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    Lupe's Cafe

    4.4 (262 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Open 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Lupe's Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    LUPE'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    chimichanga
    Caitlin K.

    Maya was sooo sweet taking our order! It made the whole experience amazing. and the fresh homemade salsa and fresh chips made me even happier! the price is so great for the quantity and quality of food you're getting. would come here again!!

    5 rolled tacos
    Jay B.

    This is a no drive thru location. They have 6 tables inside and a few picnic tables outside. It was pretty clean when I walked in. The woman that took my order was nice and the prices are reasonable compared to a few other taco shops in the area. I ordered a carne asada burrito with sour cream and 5 rolled tacos. The cost was less than $20. I liked the shredded beef in the roll tacos. There was a good amount of meat in the burrito which was good.

    Carne asada
    Walflower D.

    They dont skimp on portions im glad we found another good mexican food resturaunt. We were out within ten minutes. It tastes amazing and it didn't give me any tummy problems. So thats better than this other place near walmart in poway i tried personally. Im glad to just find another great spot in poway!

    Nico E.

    This photo doesn't do this Shrimp Quesadilla any justice, wow absolute banger of a quesadilla hands down best ever had

    Outside
    Tyson C.

    Hidden off the road, next to a liquor store. Some tables inside and a few picnic style tables outside. Burritos are BIG and tasty. The salsa bar has a great selection of mild, chunky and hot salsa. And don't forget the carrots, they are spiced perfectly and not overly hot. Service is decent and the food is made fresh to order. Come hungry.

    Exterior
    Annemargaret B.

    With certain cravings, you want to experience exactly what you had the last time. Well, it been a while. Perhaps too long. Lupe's has updated the interior. With the menu still the same, I expected that great meal I had all those years ago. Ordered cheese enchiladas, rolled tacos and the beef taco plate. Nothing was greasy. More bland and overcooked. It was awful. Tortillas were unusually thin. The oil had an awful aftertaste. My memory was better than reality. Now I know what to except and will keep driving.

    a menu on the wall

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    1 month ago

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    1 year ago

    The carne asada is great, I've enjoyed in it the burritos a lot with their salsas. Super nice staff, quick service and delicious food!

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Delicious bean tostada with fresh tasting ingredients! I ate outside in the fresh air. Table was clean. I'll be back

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Drive 23 minutes to get there and at 8:30 on a Saturday night they say closed. Really, not what the signs say.

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Great food at great prices. One of the best taco salads I've had. Friendly staff. Only issue we had was not much parking.

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    2 years ago

    Has never disappointed. We usually come here once a week after my son's baseball games. Food is delicious l!

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    Page 1 of 7

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    MexicanBar - Carnitas Sopes

    MexicanBar

    (197 reviews)

    $$

    Scripps Ranch

    Had such a great experience here! The food was absolutely delicious and the portions were very…read moregenerous for the price. Everything we ordered was packed with flavor and clearly made fresh. The chips and salsa were a standout -- the chips came out warm and perfectly crispy, and their salsa isn't the typical red kind but it's incredibly flavorful and not too spicy, which made it really easy to keep going back for more. Service was excellent and the staff were very attentive. The space is also large and comfortable with plenty of parking, which makes it an easy spot to come back to. They also offer happy hour every day from 2-5:30pm, which is a great bonus. Definitely planning to make this my go-to spot!

    We gave this place a try for dinner..... I found them on IG so I added them to our places to try…read morelist. Nice little spot. Great customer service. They really helped us narrow down our orders..... Food was very yummy. The margarita was not my fave. Very similar to a watermelon Jolly Rancher but unfortunately there was an artificial aftertaste. I couldn't drink it..... The hubby landed on that grenade though..... The waitress gave suggestions of what else to try if we were to visit again. Great vibes overall. They have a restaurant side and a bar side. What we ordered: * Mexican Cheese Dip (white queso sauce) * 4 Flautas (chicken) * Fajitas x2 - Chicken & Shrimp - Carne Asada & Shrimp * Watermelon Margarita * Buenaveza

    T&T Tacos & Tequila Grill & Cantina - Birria Tacos

    T&T Tacos & Tequila Grill & Cantina

    (130 reviews)

    $$

    Simply the best Mexican restaurant in the area. Polite…read morefriendly young staff. Lots of tables and booths inside , as well as on the patio. A great bar with great bartenders. The food is what makes this place special. Everything is prepared with quality authentic flavors. Family friendly and a large menu. On this day , we were 4 adults and 1 toddler. Hannah was our server and took care of us well. We had the wet Chile verde burrito, Baja fish tacos, Chile relleno and beef taco combo , and the steak and mole enchilada. We all shared bites with each other, and everyone was happy with their choices. The margaritas can be strong, and they're delicious. This place ranks up with San Diego's best places. (Mi Guadalajara in old town , Fidel's in Del Mar, casa de bandini in Carlsbad). This restaurant makes me happy to call San Diego home!

    This used to be a Tio Leo's back in the day that my co-workers and I used to frequent for happy…read morehour...now it is T &I T Tacos, a new spot we equally enjoy! Disclaimer: this not your average taco shop. It's a bit more upscale hence the higher prices. For example, their T &T Fries run about $20 vs. your cheaper spots but my friends and I found this pretty hefty in size and shareable which was perfect. My co-workers and I also sampled their Fiest Platter which had mini burritos, wings, rolled tacos and the usually toppings of avo, sour cream and cheese. Tasty! I went on another occasion with the co-habby and we tried out their Tampiquena steak platter: rice, beans, rolled tacos, enchilada and salsa fresca. They also some tasty libations after a long hard day at work. House margaritas are always a reliable drink of choice to wash down all the delicious fare. Parking can get a bit congested during peak hours but we usually are able to find a spot with no issue. Definitely a regular hangout for me and my crew!

    Jalapenos Mexican Food - Chips and salsa

    Jalapenos Mexican Food

    (1.1k reviews)

    $$

    Great food, great service , great prices - what more could you ask for?…read more Been going here for years.

    Date of visit: March 29, 2026…read more I was in the area getting some Easter gifts, and as it was lunchtime, thought I'd owe it to myself to check out Jalapeños Mexican Food. I placed an order for five rolled tacos with the works (lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and guacamole), and a regular drink. While I was waiting, I munched on the free tortilla chips I was given paired with some spicy chunky salsa from the salsa bar. It's a good thing that I had the chips, because while there was a good bit of toppings on the rolled tacos, they just wouldn't stay on top of the order. Not just that, the rolled tacos themselves were a bit disappointing. Yes, the tortillas were crispy, but the filling was kinda... meh. And the worst part? Despite an order of rolled tacos and chips with salsa, I was STILL hungry after I left. I would've have liked to see if there was a combo of rice and beans that was available with the rolled tacos, but that menu board above the counter was TINY. And I felt rushed by the staff because I was trying to see the script, as well as a sense of rudeness overall. Otherwise, Jalapeño was clean, if not a bit on the crowded side. I was surprised though, that there was a line of customers almost out the door as I was leaving... but perhaps that was because there's not that many Mexican joints in this area of Carmel Mountain Ranch (unless you want to count Taco Bell across the street). Overall, while I'd like to try more of the menu, it'll be a hot minute before I come back.

    Lupe's Cafe - mexican - Updated May 2026

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