsa and chips and loaded with good stuff. The rice was interesting as it wasn't Spanish rice but still really good. The beans definitely seemed like there was a lot of lard in them so I wasn't a fan of that. But they had nice booths inside and the decor was really cute. Glad I finally found some good Mexican food in town. Shrimp were so juicy and flavorful!
My friends and I came here a few Fridays ago, expecting to partake in their happy hour, only to find out it was limited to Monday thru Thursday. We were slightly disappointed, but we got over it. Chips and salsa were not complimentary. You have to pay for it, and it was bad! The chips were stale and the salsa tasted like it came out of the El Pato tomato sauce tin can that was used to hold utensils. It was only $5 but it was a waste of money. The "chunky" salsa was runny and flavorless. I ordered 2 tostadas, the La Coqueta ($10) and the Camaron Cocido ($9). They were good, but there was nothing particularly special about them. Service was very slow. This is one of those restaurants I would try once and cross off my list. It's not bad, but it's also good enough for a repeat visit.
Unlike the Convoy location, this location has plenty of parking and indoor seating. Your order is taken after you are seated not at the counter. Same club music. Large tv's for sports and a nice bar. They're just missing a dance floor to go along with the music! Came on a Tuesday and there weren't any Tuesday taco deals. Just happy hour Monday - Thursday 3-5pm. We ordered: Octopus taco - amazing. The crispy onions gave it an added crunch and generous on the octopus. Choice of spicy salsa macha or pesto. We got salsa macha, it's like chili oil. Queso Birria taco w consome - I like the birria taco here over Mike's Red Taco! It's fully loaded and flavorful! Ceviche de cameron - shrimp, red onions, cilantro, tomato. This one is traditional and basic out of all with refreshing herb flavors. I prefer this ceviche over the other one. La coqueta - cooked shrimp, octopus, red onions, cucumber, roasted pepper, cilantro. This one had all the nice assortment but it was too wet. The tostado got soggy. It also had cream cheese base that I didn't like. Garlic shrimp plate - came with salad, rice and beans. We substituted the beans for more salad. The salad had a hint of jalapeño dressing that gave it a kick of spicy peppers. 10 shrimps! The rice was too wet for me, I prefer dryer. It also came with a side of tortillas. We each got the guava margarita. The guava purée tasted like the guava juice from Costco! Regardless, it was delicious. Originally, I wanted the tamarindo margarita but they sold out.
We frequent the convoy location and have always wanted to try this brunch/dinner location. The restaurant is so nicely decorated and the dining space is much bigger and cozy. The menu offerings were vast and reasonably priced. Our server was nice and I loved to see everyone working together to help each other's guests. The mimosa flight was delicious. The food per usual never disappoints.
The restaurant is awesome! It's a hidden gem. Highly recommend coming here. Parking lot- large. A lot of spaces. Decor - cool vibe. Love the disco balls and all the tvs!! I got to watch the dodgers vs the padres play. Service- amazing! There were three people that consistently came to us to make sure we were ok. The bartender, waitress, and the guy were phenomenal Food- so good! We ordered everything on the happy hour menu. Food and drinks. Food was so fresh and good portion. The bartender and the other guy made us even espresso martini and other cocktails. Everything tasted so good. Loved the Mexican candy shot and the Mexican coco drink. Couldn't even taste the alcohol. It was so smooth and nicely made. Thank you'. Music- so fun. Loved the playlist. Thank you! We will definitely come back. read more
26 days ago
I've been wanting to Try El Viejon for Mexican food, but everytime I go to El Viejón in my Area in Convoy street there's no available seats 'coz it's too small inside and it has very limited tables. So we went here in Mira Mesa and they had plenty of seating, and they had nice decors and lighting inside. We got seated quickly and so we made our order quickly too. Here is what we had: *EL VIEJON FAJITAS (Mix combo: Steak, Chicken, Shrimps) *WHOLE FRIED FISH (Red Snapper) *CAMPECHANA (Shrimp, Octopus, Scallop) *VIEJON EMPANADAS (Smoked Fish) *AL PASTOR TACOS COMBO *OCTOPUS TACOS COMBO *GUAVA MARGARITA I was really craving for a CAMPECHANA, this has SHRIMPS, SCALLOPS, and OCTOPUS. This one came with tortilla chips, usually I get a crackers with it in some restaurants, but tortilla chips are still okay. I added some spicy sauce and the next thing I know I forgot to share it with my Son and Husband, I like this CAMPECHANA ;) For appetizers I chose their VIEJON EMPANADA with smoked Fish fillings and I didn't like it, I thought that since it was an Empanada that it would be full of Flavor, but it's bland. My Son had the AL PASTOR TACO COMBO and OCTOPUS TACO COMBO, both of these Tacos were delicious, but the presentation of the AL PASTOR TACO and how the rice and beans looked like is the part that I didnt like, it's like they just Tossed the rice and beans in a rush. A small mexican restaurant nearby had a better food presentation than how they shaped the Rice and Beans on their plate here. My husband ordered the WHOLE FRIED FISH (RED SNAPPER), this one had pretty plating and was delicious, with all those dipping sauces, beans, tortilla, and salad, this is a good one. My Husband ate it with the Tortilla and I ate this Fish with the Rice. And for my food I got the EL VIEJON FAJITAS (Mix combo protein of SHRIMPS, STEAK, and CHICKEN). Omg the meats are tender, the shrimps are juicy, and it has nice Seasoning, really good Fajitas. My Drink was the GUAVA MARGARITA. I love anything with Guava flavor, and this one was a delicious guava margarita. Customer service is great here, our Server and another Guy bringing our food to the table were both very friendly and always on the lookout on our table for what else we might need. Also, other staff passing by our table always had this glowing smile, they are happy servers here to all the tables they pass by. Parking is okay, lots of space to park. read more
Came to visit again after the renovations and though there are a menu changes, I can confirm they are still as delicious as before. Carolina is a superstar when it comes to service and really took care of us despite a very busy time! She was wonderful and we look forward to seeing her again. The Happy Hour menu changed slightly - they only have house margaritas on HH now which is a bummer but overall still a solid value. Will be back! read more
2 months ago
I'm glad I tried this out for seafood! It's a sit-down sports bar which was a surprising combination, but the food really delivered. I did see some people who were dressed a little nicer in casual dresses and heels, but I also saw people dressed casually like you would expect at a sports bar. I had the smoked tuna enchiladas which came with rice and beans. The smoked tuna amount was generous and the sauce was excellent. My boyfriend got the surf & turf burrito which he liked, and he thought the pickled red onions were a particularly nice touch. Alana was our server and she was great. I'll definitely come back sometime soon! read more
Great looking place with nice interior design with the staff energy and everything else to match. This place specializes in seafood and I'd say it is one of the best seafood I've had in a long time. Smoked Tuna taco - Great taste! Fried fish taco- perfectly crunchy outside and dressed Baja style as it should be Octopus taco - cooked perfectly, nice snap and soft chew read more
My friend and I came here for brunch and really wanted to love this place. We ended up leaving just liking it. That's honestly what made the experience frustrating because there were definitely things we enjoyed and I can see the potential here. To be fair, we visited during graduation season. There were already several larger parties dining when we arrived, so the restaurant was definitely busy. The space itself is beautiful. The disco balls, greenery, decor, and even the bathroom all contribute to a really fun atmosphere. It feels trendy without trying too hard. Unfortunately, things got off to a rough start. We stood at the host stand for about five minutes before anyone greeted us. Once we were seated, it became pretty obvious why. Throughout our entire visit, I only saw one server working the floor. There were multiple tables, larger parties, and only one person trying to manage everything. I honestly felt bad for her. The menu is huge. There are tons of brunch options, seafood dishes, coffee drinks, and matchas. I ordered the matcha with tiramisu cream top while my friend ordered a matcha with a banana cream top. About ten minutes later, we were told they were out of the banana cream top. Not the end of the world, but it felt like something that should probably be known before taking orders. The matcha itself was decent quality, but neither drink seemed fully mixed. There were clumps of matcha powder sitting at the bottom, which made the last few sips pretty unpleasant. My Tiramisu Matcha mostly tasted like regular matcha with cream and cocoa powder. I never really got that tiramisu flavor I was expecting. The Strawberry Matcha ended up being the better drink because the strawberry flavor actually came through. For food, I ordered the Pork Belly Taco and the Pulpo Macho. My friend ordered the Seafood Fajita. The Pulpo Macho completely stole the show. The octopus was tender and packed with flavor. The blue corn tostada underneath held everything together surprisingly well. There was freshness, acidity, seasoning, and a little bit of heat in every bite. The creamy sauce underneath balanced everything out perfectly. Easily my favorite thing we ordered and the reason I would come back. The Pork Belly Taco was unfortunately the biggest disappointment of the meal. The menu describes it with a sweet and spicy mango sauce, so I was expecting something packed with flavor. Instead, the taco felt dry. The pork belly seemed overcooked. The pickled onions didn't add much brightness. I kept looking for that mango sauce flavor and never really found it. I ended up reaching for the table salsas just to give the taco a little more life. It wasn't terrible, but it definitely didn't live up to the description on the menu. My friend's Seafood Fajita was probably the best value at the table. It arrived sizzling hot and loaded with shrimp, octopus, mussels, white fish, peppers, and onions. It also came with rice, beans, and tortillas on the side. The portion was huge and could easily feed two to three people. Even before it reached the table, you could smell it coming. The biggest issue throughout the meal was the service. Once our food arrived, we barely saw our server again. Getting checked on took forever. Getting the check took forever. At one point we were genuinely wondering if we needed to get up and find someone. The thing is, I don't even blame the server. She was clearly stretched thin and doing the best she could. This felt much more like a staffing issue than an employee issue. Unfortunately, the slow service, drink issues, and disappointing taco made it hard to overlook the negatives. I'd still give it another chance because there were definitely some bright spots. read more
2 months ago
Our monthly go-to spot for delicious Mexican food and fresh seafood! They recently remodeled the place, and it's looking really nice! The atmosphere is great, and I absolutely love their choice of music. But let's talk about the Tamarindo Margarita! It's seriously the BEST! A few times they've run out of tamarindo, and I get so disappointed because that's one of the main reasons I come here! And if you're here, you MUST try the octopus tacos--so good! I come here at least once a month for the Tamarindo Margarita and their fresh seafood. Definitely one of my favorite spots for a good Mexican meal and a fun atmosphere! read more
6 months ago
Hair of the dog and mariscos are truly the best cure for a hangover! Came here following a long weekend of college football game wins and celebratory bar visits. Got an ice cold mango michelada and their mixed seafood ceviche, along with a few appetizers, and it did just the trick to help me recover and get ready for the week ahead. read more
Great ambience, excellent service, and amazing ceviche. Came here on a Saturday morning and were able to be seated rather quickly. The restaurant was almost full but the service was fast. Ordered the Steak and Eggs and Ceviche de Cameron. Will pass on the steak next time as it wasn't their specialty, but the star of the show was definitely the Ceviche. Definitely recommend. read more
This was our second time going to el viejon and it didn't disappoint. We ordered a full order of aguachile, the tuna tartar, Ensenada fish taco, and the smoked tuna taco. Everything was delicious, the portions were huge. Overall, the vibe is chill and clean. The only small thing is that it would've been helpful to know we had ordered enough food, just as a friendly heads up. read more
11 days ago
Finally was able to check this place out after a debate over where we should have dinner, and I gotta admit that I was surprised. The food was delicious(Check out their nachos!) and will for sure be back to try out the other items on their menu. Very friendly staff and the environment was a vibe. read more
Craved some Mexican food after a long hike and it hit the spot. All the food was so flavorful. I got shrimp tacos. The tortillas were homemade as well as the salsa and chips and loaded with good stuff. The rice was interesting as it wasn't Spanish rice but still really good. The beans definitely seemed like there was a lot of lard in them so I wasn't a fan of that. But they had nice booths inside and the decor was really cute. Glad I finally found some good Mexican food in town. Shrimp were so juicy and flavorful! read more
4 days ago
5 months ago
My friends and I came here a few Fridays ago, expecting to partake in their happy hour, only to find out it was limited to Monday thru Thursday. We were slightly disappointed, but we got over it. Chips and salsa were not complimentary. You have to pay for it, and it was bad! The chips were stale and the salsa tasted like it came out of the El Pato tomato sauce tin can that was used to hold utensils. It was only $5 but it was a waste of money. The "chunky" salsa was runny and flavorless. I ordered 2 tostadas, the La Coqueta ($10) and the Camaron Cocido ($9). They were good, but there was nothing particularly special about them. Service was very slow. This is one of those restaurants I would try once and cross off my list. It's not bad, but it's also good enough for a repeat visit. read more
1 year ago
Unlike the Convoy location, this location has plenty of parking and indoor seating. Your order is taken after you are seated not at the counter. Same club music. Large tv's for sports and a nice bar. They're just missing a dance floor to go along with the music! Came on a Tuesday and there weren't any Tuesday taco deals. Just happy hour Monday - Thursday 3-5pm. We ordered: Octopus taco - amazing. The crispy onions gave it an added crunch and generous on the octopus. Choice of spicy salsa macha or pesto. We got salsa macha, it's like chili oil. Queso Birria taco w consome - I like the birria taco here over Mike's Red Taco! It's fully loaded and flavorful! Ceviche de cameron - shrimp, red onions, cilantro, tomato. This one is traditional and basic out of all with refreshing herb flavors. I prefer this ceviche over the other one. La coqueta - cooked shrimp, octopus, red onions, cucumber, roasted pepper, cilantro. This one had all the nice assortment but it was too wet. The tostado got soggy. It also had cream cheese base that I didn't like. Garlic shrimp plate - came with salad, rice and beans. We substituted the beans for more salad. The salad had a hint of jalapeño dressing that gave it a kick of spicy peppers. 10 shrimps! The rice was too wet for me, I prefer dryer. It also came with a side of tortillas. We each got the guava margarita. The guava purée tasted like the guava juice from Costco! Regardless, it was delicious. Originally, I wanted the tamarindo margarita but they sold out. read more
2 months ago
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So sorry the wait didn't match your past visits, that's not the…
We frequent the convoy location and have always wanted to try this brunch/dinner location. The restaurant is so nicely decorated and the dining space is much bigger and cozy. The menu offerings were vast and reasonably priced. Our server was nice and I loved to see everyone working together to help each other's guests. The mimosa flight was delicious. The food per usual never disappoints. read more
I've been to El Viegon in Scripps Ranch a couple of times now, and it's definitely a spot I'd come back to. The location is super convenient right off the 15 freeway, which makes it an easy stop. This time we ordered the seafood nachos, and they were really good. They come loaded with shrimp, fish, and octopus, and everything tasted fresh--not fishy at all, just clean and flavorful. You can tell they use quality seafood. Service has been on point both times I've been here--friendly, attentive, and quick without feeling rushed. On a previous visit, I tried their ceviche and it was just as impressive--very fresh and full of flavor. I also like that they're starting to do Friday nights with 80's music and a live DJ, which adds a fun vibe if you're looking for something a little more lively. Overall, solid food, great service, and a good atmosphere. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area. read more
#elviejónseafoodandbrunch was a nice surprise. The food is very flavorful. A bit on the pricey side the birria taco with octopus was around $16. And the pancakes that came with fruit were served plain because they were out of bananas. I think they could of said something.... I actually had to ask. The best was the cafedeollalatte and the drinks looked delicious. read more
Shares a huge parking lot with several other very busy and popular restaurants. During peak times, it is hard to find parking in the lot. Their chips were hot and crunchy and the guacamole was delicious with huge chunks of avocado. The enchiladas red sauce was really good. We were dipping everything in it. Their meats were very well seasoned and felt well balanced with the sauces. The overall portions were pretty huge as well. The Margarita was sweet and not too strong. So if you are in the mood for a light drink, it would be the perfect choice. Our server was very fun and helpful and the restaurant was clean. It was a great dining experience. Definitely curious to try their other menu items. read more
A fairly new seafood brunch spot! There is plenty of parking. The restaurant is super spacious and well designed. The menu is pretty extensive. I was kinda overwhelmed on what to order. They have happy hour Monday-Thursday 3pm-5pm with oysters $1.50 and margaritas $7, and more! I went here yesterday and enjoyed the mango madness cocktail and Ensenada Fish taco. 10/10 would recommend! El viejon catch -- wanted the tower version but this portion is definitely generous. It didn't come with tostadas and we had to ask for some. The green cilantro aioli sauce was soo addicting. I kept on putting it on everything. Half oyster could have been more flavorful? It was decent. Presentation is fancy. Staff were very helpful and attentive. I would recommend! read more
3 months ago
I was pretty skeptical about this restaurant but was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly impressed by the quality of the food, incredible interior design, and wonderful service. We ordered the Tuna Tartare, Smoked Fish Taco, and Taco Manolarga. The taco prices are a little high but the quality is pretty good. I really enjoyed the smoked fish taco, the smokiness definitely came through. The tuna tartare was way larger than I had expected (hand in photo for size comparison). They have a happy hour so I'll definitely try to come back then! read more
Went here for lunch and for happy hour. We really enjoyed the great attentive service and the food was delicious. It's a great happy hour and we will definitely be back again. We tried their guava margarita, mango margarita, and the spicy cucumber margarita. I like the guava margarita most. They aren't made with tequila but with I believe wine vodka instead. Still tasty though. read more
Great spot for Mexican seafood with a nice atmosphere! This is my third time here and first time too Happy Hour. The margaritas were only $7-- an oyster is only $1.50 apiece such a good deal. We enjoyed a peach margaritas and a dozen oysters. I had an ahi tostada from the happy hour menu, which was fresh and delicious, as well as a shrimp and cheese taco that hit the spot. Others in my group ordered the three-carnitas taco plate with rice and beans and really enjoyed it. Overall, tasty food, great prices during happy hour, and a welcoming vibe. Definitely worth a visit! read more
Very large portions. Knowledgeable staff in regard to celiac accommodations. Their rice and beans are gluten-free. They are able to make the kids meal of two cheese quesadillas with corn tortilla instead of flour tortilla. They have a large menu with a variety of items, including tacos, quesadillas, ceviche, oysters, and entrées. Also have many options for beer, wine, sangria, and margaritas. I got the three Al pastor tacos and they give double tortilla with each one so I always end up taking more than half of it home as leftovers. They have a lot of table and booth seating. Multiple TVs mounted for watching soccer or other games. read more
First thing would be to recommended anything seafood, as it is their specialty. Aguachile, ceviche, tacos or burritos with octopus, etc. in addition, they have one of those menus where you want to order everything. Lots of familiar items but also so many unique selections as well. They even offer a matcha horchata! Margaritas are top notch. Food was delicious (and yes we will return to try more and reorder some of our favorites from our first visit). Service was warm and welcoming. What was unique was that it was customized by asking us if we had dined before. Our server, very kind young lady, took her time and explained the menu, answered our questions, and checked on us making sure all was good. The restaurant itself is clean, modern, but with great Mexican music. Really nice vibe. I remember when they were just a food truck in the parking lot of this same plaza. Really great to see how they have established a brick and mortar dining establishment and have created it with the trifecta of phenomenal food, service, and ambience. Salud, El Viejon! read more
Our first time trying this place and it was so good! I love the interior and the quality of their booths. The wall art as well as the music brought in a great vibe. The food was delicious and service was great. Destiny was our server and she was awesome! Friendly, answered questions about the menu and was there whenever we needed something. Can't wait to come back again! read more
I really enjoy dining at El Viejon Seafood and Brunch. Everything I have ordered here has been delicious, and the ambiance is festive. It's one of the better values for healthy seafood in San Diego. The service is knowledgeable and nice. I'm a big fan, and I'm looking forward to my next meal here! read more
Hidden gem in mira mesa! I always knew this place was here however never been inside. My friends and I wanted drinks and food and stumbled upon this place! :) We got al pastor tacos, ensenada fish taco, and the fried fish salad with lemon. and EVERYTHING was SOOO good!! including the drinks. we were surprised how we didnt know about this place earlier. price is decent too, the staff are amazing and you can tell they work hard :) The place is clean, has booth seating, and plays music as well. Definitely planning our next visit read more
1 year ago
First to try this conveniently located restaurant. We went before 10 AM on a Sunday and there were already several tables taken. The restaurant is comfortable, spacious and modern. We were presented with beverage, brunch and dinner menus. We ordered the taco enchilado shrimp, Ensenada fish taco and Pork Belly Taco plus the La Coquera ceviche and a large Sculpin IPA. . All were delicious and are highly recommend. We shall return. read more
Brunch until 3p so we rushed here to get here by 240p. We asked for a booth and hostess said ok but it'll take a few minutes to bus. No worries as we should make be able to place an order before 3p then right. Nope. She said she doesn't know when table will be ready, if server will get to us in time to order by 3p. I asked her if kitchen stopped prepping for breakfast and she said no. I told her we rushed over to make it before the 3p mark so she magically then got the table ready. There seemed to be one server taking orders for the entire restaurant. We promptly placed an order for the Tres leches pancakes (i asked if the whipped cream stated on menu was freshly made, and not from a redi-can, and he said yes whip it prior). The pancakes took over 20+ min to come out and the whipped cream was from a can (he said he was mistaken by it and that the tres leches was instead made in house). The pancakes were meh. Not very memorable or hot. We ate less then one pancake and nothing else of it. Not at all worth the $16 price tag. I wanted to try a variety of other items: Raw Shrimp Marinated in Lime: - tried the half order ($17) with green marinade: AMAZING. The raw shrimp was quickly & lightly cured . The green sauce is supposed to be the medium of the marinade/sauces but it was pretty darn spicy. We were asked if we wanted avo (when ordering and said no as we thought it was upcharge). But i'm looking at receipt now and it says 'no avo' on order so not sure if it's included in price or not? It's a decent size portion for the price (maybe 6-7 shrimp?). They brought out fried tortilla chips for this order but the chips tasted extremely stale. - i loved this dish so much we decided to try the full order ($25) with mango habanero marinade. This was even MORE AMAZING as there were fresh avocado pieces . The marinade wasn't as spicy as the green but avoid the few pieces of fresh habanero on top. We could tell there was more shrimp in the full order but not sure it was double as described to us. This order came out with tostada (4 pieces). Quesa-Birria Taco $9: - soooo good! It's one taco (boo) but there was a decent amount of tender juicy birria in there. Couldn't really taste the melted cheese. Pricy for $9. There was a long wait for our next dish (Pulpo tostada) so I placed an ordered for the: Birria Bowl $18: - it comes with tortillas which i asked if we can get a mix of the corn and flour tortilla . He said he can charge for a side of one so we declined. The bowl of birria was a good size and tasted just as flavorful plus fatty/tender. There was only one large flour tortilla which didn't seem to match the size of the birria bowl. The cilantro/onions were already on top of the birria vs on the side. Pinto beans are also listed on menu but was missing from the plate. The hostess said she thinks it's inside the birria (huh?) and went to ask the kitchen. She came back and said it was misprint on menu (what?) and they have refried beans instead. I asked if we could try that and not be upcharged and she said yeah. Friend said the beans tasted ok. Pulpo macho tostada $9.5: - this came out sooo late (they must have forgotten about it). I think the server picked our prep option (there's salsa macha or pesto ). The menu said it comes with avocado, batter onions, and cilantro. Was it baby cilantro on top ? It was missing the avocado and battered onions. The tostada was salty and tasted strongly of oregano of some sort. Octopus tasted alright. Service was ok. He was busy with the tables so it's understandable. Our check was dropped off well before we were even finished. The total was about $127 . You can scan the QR code on receipt to pay. We had to ask for to go boxes and then later to go bags. I'd return for the aguachile and birria bowl. read more
1 year ago
I love that they opened one here in Mira Mesa! I typically i've been going to the one on Convoy, but this is a much better location! Ample parking. YAAAASSSS. We got chips & salsa - love the smokey flavor in the salsa. Ceviche Sierra was 10/10!!!! Next time I'm gonna get two orders lol. We ordered three Ensenada tacos and one Taco Enchilado (with shrimp). We loved the Ensenada tacos but I wasn't a fan of the taco enchilado - it didn't have much flavor or WOWness about it. Other than that, we had a pleasant experience! Destiny was our server and was so sweet, attentive to us and was superb! The restaurant has constant music playing in a great vibe! Also lots of natural light and a bar! They also have brunch every single day! I'll be coming here probably super often lol read more
Excellent seafood. The favorite was the seafood tower, basically ceviche built up on many layers. We also had the smoked fish tres enchiladas with a creamy guacamole sauce which was fantastic,. We ordered rock shrimp which was breaded and put on a bed of Romaine lettuce . Then we had a burrito el pastor also very delicious. My passion fruit margarita had a rim of chamoy and Tajín which was delicious and beautiful. read more
Girl dinner here? Yes please! This seafood/Mexican restaurant has amazing food, great service, and beautiful plating! I came here with my boyfriend, we both ordered tacos, and some loaded fries to share. Oh wow! We were so surprised with how amazing everything was! The loaded fries are a great sharing size, and the fish tacos I got were so delicious. All the food paired great with a classic coke bottle. I don't know what the chefs are doing back in their kitchen, but please keep doing it! Our lovely waitress was great too, very kind and patient. I hope this business continues to thrive. read more
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More info about El Viejon
9837 Mira Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92131
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(858) 368-9162
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https://elviejonseafood.com
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Ask the Community - El Viejon
Went on 8/4/26 and it was closed with a sign on the door saying closed for remodeling. They make no mention on their website or anywhere else. When will it reopen?
Yes we are open once again.
Is there Sunday Brunch?
Yes there is brunch Saturday and Sunday join us for amazing food and ambiance
Is there an outside, pet-friendly patio?
Hi..no unfortunately there's not an outside patio available for dining with your pet.
