Food is Amazing. Location is great. Excellent menu options Very trendy decor - I love it Server had great recommendations! Highly recommend read more

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The experience we had was wonderful. The food was delicious and had amazing flavors. They served pretty tasty dishes and had wonderful authentic taste. The ambience was well lit but around 7:30 they dimmed the lights. They have restrooms for customers in the back where there is a whole other seating section and made the restaurant feel even bigger. We had a wonderful server. He was attentive and made sure everything we got was how we wanted. It was not too busy when we went and it seemed that the restaurant had plenty of seating for their customers. The parking is a little tough. There are some spots out front and on the street, but you may have to wander elsewhere if it's busy. One of my friends had the lavender margarita and said it tasted good with a great hint of tequila. read more

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chilaquiles - ok carne asada tacos - bad interior and service - nice overpriced mexican food read more

Excellent experience from start to finish. I came here for some solo dining with my dog and was treated so kindly by the staff. They sat us by the street so we could people watch and brought my dog a bowl of water. Zeek, our server, was excellent. He informed me the drink I wanted wasn't available and helped me choose a backup option that ended up being excellent. He also helped me choose a dish that made my trip to the West Coast totally worth it. I ended up ordering the fish tacos and Zeek asked me if I wanted them fried or grilled. He explained the fried came with a maiz flour coating that made them crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Which is exactly what they were, but what I didn't expect was how great the tortilla was. Normally when I have tacos I fill up on tortilla and the tortilla falls apart. But this one was thin, but sturdy and allowed the taco filling to be the star of the show. I wish all tortillas were like this! I ordered the horchata ice cream for dessert, which was also delicious. When the check came, Zeek let me know they comped the dessert, because they didn't have the first drink I wanted, which was unexpected, but very much appreciated. I would absolutely recommend this place for a lovely dinner on State Street! read more

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Jalisco Cantina in Carlsbad is an experience all on its own! The ambiance has a vibe that instantly sets the tone for a great night out--energetic, welcoming, and full of personality. Alexia, our server, was outstanding. She worked quickly, stayed attentive, and managed every table in her section with ease while still making us feel taken care of. The chicken flautas were exceptionally well done--crispy, flavorful, and definitely a standout. Pair that with their amazing variety of margaritas, and it made for the perfect dining experience. I'm already looking forward to my next visit! read more

Jalisco Cantina - Flautas - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Food was really good, even tho they got my order wrong. They actually were super nice on fixing it right away. The chair we got it was a bit awkward because there was an other family right next to us. That area should def be saved for a bigger party. But nonetheless it was a good experience. They were playing all the good songs! Will def come back. The drinks were good as well read more

Jalisco Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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The Flautas were absolutely amazing as a starter. It was crisp on the outside, soft on the inside. Beautifully served. Was so hungry... forgot to take a picture. We also ordered carne asada & shrimp taco plates. Loved the flavor profile... however, I would request some salsa next time. I like it a little spicy The ambiance is pretty chill with mostly American music. It would be nice to get some Latin style music in here. Service was on point. Very friendly. Will come back again! read more

Jalisco Cantina - Shrimp tacos - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Food was yummy and they have their own slightly unique twists on their food. Definitely recommend the flautas, it had a crunchy and soft chewy texture at the same time. Server was friendly and quick. Love the laidback yet trendy Valle de Guadelupe vibes. Only downside was the host wasn't at the front and after waiting a few mins I had to go track them down to get seated. read more

Jalisco Cantina - Carne Asada Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

We set up a reservation through open table to stop by last night, but didn't really need to as it's a big place and not a lot of tables were occupied when we arrived at 6:30. We were promptly greeted and sat by a very nice hostess who asked us our preference of seating. We went towards the back near the fireplace. - 5/5 stars. It's a cool restaurant with nice ambiance and comfortable seating. - 5/5 stars. We started out with the chips and salsa and added guacamole. I didn't realize that when asked that they'd charge $2.50 for salsas as we were asked as soon as we sat down and most other places do chips/salsa for free and obviously to add guacamole it's an up charge. The guacamole was very good, the salsas (both of them) neither my wife nor I liked. They were on the sweet and smoky side, no real spice or flavor profile that either of us liked for our salsa. - 3/5 stars. We ordered drinks when the chips arrived, I had a mojito and my wife had a blood orange drink of some sort. Both drinks were quick getting to us and tasted good. - 4/5 stars. Dinner was delivered very quickly. I had the carne asada tacos and my wife had the chicken enchiladas. Both of us enjoyed our main course meal. Both were very flavorful. 5/5 stars. Overall 4/5 stars, I'd recommend for the service and main courses, drinks aren't anything special from what anyone would be used to elsewhere, and get the salsas only if you like a sweeter flavor profile and know they do charge for them. read more

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Finally got to stop in here for dinner, and the highlight was definitely the corn poblano soup, so amazing!! After that, shared some tacos with the table, the carnitas were my favorite so far. Their drinks are all amazing, we tried several different ones, but the pear and honey was the favorite. Cilantro margarita was different, and delicious. We were bummed they no longer have the coconut marg, hoping they bring that back. Service was great, our server was super helpful in pointing us in the right direction. The inside and back patio area are super cute and the whole restaurant had a great vibe! read more

Jalisco Cantina - Poblano soup- AMAZING! - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Love this restaurant!! People, service and either watching a game or people. Fun place. Ava was our star this visit. A swirling dynamo who is very friendly, professional and welcoming with a warm smile. Amazing menu which we have enjoyed working our way through, along with the sauces. Make certain you get their guacamole and salsa's. Andy gave us good prompt service. Have not been to the patio yet but it looks large and fun. Great place for a dog. read more

The best. Great food. Great service. Great location, Cocktails fabulous, both new and standard. Cadillac margaritas to die for!

The bummer with this place is that the food actually is pretty good and the customer service is okay. They take a while to get to you and the food took a while. The salsas were okay but the sauces were great! I would come back just for the sauces alone but the sauces would be used with chips and they don't give complimentary chips which is also a bummer. read more

Food was very good! Loved the chips and guac. Our waiter was very attentive , and was very nice . read more

been working to write down my queue. finishing this draft is long overdue. kept putting it off until we visited another time or two, but can't seem to drag ourselves in for a second try. that's hard to figure since we only live a few blocks away. one of thirty-two states (Federal Entities) in Mexico), Jalisco is about halfway down the Pacific side of the country's coast with their own unique regional cuisine. no drive-thru window here. JALISCO CANTINA is a sit-down place, not your abuela's taco shop. the ambiance is engaging with a restrained, almost playful atmosphere and no mariachi music blasting from arena-sized speakers. easy place to sit across the table from a beautiful woman and catch up on your day. the wife unit and I shared the ESQUITES (a roasted corn salad with cotija cheese, tortilla strips, tomatoes, jicama, red onion, chile-lime dressing and cilantro) and the CREMA POBLANO (a roasted corn and poblano chowder with potatoes, leeks, tortilla strips, Fresno sauce, and cilantro oil). both were good. for cocktails, she had a OSA ROSA (St. George vodka, spiced cranberry syrup, lime juice, and soda), and I had the SMOKE & FIRE MARGARITA (a serrano infused mezcal with cilantro and simple syrup). I really liked the mezcal's little kick. the service, food (which was gorgeous), and drinks were all excellent. I nearly never whine about an expensive eating-out experience, but I'd be hard pressed to argue our "snacky" dinner was a good value. probably need another try with more entree driven choices. will keep you posted. read more

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Where do I start?... Canned pinto beans that have been mushed into a nasty paste that tastes oddly like pork n beans, Guacamole is freakishly green and is avocado tasting adjacent also extremely bland, the Carne asada is well, un marinated and un seasoned steak ums. You pay for the "ambiance" which is ok but not wow worthy. All I will leave you with is the food tastes like someone from the Midwest who tried mexican food once... absolutely disgusting read more

Food and service was very good. Great atmosphere we had for an enjoyable dinner with our family. Would definitely recommend this restaurant read more

Went here last night to celebrate a dear friend's birthday. It was an awesome experience. From the table in the corner for some privacy (we sang Happy Birthday twice!), so the attentive waiter, the yummy drinks and tacos and the special birthday treat, it was all just great. The food was delicious. Taco plates come with 3 tacos so we ordered several different ones and shared, so we could try more than one flavor. We had the fish tacos, the Birria tacos and the blackened salmon tacos from the specials menu. We had a great time and I will definitely be back! read more

The French toast with the peach whip cream. You needs to stop what you're doing and gitcha some!

Stopped in about a week ago with hubby to start off our date night. Sat at the bar. Was given several menus to pick from and settled on ceviche and guacamole. Their hot sauces were extra. I enjoyed the more mild sauce where hubby enjoyed the heat. Drinks came out great. Bartenders were attentive. Only issue we had were seeing a fruit fly trapped in the lemon jar at the bar but other than that the place is open and inviting giving off a cool vibe. Would definitely return to try out entrees. read more

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Loved our experience here! The restaurant has a great ambiance. We started with the chips, salsa, and guacamole. The chips were fresh and tasty, and while both salsas were great, the green salsa was the crowd favorite. Next, we tried the creamy poblano soup, which ended up being one of our favorites of the entire meal. On a recommendation, we also ordered a side of fries, and they did not disappoint--generous portion, perfectly seasoned, and full of flavor. For the main course, we had the enchilada plate with one green and one red enchilada. The green enchilada was definitely the standout! We also sampled a few of the cocktails. While they were all delicious and well-crafted, they were quite weak alcohol-wise. After several drinks, none of us felt like we had much more than a mocktail experience, which isn't typical. At the current price point, I'd expect standard pours in the cocktails. Overall, I was very impressed with the food and atmosphere and will definitely return. Just hoping for a bit more kick in the drinks next time! read more

Jalisco Cantina - 3 Margaritas on the Menu & a Beer - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Walked in, got seated right away. Saw the queso fundido on the menu, had to order it right away. I liked that they offered both corn and flour tortillas with the queso. Found out from the manager that it was recently added to the menu. It was fantastic. We decided to order tacos. Of course, a margarita was in order to pair with the tacos. I ordered the Jalisco margarita, it was so flavorful. The tacos I had were the birria and asada. Excellent choice. Could not leave without trying something sweet. We opted for the churro donut. The churro donut was paired with this mouthwatering horchata ice cream. 10/10. Shoutout to Andy who made our experience here a remarkable one. He was attentive, water glass was never empty, was personable, and had great recommendations. Can't wait to come back. read more

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We love coming here! The staff has always been super kind and welcoming. Special shout out to Angie who is very sweet to us every time we see her. The ambiance is beautiful here. The Chorizo Nachos are my go-to item here. Have tried a few others such as the ceviche as well as the shrimp and asada tacos but they weren't dishes I would reorder. A bit bland. The three salsas they bring are a bit heavy on the vinegar, which I personally don't care for in Mexican salsas. read more

Like a chain Mexican restaurant. So many other taco stands that are better. Not good and not worth spending your money unless you haven't had real Mexican food. read more

Carlsbad Village feels even better now with this restaurant. I love a good, slightly upscale Mexican restaurant and this hit the mark! This isn't a mom and pop restaurant (and there is nothing wrong with that), I just prefer a Mexican restaurant that is closer in style and class to Javier's and this is like a little sister to it. Well done. Service was outstanding. Carne asada tacos were excellent. Drinks were spot on. Salsa was delicious! We will make this a regular date night location! read more

I visited Jalisco Cantina for the first time last night for a date night with my husband and was blown away! The staff was very friendly and welcoming and gave us a great table. I was pleased to hear that the chips have their own fryer, I have celiac disease and have to worry about cross contamination. They were so good and so was the guacamole. The birria was really the star of the show, I wanted to keep eating it long after I was full, it was so juicy and tender. Everything was very fresh and I could tell no corners were cut. I love their location in downtown Carlsbad and the restaurant had a lovely ambience. We will be back! read more

The food and vibe here is great, but my wife has celiac disease so we're super careful about her meals. She ordered the ceviche with the clearly marked 'GF' notation. We even double checked with the server to make sure everything including the chips were gluten free. She had a pretty severe gluten reaction and a sleepless night. GF folks beware. Otherwise it's great. read more

Taco Tuesday and spicy skinny margs! Ceviche! Hot sauces are the best! Great atmosphere - beautiful interior decor. One of my favorite Carlsbad spots! read more

Excellent entrees. High quality chips, salsa, sauces, and drink. Tasteful ambience and decor. Good, accommodating service. Would definitely return read more

I've left a review for this establishment before. It was a good review. We come here only a couple times a year as we live well out of the area. We visited this evening with my husband's sister and husband. Service was not great and I'm super disappointed. We had a reservation. We didn't have a server until I got up and asked (like 15 min after seating). Drinks were ordered and took a really long time to be served. We took our time in ordering dinner as we didn't want food to show up too fast. Not commenting on that. Drinks were exhausted and a couple more ordered. Wait .... Wait .... Wait. Finally, the bartender's assistant delivered the two drinks and I ordered a second marg. Our server (Benjamin), we noticed, was responsible for half the tables in the main dining space. Another male server had the rest. A third server had to atrium area. They,seriously, needed help. Our dinner was delivered by a kitchen crew member, still wearing his kitchen gloves. Benjamin was always super busy with other tables. We appreciated the other staff members pitching in and could see how the lack of staff was hurting the existing staff. To be clear, all of the staff were friendly. I believe the tip we left was slightly diminished because of the amount of time we waiting from seating to first drinks delivered and for the delay in getting second drinks (it truly was excessive). We like the restaurant. The food is good. The staff is friendly. They need more help so expect it to be slower than you'd like. I hope this review makes a point. Benjamin was a very good server with too much space to cover. read more

We have been here a couple times and our server Chris deserves a lot of respect! He is always kind and gives us the best service ever. Chris goes out of his way for us, thanks Chris! The food is also decadent and fresh. Love the Birria De Res and the chips and salsas! Their guac is also great, and they don't stiff you on portions here. Love this restaurant! read more

I had the chicken enchiladas and they were delicious. A good size portion w/tons of flavor. The service is great & very attentive. The ambiance is soothing and fun. The hot sauces are so unique and I crave them so much. You can actually buy them, so of course I did. Can't wait to go back! read more

Jalisco Cantina - Chicken enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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My friend and I grabbed an early dinner at Jalisco Cantina in Carlsbad on a Tuesday evening. Everything was super delicious, fresh, and unique! Here's what we had ~ Smoke & Fire Margarita N/A Athletic Lager Salsa Verde Salsa Ranchera Guacamole Carnitas Tacos Blackened Shrimp Tacos Great service, and super cute interior and patios! Highly recommend you check out this spot next time you're in Carlsbad. Cheers! read more

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Fabulous service and food today! Check out the brunch menu it is terrific as well as the holiday cocktails. Love this place. Chris and Ben are terrific. read more

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We loved the ambiance and atmosphere. The food was great, pricy! The best part was their chips, two salsa, guacamole that they gave us ahead of the main food. The enchiladas and tacos are a must have. They were delicious! The service was great. Sometimes they check on you too much. They kept forgetting to fill our waters. Overall I would recommend this place! We've have gone several times. read more

We were in the mood for Mexican food last night and decided to try something new. We searched and searched and found this spot online which looked delicious. When we arrived we were seated pretty quickly. Menu was small which made me nervous but also made me believe since it's a small menu their food had to be good. lol We started with a few margaritas which were delicious. We ordered chips and salsa, carnita tacos, birria plate, and the chili relleno. When everything arrived it all looked soooooo good! Chips and salsa was so good. Salsa was fresh and not too spicy. Food was delicious! Everything was full of flavor and tasted like high quality ingredients. It wasn't cheap.. but I feel like it was definitely worth it. read more

Jalisco Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Our party of seven stopped off after our soccer victory. The parents needed a celebratory drink and kids needed a filling meal. This place fulfilled both needs. Between all of us, we had burritos, tacos, steak plate, pozole, and salad. I ordered the Jalisco margarita and it was amazing and beautiful. Our server was quick and when we encountered a hiccup, he made it right. My only concern about this place was the bathroom situation. There's a female restroom and a restroom for all. The female restroom is one stall so we wait but the other has a stall with door and a urinal by the door in plain sight. That door is open so at one point when I was waiting for the restroom, I saw a man use the urinal. Maybe the door shouldn't be propped open? Besides that, I enjoyed the restaurant and would come back. read more

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This place has a great atmosphere and incredible staff. I wish I remember my waiters name because he was that good! We got classic margs which you can't go wrong with. Dogs allowed on back patio! Recommendations: - tuna starter - chips and salsas (must get and bottomless!) - shrimp tacos (they give you 4! Downside you can't mix and match so get someone to order a different type of tacos!) - burrito - I didn't try this but my friend got it and it was huge! Things that were good but I'd try something different next time: - guac - very disappointed. It was fresh and good, but just was missing something. I could have made better guac at home :/ - carne asada tacos - the meat was a little well done. I prefer medium rare. Overall, I will be back here to explore some of their larger dishes. Can't wait! read more

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Typically a good experience here. That said we always came for lunch, first time for dinner last night. We will never come for dinner again. Asked for GF Caesar Salad, came out with croutons and had to send it back. When we received our new salad, it was like they not only did not put on the croutons but same with the Caesar dressing as well. It was just freaking Romain with a hint of dressing. Disappointed for paying $16 for that!!! No I did not complain either. Tacos. They are good but I just do not get why the tacos come alone! For lunch you get 2 tacos, beans and rice. Perfect. Dinner you get 4 tacos and nothing! So you have to spring for other things. Crafty to bring the bill up but not something I will do again. Dinner: 3 tacos, ride and beans. Much better. Or maybe a taco plate that you can have 3-4 DIFFERENT KIND! 4 tacos of the same makes no sense to me. Menu selection is boring. Entrees as way way too expensive that I am not willing to spend on. Waitress was less than enthusiastic about anything. LOUD! Stupid Loud. I could not hear anyone at my table. The space is large and noisy! Not comfortable to be in. Kind of dark and cold. Anyway, we spent a $155 on tacos, salad and rice/beans side 1 glass of wine @15 another @$12, $6 for a sprite and a Beer. Kind of unreal! Although the tacos were pretty good, it sure ain't worth the rest of the headache or gouge to the pocketbook. I can get good tacos at other places for way way less. I think I am over Fancy mexican food places. read more

No salsa & no authentic hot sauces.... Who wants turmeric or balsamic on their taco? Food was very bland and we are convinced our margaritas did not have any alcohol in them. I'm a one drink kind of girl and I did not feel anything after drinking their margaritas. Nice plating, good quality of food, but beyond bland! Very Americanized Mexican food, not worth the cost. And most importantly, there was no chips and salsa! read more

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