Went to La Puerta for dinner and drinks and overall had a decent experience. The atmosphere was lively and the location is great for a night out downtown. Some of the tacos and appetizers were really good, but a few dishes felt overpriced for the portion sizes. read more

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

WEIRD VIBES. Called the restaurant and was told Sunday happy hour was all day by an ai operator. Weird but okay. I live downtown so I walked over and waited 10 minutes for a table only to be told when they seated us that they stopped Sunday happy hour a while back. Out of hangry frustration we walked out. As I was leaving I said to my partner "that's bull****." But because I was so hungry, I returned to ask the manager if he would possibly honor what I was told on the phone because I just wanted to eat and we had already waited for a while. To my shock, he said he wouldn't because the server said I cussed AT her which was a ridiculous distortion of what happened. In what world would a customer (a former server myself) cuss at a server and then follow that by calmly and rationally explaining the happy hour mix up to a manager so that we could still dine there and potentially have the server waiting on us?!? Make it make sense, la Puerta. Oh, you can't because your employees are weird and dishonest and the manager was on an even weirder napoleonesque power trip. This place is weird all around. La Puerta being a long time go-to place for Mexican in downtown is a sad reflection of just how far gaslamp restaurants have fallen unfortunately. read more

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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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

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Rudest place I've ever been to, server rejected serving me for no reason. Never happened to me before and this is not acceptable

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

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If you're in downtown San Diego, you have to check out La Puerta! The food is absolutely amazing, and their happy hour is one of the best around. Alex is an incredible bartender--friendly, attentive, and makes some seriously great drinks. The vibe is always fun, the music is on point, and the service is consistently excellent. Definitely one of my favorite spots for good food, strong cocktails, and a great atmosphere. Highly recommend! read more

La Puerta - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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

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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

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

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

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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

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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

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When my favourite California Burrito dealer closed last year, I began a long journey to find its successor. Dozens of burritos later, the search is over. La Puerta's California Burrito is the new champ. Crispy fries, guacamole and sour cream added as standard, perfectly seasoned steak and served with a trio of salsas (all of which are delicious). Even the tortilla and size of the burrito was flawless. I have no notes - perfecto read more

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

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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

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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

We went here before a Padres game on a Thursday for happy hour. We got there at about 2:45 pm and there was already a line! We got our names in and got our seats around 3 pm. Their food is amazing! We ordered off of the happy hour menu and got the chips and guacamole, ceviche, and shrimp quesadilla. The good was fresh, delicious, and a great deal! We ordered the Micheladas (yes!!!) and the margarita. They are busy, but the staff made sure you check in on us regularly. The bathrooms are nice and the bar is so pretty. I would recommend! I unfortunately didn't take pictures, but wish I did! read more

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

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All the food is amazing. I love the ceviche which is a half priced appetizer. All the service is top notch. The bartenders are a talented crew. If you're lucky, Robert the bartender will take care of you; he is real attentive. Happy hour is all days of the week 3-5pm. You should aim for that time slot. La Puerta is a great spot for us locals and we love meeting San Diego visitors. The ambiance will give you something to talk about. It sits in the heart of the gaslamp; It's a good time and you will be happy you stopped in. read more

La Puerta - Mix and match tacos ( Carne Asada Ranchero Shrimp Pastor. Side Of Rajas Con Crema with rice and beans. My drink is the Bee Sting. - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Everything about this place is amazing... food, environment and all the staff. I highly recommend.

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

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

Easily one of my fave late night happy hour spots. We always get their shrimp tostaditas, which is an appetizer, but big enough to be an entree 10/10. We've also gotten their taquitos and quesadillas. It's a perfect late night snack/meal for a good price 8/10. They also have the best chips and salsa, they give to you as soon as you sit down 10/10. If you are there for happy hour, they have a margarita or mojito slushee as their happy hour drinks, which are delicious too 9/10. The hosts, bar tenders, and servers we've gotten have always been friendly and attentive. Tonight we had Alex... and she was just amazing making sure our waters were refilled and we got everything we needed. And nothing beats the place's rustic bar vibe with its celebrity Mugshots wallpaper, juxtapose to its framed pictures of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. Their forks, knives, and napkins come in a tin can and their menu is Prince's album so obviously the ambiance is 10/10. It all just works, and I'm here for it. read more

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Had no idea I've been to this place back in 2017! We randomly stopped here on a Tuesday and caught their taco special AND happy hour. It was definitely a better experience from my 2017 encounter. The walls are covered with celebrity mug shots, there are mother mary figurines at every booth, and they have a shrine dedicated to artists who passed. Very entertaining to look at. I loved everything we ordered! The flautas were crispy and not dry. The shrimp tostadas were the best with generous shrimp, a nice slaw and sauce on top. The chips and guac came out more like nachos with a big deep bowl of chips. We took advantage of the taco Tuesday deal and I got 3 tacos: steak, shrimp, and chicken. All were very flavorful. I wish I didn't fill myself up with the appetizers so I could have ordered more tacos! read more

La Puerta - Guac and chips, flautas, shrimp tostadas - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Drinks strong, food was beyond amazing. Only shrimp I've ever enjoyed. All other reviews saying food was mid are full of it. Nick B was awesome, great bartender and representative of the restaurant. I would be here every week if I lived within 30 mins of it. Thank you for an awesome end to my vacation. read more

The atmosphere first of all was amazing. The food was delish. I loved the casual vibe of the restaurant. The plants and art of rockstars were awesome. Prices were already amazing but it was happy hour so we got half off appetizers. Oh yes and our waitress n server was really good! read more

Great ambience. The place is bustling with energy. The staff are fast and friendly. The tables were adorned with glass prayer candles and an array of menus made to look like classic album covers. I had the guacamole, which was amazing! It's such a generous portion, it's obscene (and I mean that in the best way possible). The guacamole is served over a bed of hearty tortilla chips. This was fun to share and we all dug in! I had the carne asada tacos. The portion was also generous. The rice and beans were seasoned and cooked to perfection. However, the meat was dry and salty. I opted for no sour cream, which I kinda regret. In retrospect, the sour cream might have offset the saltiness of the meat. I'd still come back and try other dishes. This is a fun spot for a group lunch and drinks. read more

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We stopped into La Puerta for lunch after arriving in San Diego. The service was great (very attentive and informative while remaining sincere). The drinks were tasty (I had a frozen margarita and my friend had a local beer) and we started with the chips and guac. I had the mix and match tacos and my friend did a salad with shrimp. Drinks came extremely fast along with the chips and guac and food was speedy also. Delicious, low stress spot with good menu options and fantastic service. read more

La Puerta - Mix and Mix 'n' Match pastor taco, carnitas tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Happy hour review. Again and again this place hits the spot. The food and drinks are a 10 out of 10. The service is top notch and the music and setting is very inviting. The prices are the best you will find around for the happy hour (3-5/1/2 apps, quesadillas and drinks everyday). My favorite item is probably their pork Cochinita Tostaditas or the Queso Fundido with chorizo and the rajas con crema. So many good options to choose from, this definitely is a go to spot when in San Diego. read more

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We found this place looking for some good mexican food and had such a difficult time finding parking. My advice, park in a garage and walk the area because the signs and certain areas will give you a ticket. For the restaurant... The Beansssss! When I tasted the beans, I jumped for joy! I asked how they were made because they were creamy and flavorful. The hostess and waitress were down to earth and ensured they gave a great description of food items and their favorites. I ordered the surf and turf tacos which were tasty, the meat had some chewy pieces but not bad. I enjoyed the beans and the poblano sauce and veggies on the sides. Goood gracious. Drinks were good, not strong but the sip was nice. We just missed brunch which gave a deal on mimosas with a bottle of champagne. The sports were on but music in the background and the wallpaper inside are cool mug shots of past and present celebrities. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Delicious tacos! I tried the carne asada and the carnitas tacos and they were both fantastic, especially the carnitas. There was about a 15 minute wait so we got margaritas at the bar. One with a tajin rim and one without. They were delicious and we were able to be seated even sooner than expected. The bar isn't very large but they space the tables well, and the bar has plenty of seating. We had great service and great tacos. Excellent spot for a Taco Tuesday! read more

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We were on our way to a Wednesday afternoon Padres game and wanted a drink and a snack. Becky had a craving for a spicy margarita and chips and salsa. So, into La Puerta we went. We found two seats at the bar and plopped down. Rob was our bartender and service was rather indifferent. He barely spoke to us except to take our order. We had to ask for napkins. A no nonsense bartender for sure. At least on this afternoon. One spicy marg, a pint of Embolden "Beyond Borders" lager and chips and salsa. The chips were served in a decent sized bowl with one side each green and red salsa. The chips were warm and crispy. Both salsas were quite good. Bex enjoyed her marg and my beer was served in an ice-cold mug. Prices were steep, but pretty much what you'd expect for non-happy hour Gaslamp. $15 margarita, $8 beer. Surprisingly, the chips and salsa were complimentary. Would we return? Debatable, but La Puerta is on our radar. read more

La Puerta - Complimentary chips and salsa. Still nearly $25. - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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Of course I was excited for some tasty Mexican food while in SD and this was our first stop. It's a small restaurant that feels like a pub or bar but it was intimate. They have large booths and tables for smaller parties. We were seated immediately for lunch and our server Tela came over and took our order pretty quickly. She was awesome. I had the purple haze, very refreshing. Also tried the guac and chips along with the surf 'n' turf for my main entree. The meal was very flavorful and the portion was huge. The only thing I was disappointed about was that the tacos were street taco size even though it wasn't obvious on the menu that that is what you were ordering. Otherwise, great meal and I loved the unique mugshot wallpaper. read more

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Their surf and turf tacos were so delicious!! That's also their most popular menu item. There is a small line when you first enter but we managed to get a bar space. Service was not the fastest but I assume they're making the tacos with love. read more

La Puerta - Surf 'n' Turf - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California