We came in on a busy Friday and had Avery as our server. Avery was extremely attentive, went above and beyond, and gave amazing service on a busy night. A great experience and amazing food, we will return! read more

Found this place during happy hour and it's a great little gem! Chill, laid back vibe on a Monday night but I'm sure it's packedon the weekends and during local events. I had the 3 Little Birds (homage to Rasta life) because I love Mezcal. It was perfectly smokey and a tad sweet. I started with the guac app but it was way too much for one person; definitely a shareable item. The guac was very fresh and light, with panela chunks to elevate the dish. It was a shame to leave it unfinished. Additionally I had an a la carte pollo asado taco which was divine! The thigh meat was expertly marinated and piled high on a cheese encrusted homemade tortilla. Since I'm a salsa connoisseur, I requested the habanero salsa, which was just my speed... but not for the faint of heart. The salsa verde was good but the showstopper was salsa rojo which had a nice smokey, fire roasted flavor that made me want to order some too take home. Also, I received awesome service from Emily on 9/28/26; shout of to her for taking great care of me! I can't wait to come back!!! read more

We had a great experience at La Puerta! The service was excellent, and the atmosphere had that perfect mix of chill and lively -- definitely a popular spot without feeling too hectic. They also had some really great vegetarian options. The tostadas, veggie tacos, and flautas were all awesome and full of flavor. The margaritas were reasonably strong, which was nice. And definitely save room for the churros -- they were so good! The only thing that wasn't quite our preference was the queso fundido. It was a little more solid than we like; we prefer ours to be extra melty and gooey. Otherwise, everything was fantastic. Great food, drinks, service, and vibes! read more

See all

I'm so mad about this place!! Hubby and I headed down to SD to get away from the heat in the OC. On the drive, I decided I wanted Mexican food. I picked a place off Google but when we landed there we were not comfortable stopping to park, so we looked again and decided to check out La Puerta not realizing it was in the Gaslight District. I am not a fan of the Gaslight District, which is why I am so mad!! I'm going to HAVE to go back to the Gaslight District!! The food was AMAZING!! I HIGHLY recommend the Potato Flautitas. It's the kind of dish I'm going to dream about, I'm salivating now just thinking about them. I also did the Pick 3 Street Tacos (and actually ordered a 4th). The Ranchero Shrimp and Grilled Veggie were top notch. The Conchinita was recommended by our waiter, and it was interesting, tasty but different. It could have used a little more pickled onion. The only one I would not recommend (shockingly, I thought it would be the easy pass) was the carne asada. It was too greasy. My husband ordered a carne asada quesadilla and said the same, it was too wet and soaked through the tortilla. But there were no many other delightful options, I would say just don't go traditional. But honestly my favorite thing on the plate was the side dish rajas con crema, seriously, that alone is going to drag me down to the Gaslight District. I'm even considering going to a Padres game just for the excuse. I'm salivating again! As for our waiter, Colin, he was fantastic. Very informative, made great suggestions and seemed genuinely pleased by our satisfaction. He was smiling the whole time, friendly and stayed very present. I highly recommend you get yourself through the door at La Puerta and sit down for a meal ASAP. (We ate the food so fast I forgot to take pictures.) read more

Soooooooo good! The lime makes the shrimp and fish and avocado altogether taste so juicy and tasty!! read more

La Puerta - Soooooooo good The lime makes the shrimp and avocado and fish so tasty and juicy - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Friendly staff. Dog friendly. Good drinks. Good food. GREAT happy hour. 1/2 off all drinks, apps, & quesadillas. Street parking is the only drawback. But they are worth it. It's an inside/outside restaurant faith lots of seating. Upscale decor I ordered the house marg. Rated just like the margs of my youth in Mexico. The ceviche is . I also got the carne asada quesadilla. Head on over for happy hour m-f 3-5 read more

See all

Came for dinner, stayed for tequila! Food hit the spot after a long day. The soup was flavorful and the burrito was hardy and delicious. The place had a nice vibe and the bartenders were very knowledgeable about their tequila. Overall a solid dinner experience. read more

See all

This place has become a PERSONAL favorite of mine since we started going before Padres games to the happy hour! Everyone is the NICEST people you will ever meet, you can genuinely tell the staff like their job! Special shoutout to Colin (server) and Michael (bartender) for outstanding service! I love the cantina feel of it, I have been there so many times but I always see a different face on the wall! The food is absolutely AMAZING, MUST tries are anything with the Cochinita meat and DO NOT FORGET TO HAVE A Mr. Mojo Risin! This place truly has a special place in my heart, walking distance less than 10 mins away from Petco Park! We loveeee La Puerta! read more

See all

A lively space in the heart of downtown. Usually has a wait time during the weekends. The place is really cute and has a night time kinda atmosphere. We ordered the micheladas which was pretty good. Coming to the food it was decent nothing overly great. Everything we had was average read more

La Puerta - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Parking is limited but it was totally worth parking a little further away. The outside is pretty unassuming but magic happens inside. Their happy hour menu is pretty big. All appetizers, quesadillas, and drinks are 50% off. I ordered the mix and match tacos with carne asada and shrimp. The first thing I noticed when my food came was how it smelled. It smelled fresh and authentic. It's hard for me to describe but iykyk. Everything was delicious. The carne asada was juicy and flavorful and the shrimp was cooked to perfection. The tortillas were even freshly made. read more

See all

This is our go-to spot, so this isn't my first review of this place. But I did want to leave another review because our server last night was amazing. Aiden was friendly and attentive as soon as we sat down, and was helpful throughout the night. He was quick and proactive with our order, with good vibes all around. read more

See all

I can't say I understand the hype for La Puerta. I liked the ambiance. Service was okay. Food was also just okay. We ordered the surf and turf fries, carne asada street tacos, and shrimp street tacos. The tacos come with beans, rice, some chips. Everything was tasty, but not the most amazing tacos or fries I've ever had. The fries were packed with goods, which was nice. When eaten fresh, the loaded fries were probably some of the better ones I've had, especially when you get to have surf and turf option. The tacos were okay. I've had much better street tacos plenty of times over. Overall pretty good but not amazing. read more

See all

This place was bustling in a Saturday afternoon. Mainly because there was a huge event nearby at the SDCC. Expect a long wait. But once seated, service was relatively quick. Loved the TJ dogs that came with fries. Totally shareable. Loved the toppings. The tacos were good too! Shareable also. Gets loud because of the crowd but id a positive vibe. Coming back? Most likely. read more

La Puerta - Migas Tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Checking out taco joints in our hood and this Happy Hour piqued our interest! Good sized guac! Crunchy chips and a mound of guac... I wasn't sure I'd have room for the tacos... Carne tacos were stuffed with meat and beans and rice were all good! Ambiance is rock club cantina, service was friendly, and prices are good for HH... Definitely hit this happy hour again! read more

La Puerta - Large Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

The Food, Service and ambiance were all great! Our sever was friendly and efficient, kept water and tea glasses full and offered insight on several dishes. The food was delicious and the presentation was excellent. Would definitely give this place a try. I had the potato taquitos they were very good. read more

Located in the heart of San Diego's historic Gaslamp Quarter, La Puerta is an amazing, vibrant restaurant with an energetic atmosphere. From the moment you walk in, the place is buzzing with people enjoying great food, drinks, and conversation. The bar scene is lively, making it a fun spot whether you're out with friends or on a date. The service was excellent--friendly, attentive, and welcoming throughout our meal. The food was equally impressive, with flavorful, well-prepared Mexican dishes that exceeded our expectations. What I enjoyed most was the diverse crowd. People from all walks of life came together to enjoy good company, delicious food, and a festive atmosphere. It truly felt like a place where everyone could relax, connect, and have a great time. I highly recommend visiting on Taco Tuesday. It's a fantastic value, with delicious tacos and TJ Dogs for just $3 each. The tacos were packed with flavor, and the TJ Dogs were just as tasty. It's hard to beat the quality, atmosphere, and prices. We'll definitely be back! read more

See all

Literally one of my favorite spots in San Diego. Anyone visiting me takes a trip here I love the interior of the restaurant. It's dark and intimate. The service is always great, and the food leaves me dreaming about it for the next week. I always order a wet burrito. read more

See all

They have happy hour every day from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM. It's amazing for a restaurant to have a solid happy hour during the weekend. The happy hour is half off primeros, quesadillas, and drinks. I came here on a Sunday during happy hour and ordered the carne asada quesadilla. It was a decent portion and tasted good. I had no complaints about it. Not only was the carne asada quesadilla cheap during happy hour, but they give you complimentary chips and salsa. They happily gave a refill on the chips and salsa too. I was full after the carne asada quesadilla and complimentary chips. The service was really good from the beginning. They happily gave more complimentary chips and salsa, refilled my water without asking, and asked multiple times if everything is good. The only small complaint I have is that the music is really loud, but I understand since it's in downtown San Diego. Overall, a really good experience! Will be back especially during happy hour. read more

La Puerta - Chips & Salsa - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

We came here during a layover and were looking for tacos and margaritas late at night. This was actually one of the only spots still open when we landed, so it worked out perfectly. It also happened to be Taco Tuesday, so the tacos were $3, which was a great deal. I ordered the shrimp taco and al pastor taco. They were good, but I wouldn't say they were anything spectacular. I also got a frozen margarita (I forgot the name) and added mango purée, which made it really refreshing and perfect with the tacos. Overall, it's a solid spot if you're in the Gaslamp District, especially late at night when options are limited. Good vibe, good drinks, and a great Taco Tuesday deal. read more

See all

Food was delicious! We had the fundidos which was so good. It was cheesy and the chips were fresh. We had tacos and the carne asada quesadilla. The service was great and it was a full house! read more

See all

We went for happy hour on Sunday. Half off apps and drinks from 3-5 pm is a great deal! we got the guacamole with chips and the pastor pineapple quesadilla to share, 3 skinny house margs and 2 micheladas all around $65 with tip! Service was quick from both the bartender, server and back of house with food. Ambiance was very lowkey, high top bar stools, booth and bar seats available. Pretty small venue but I know the one in Mission Hills is bigger. They also have a late night happy hour starting at 10 pm I would definitely check out as well! read more

La Puerta - Guacamole and Pastor Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

We've been to the La Puerta in Mission Hills numerous times and we love it so we decided to try the one downtown and surprisingly not, we were not disappointed. Just like any place downtown, the only issue is parking. The rest of our experience was great. All of the bartenders were very pleasant and attentive. We were her for their excellent Happy Hour which is 50% off for appetizers, bottle pours, and cocktails. Our Old Fashioneds were delicious. I decided to get a pour of their Blanton's SFTB. As far as food we decided on the carne asada quesadillas and the cochinita flautitas. Both dishes were very tasty and filling. La Puerta will for sure be one of our mainstays and I look forward to our next visit as always. read more

La Puerta - Cochinitas flautitas - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Denisha was very attentive and went above and beyond to make our drinks and experience enjoyable! Great service and the bar has just enough activity without being so loud you cannot hear each other! Thanks Denisha! read more

After a late night (or maybe early morning?) of drinking, all I wanted was a massive burrito. And a drink because you can't be hungover if you're drunk again. My coworkers and I decided to get brunch at La Puerta and we ordered the queso fundido to share, and I got the purple haze (sangria swirled with frozen margarita) and the 1 pound shrimp burrito and made it wet with both red and green sauce. My coworkers were initially laughing at how much food my 1 pound burrito was going to be but when their 3 taco plate came out, it was just as much food if not more. Their portion sizes are huge. The queso fundido was so good, the cheese had a nice crispy top to it and you definitely had to use the spoon to scoop it because it will break your chips. The wet shrimp burrito I got was really good as well but i couldn't finish it because it was just too much. I really enjoyed the purple haze as well. Would definitely be back again if i'm in the area! It's quite dark inside so I bet it would be a cute dinner place. read more

See all

We would definitely go back here. Not your traditional Mexican but so tasty and so nice for something slightly different. The restaurant is decorated with mug shots of famous band members/musicians that you would recognize in their mug shots. The menu is printed on a replica of an album cover you would also likely recognize (Prince, Nirvana etc.). The chips are freshly made and very decadent with some delicious salsa that is spicy green or more of your usual red restaurant style salsa. We had different variations of carnitas dishes that were all excellent. The carnitas seemed to have a hint of something unusual (I was guessing cinnamon), but so good. Clean and fresh tasting with just the right around of crispy edges without being dry. My kids had the loaded fries that reminded me of Mexican style poutinne, but of course without the cheese for my kids. They were very gracious here and served everything on the side so they could build the loaded fries exactly how they wanted to. My husband and I both had the appetizer with the mini tostadas and carnitas. So good! So much food also. We could have easily shared and had plenty. Service was very friendly and fast. The restaurant and restrooms were clean and the front hostess was super friendly also. Great location in the Gaslamp district, Hope to be back soon!! read more

See all

Amazing cocktails and lively ambiance. The tacos and chips were fresh and tasty. The chicken fries were not so great though - too much potato, too less chicken. read more

Arrived around 6pm on a Saturday and the wait was about 40 minutes for a party of three. If you don't want to wait for a table, the bar offers full service with open seating, which is a great option. We ordered a few different versions of the taco plate, which comes with three tacos, rice, refried beans, and a roasted vegetable mix. Everything was solid and nicely portioned. Make sure to ask for chips and salsa! read more

La Puerta - Chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

I came here with my husband after walking around Comic-Con all day and it was their happy hour! They have happy hour everyday from 3-5 and it's half off drinks, apps, and quesadillas. We've been to the other location and loved it there so we came to check out the downtown location. It's definitely smaller than the north park location and pretty loud inside. There's still a full bar and some TVs showing games. There's a few outdoor seats but most of the seating is indoor. Our service was great. We never had to ask for refills on water and they brought us out chips and salsa (and a refill) and our main waitress was so sweet and lovely. She let us know the happy hour deal as soon as we sat down and was very attentive to us and all of her other tables. My husband and I both got a quesadilla and swapped a couple pieces with each other. I got the pollo asado and he got the carne asada. I really liked the flavor of the chicken but it was a little soggy which made it hard to eat the quesadilla. It came with really fresh pico and a Smokey salsa as well. The carne asada was also really good and held the texture a little better but I preferred the depth of flavor in the pollo asado more. Both were very delicious and paired with the complimentary chips and salsa, I was so stuffed by the end of the meal. We had to bring home some leftovers as we couldn't finish everything. The chips were so crispy and addicting with some chunky red salsa and a green sauce. Our meal was so cheap with the happy hour deal and so worth it. One of the best happy hours in SD by far! read more

See all

It was a rainy evening in San Diego, not a single local to be seen on the streets. As we turn the corner onto 4th Ave, what do we see? The entire city huddled together for warmth inside of La Puerta. I knew this was the place to be, so I didn't mind a 30 minute wait. It was faster than that anyways, because this place is CHURNING out tacos in no time at all. They have an extensive menu of every type of traditional or non-traditional taco that you could want. But my strongest recommendation would be to order the chips and guacamole. Where I come from in Seattle, this can be an underwhelming appetizer. But you better be ready to munch down on some guac, pal, because this thing is no joke. Most restaurants would have a division between guac and chips. A fine line that would not be crossed. La Puerta throws caution to the wind by rolling a giant mound of green deliciousness on top of the chips. Because why not? That's what we're here for anyways. And not only are you getting that guac, but they're tossing some delicious cotija cheese on top too. I've heard that they won some sort of award for their chips, and I'm not surprised. And the tacos here should be celebrated as well. Every taco dish comes with beans, rice, and a peppers (maybe those are nopales?) and onions mix. You can tell that they put as much love into these sides as they do with their main dishes. They are a perfect accompaniment to the tacos themselves. Everything here is done with the purpose of serving up fantastic food, and it seems like that's why La Puerta crushes it on a street that has like 10 other taco spots. read more

La Puerta - Viva Mexico - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Great happy hour!! That's all I really go for lol. 3-5pm Get there fast, they get pretty busy!

Nothing beats the La puerta happy hour! I recently discovered their taco Tuesday deal! Lets gooo!!! Their tacos are amazing! I like the ambience more in mission hills, but I love a good happy hour anywhere. read more

La Puerta - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

My short trip in San Diego consisted mostly of Mexican food (by choice) and La Puerta looked like the perfect option between Coronado and the airport, They were able to accommodate our group of four plus our luggage at a booth. However, they don't offer high chars to accommodate babies or children. We ordered the al pastor fries, shrimp burrito, fish tacos, and assorted tacos. Everything was good, but nothing was a standout for me. I was dissapointed with the shrimp burrito because it was falling apart before I even lifted it up, the only option was to eat it with a knife and fork. If you're looking for a casual bar ambiance with above average food, this is your spot. read more

See all

Wanted to get some Mexican food so we went to this place near our hotel. We went there during the evening and it was kind of busy so we had to wait about 20min. We sat down finally and our waitress came by to give us some water and take our drink order. We ordered the margaritas which were pretty good. For our appetizer we ordered the guacamole and chips. It came out pretty quick and it looked a little different that the normal guacamole and chips but it was delicious. The red and green sauce that came with it was pretty good as well. For our entrees we ordered the chicken quesadilla and the taco plate that came with shrimp, carnitas, and pastor. Both dishes came out pretty quick as well. The quesadilla was good, the chicken was tender, and there was enough food for three people. The tacos were also delicious and each taco was cooked perfect, with lots of flavor. The beans and rice had great flavor to it and was also cooked good. We didn't get any dessert because we were too full. :) The service was good and all the employees seem to be on top of it. Great job. read more

See all

Had a couple margaritas and three tacos. Margaritas did not disappoint and either did tacos. Had a shrimp/ seafood which was my favorite followed by a beef taco. Nice vibe here and busy. read more

REALLY GOOD burritos alert! Our group ventured to La Puerta after completing triathlon nearby and it called for celebrations! We could not think of a better place to celebrate (and get carbs) than this restaurant. Shrimp burrito was on a larger side and very filling. Margaritas were right on point as well as service. 5 out of 5 stars! read more

The late night happy hour here is fantastic! We got the chips and guac which was a MASSIVE portion for only $6 at happy hour, and tasted so good too! I also got their purple haze drink which was like a margarita with sangria and was delicious. Vibes are good and service was on top of it as well. Definitely recommend! read more

La Puerta - Large Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

It's a 4.2/5, which means it's above good, by far. The ambiance is definitely more casual and it has a nice flair to the traditional Mexican food you could imagine. It also didn't cost an arm and a leg, like most decent places try to do when you're downtown in a major city. A nice balance of sweet, savory, casual and genuinely good food. Service was fast too! read more

Came here on a Sunday at 3pm for their happy hour specials. 1/2 off alcoholic drinks, apps, and quesadillas. This place didn't disappoint. Inside is a cool rock & roll vibe with very attentive servers. Had the queso fundido with chorizo and carne asada quesadilla. Both dishes were delicious. I know there are a lot of choices of Mexican food in San Diego but I highly recommend coming here for happy hour apps and drinks. read more

See all

Table for 4. Cute ambiance and wonderful server Tila. Complimentary chips and salsa may have been the stand out. Fresh chips and two better than average varieties salsa. Margaritas very good with premium prices. Fundido appetizer: cheese too-coagulated thus impossible to dip but flavor good. Two ordered taco plates. Runny beans and underwhelming carne asada tacos. Sis and I got pozole soup. Served lukewarm but mine was heated in microwave promptly. I'd come back for drinks during happy hour. read more

La Puerta - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

This place had some of the best food and margaritas I've have in very long time. Very casual and happy hour is amazing.