Lupe&#x27;s Cafe

Can for lunch, and the seating outside in the shade was a chill respite from the San Diego heat…read moretoday. Everyone was kind, welcoming, and knew just how often to check in and offer options- Just as important: ordered the grilled mahi tacos and they were ON POINT. Not slathered in too much cheese shreds or piles of lettuce to hide anything: nope. This was a perfectly sized mahi slice with the fresh lettuce and cilantro lime sauce that was also, light but tasty. Do they make their own tortillas? YES. SO good. I don't think I've ever gotten out the fork to eat the lettuce and tomatoes that had fallen from a taco before. But I did this time! You may ask, "Do they make their own horchata though?" I'd have to reply, "YES!" Prices super reasonable too, and you can order per taco if you want. Just a fantastic taco experience

Overall a good place to eat around Poway. I like how they are open until 10pm Thursday-Saturday as…read moremany places in the area close by 9pm. It's a casual Mexican restaurant on one side and a bar area on the other side. They also have seating in their outdoor patio. Lots of parking in the lot. It was slower on the restaurant side when we arrived later in the evening so they sat us at the bar. Josh was friendly and professional and took our order right away. The menu has lots of options from tacos to burritos to entrees to salads and more. Prices are slightly on the higher end for casual Mexican food with most entrees around $15-25 with meat so plan to pay around $25-40 per person with a drink. The food was overall tasty. I would say it's more Americanized Mexican food rather than authentic Mexican. I appreciated the free chips and salsa as a starter.

Cool, sports-oriented bar!

4 Flautas

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Outside

T&T Tacos & Tequila Grill & Cantina

4.3(145 reviews)

1.5 mi

Came in on a Friday afternoon at 2pm and got turned away. Large party of softball team and families…read morebut they said they were full and couldn't take our group, even as separate groups. We were hoping to celebrate a comeback win and they didn't even try to accommodate us. Pictures shown are how busy they were when we walked in. That one occupied table was seating AFTER we got turned away. Food might be good but I wouldn't be able to tell you after the bad customer service we received.

This local restaurant has a great contemporary Mexican vibe with Latino music and clean interior…read more The service here is friendly and welcoming. The best deal on the menu is the taco trio. I highly recommend trying adobada. The corn tortillas are thick and hand made. The entree plates like tampiquena and pollo à la parrilla are fantastic and made to order. Rice and beans here are very good. Cocktails here are decent. I recommend a Cadillac margarita with a side of Jamaica juice. It cuts through the sourness and acidity of the lime in the drink. Overall, we love this place that serves up quality Mexican food consistently.

Empty restaurant and the guy that told us they were full/busy at 2pm on a Friday

Mini Chimis

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Chips & Salsa

El Ranchito Taco Shop

4.0(566 reviews)

1.2 mi

Been coming here for years- Best beef flautas!!! I love their rice and beans!…read more They still give you chips and you can enjoy the salsa bar. I love that they keep the salsa bar well refrigerated too. You can even buy their jarred salsa to go!

Service here is fantastic! Their salsa bar is delicious and one set of chips are complimentary if…read moredining in. The taco meats can be on the very salty side, so not sure if I'd come back personally but the AC is strong and there's plenty of seating. Within easy walking distance of the Poway Honda.

Shredded beef taco

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M favorite rolled tacos but you have to request shredded beef and chunky guacamole unless you want ground beef

Yesenia's Mexican Food

4.4(1.2k reviews)

2.2 mi

Yesenia's Mexican Food is a gem. I can't speak for the entire menu yet, but their breakfast…read moreburritos are BOMB. Tons of options, generous portions, and fantastic salsas. They also managed to feed a staff of 80 with just one day's notice--which says a lot about both the food and the people. The employees are fantastic, they open early, and everything was smooth from start to finish. Great food, great people, great service. What's not to love?

Tase: 5 Value: 5…read moreService: 5 One of the better taco shops in Carmel mountain along with jalapeños. Portions are large, price is reasonable. Staff is very friendly. Enjoyed their burritos, nachos, tacos. All great dishes. Give it a try!

Shrimp burrito. $11.99 (July, 25)

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Outdoor seating

Tacos Asadero

4.3(527 reviews)

3.2 mi•Rancho Bernardo

Favorite taco shop in San Diego!…read more What to get: 1) Queso Birria Tacos (the consume that comes with the birria tacos is amazing) 2) Adobada Tacos 3) Adobada Mulita

We love the tacos there , always ! But today , tacos taste a little bland . Not sure it's the new…read moreowner , or just less seasoning , it just doesn't taste a lot . Servicer are always nice and friendly. A small store with about 6 tables inside, couple outside . Bathroom is clean . Tacos definitely got more experience compared with couple months ago , asada is almost $5 each , Lengua is $5+ each . Kinda Pricy .

Decor

Adobada tacos

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Asada Taco

Taco Taco Poway

4.0(690 reviews)

0.9 mi

I've been driving by this location so many times that I finally made the effort to stop in and try…read moreit out. I decided to order one of their 99¢ fish tacos and an order of fish and chips. The fish taco was satisfying and delicious. Paired with the fish and chips, it was a great and affordable lunch. The fish was crisp and flaky and they provided a mountain of fries to go with it. They inciuded all the fixings to go with the fish. Plenty of tartar and cocktail sauce and limes. I was impressed with this place The service was outstanding as well. Friendly and efficient. Next time I visit, I'll have to try one of their margaritas.

Don't believe reviews from 20 year olds about tacos on TikTok…read more Yes this place is cheaper than any Taco store in SD. Most of the tacos are $2.85. Some 1.25 but the quality is I mean cheap is cheap, and I was willing to give it a shot to prove me wrong. Also, when you order chips and salsa, there is no real salsa they give so you are just paying extra for chips. They give you free sauce anyway but it's hot sauce not salsa even if you ask them the cashier person doesn't understand this. And the chips are not good either!!! One more thing the elote in a couple was corn from a can with heavy mayonnaise I added my own lime and spice to make it better.

Inside was very attractive.

Chop cheese tacos (left 2) & Pulled pork taco

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Outside

Salsa Mexican Food

4.0(67 reviews)

0.6 mi

Overall a good casual Mexican place in Poway. It's nice to have a drive thru so you can order and…read morestay in your car. The menu includes most typical Mexican options including tacos, burritos, plates, tostada, and quesadillas. The prices are typical for most Mexican restaurants around $12-25 per entree. The food took a little longer but I appreciated the food was fresh and hot. The portions were generous, the food was delicious, and I liked how they used double tortilla so the taco didn't fall apart. Their hot sauces were really good too. Only thing is a lot of their specialty menu is on a white board that is weathered, half erased, and hard to read. Please refresh the board and rewrite the items so it's more legible.

Was in the mood for a simple bean and cheese burrito. This place is just down the street from where…read moreI live and it was my first time stopping in. They have a nice list of food and idrink offerings and have happy hour prices every morning for breakfast. Just check their white board at the drive thru. Service was great and the burrito was so big I had to cut it in half and ate the leftover the next day. It was a great value for the price. I'll be back to try more. The drive thru was convenient.

Menu 6/21/2023

Fish taco plate

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Menu

Jalapenos Mexican Food

4.1(1.1k reviews)

2.1 mi

The best taco shop up this way. All of thr food hits. You also get chips and salsa if you dine in.read more

I've been eyeing Jalepenos for a while and decided to finally try it tonight…read more It's bigger inside than I thought from seeing it from the parking lot of the shopping center. It's got a fun San Diego surfboard vibe mixed with sports jerseys and pictures on the wall which makes it a fun place to go with friends. I actually think it might be a better place to dine in then take out since it feels so clean and fun and surprisingly roomy inside as well. However I was a bit disappointed by the food. I was definitely underwhelmed by my California burrito - it was a little undercooked for my preference - no melted cheese on the inside and the tortilla seemed like it was just taken out of a bag and slapped on and it was actually a little tough to chew. The French fries didn't taste that good to me either and I felt as if I'd be better going across the lot to McDonalds and ordering a few fries to add in there. I was a little surprised the burrito wasn't cooked more because my to go order took a little bit longer than I expected to get to me and there wasn't that many people inside the restaurant so I thought at least it would be really hot and ready but I was a bit bummed by the overall taste when I bit in due to the way it was cooked and just overall taste. I still really like the vibe of this place but I thought the food was just okay.

Inside

Chips & Salsa

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Al Pastor Tacos

Don Pollo

4.5(430 reviews)

0.7 mi

I absolutely love this place. Owners are so friendly and welcoming. It's a smaller place to eat…read morebut very cozy and comfortable. If you like your watch a game they have it on typically or can ask. The chicken soup is the best in San Diego! It's fresh chicken chunks, avocado, carrots, celery, rice, onions and cilantro if you want it. The broth is homemade. Great if you're sick as it's our go to. My other favorite is the chicken enchiladas. It's a verde type sauce and had the right amount of cheese in it. It's a creamy bite every mouthful. The beans that come with it taste amazing. You know some places it's just beans nothing big but theirs are really good with the rice that comes with it. The salsa bar is really good as well. I love the different flavors of the sauces. They make a mean habanero hot sauce.

Been here several times now. They're not lying when they say that have the best soup. It's so good…read more Today ordered a chicken burrito which comes with rice beans and guac. Normally I complain of rice and beans as filler but for this burrito it's perfect. Burrito is the size of like a size 9 men's shoe. Pretty solid. Salsas are good, too. I like to mix red and green. Also got a street taco of carne asada.

1.9 mi•Sabre Springs, Scripps Ranch

Inside- very clean

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Outside

Senor Taquero 2

4.3(253 reviews)

Love love love this place. The owners are so nice, the portions are huge, the food is delicious for…read morea decent price. They have free chips and salsa, not much seating but it was clean and maintained well. Definitely best Mexican food in that area!

This is a great neighborhood taco shop. We had the adobada taco today. It's full of flavor and it's…read moredelicious. But I like their breakfast burrito and fish taco too. I appreciate that they give complimentary chips even if it's to go. Not many places do that. They have a salsa bar that is covered which I also appreciate to deter debris and bugs from getting in. Service is always great.

Inside: view from one of the tables

Carne Asada Chips comes complete with guacamole and sour cream

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Inside: wide view of counter

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

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17 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Ine P.

48

27

0

5 years ago

This is a good Mexican restaurant. Chips and salsa were complimentary. Free food is the best kind of food. The tacos are good. The carnitas burrito was delicious. Portion sizes are great. Service was great. They are friendly. I asked for extra cilantro, and they were happy to bring me more. They have homemade horchata that is really good. I will come here more often. read more

Marlene L.

0

4

0

7 years ago

Came here for breakfast with my brother and we had the best experience food was delicious I ordered chilaquiles verde good flavor on top of that customer service was excellent! They took very good care of us and made us feel at home. I would def com back to Lupes Mexican food I strongly recommend them thank you read more

Suzie K.

0

24

0

4 years ago

This is the BEST Mexican place in SD. The fish tacos are out of this world. Amazing breading, hot and flaky. Im obsessed with finding the perfect bean and cheese burrito and they have it. Delicious tortillas, great guacamole. Everything I've had here is fantastic! read more

Gabe R.

0

19

4

2 years ago

Best burritos in San Diego!! no joke this place is delicious and excellent customer service! From the minute I walked in Maria and Edwin treated me with the utmost respect and hospitality. Mellow ambiance and Great atmosphere! Thankyou so much read more

Sofia S.

0

6

1

3 years ago

10/10 steak and egg breakfast burrito, tasted amazing! The meat was seasoned to perfection and the burrito itself was large in size, amazing ! Also very good prices and friendly service, will definitely be back. read more

Terri C.

0

15

1

12 years ago

As good as Mexican food gets in the County. Great selection, good guacamole. The chicken was probably the best: called Pechuga A La Pancha. Extremely tender, juicy perfection! read more

Roxy C.

0

3

0

14 years ago

Best Service i have ever had for a Mexican shop. the carne asada fries are the best i go here every single day and order take out love this place read more

Josse I.

0

4

0

9 years ago

I am a big fan of the Menudo. I really like a lot of cilantro and you have to ask for it. But, they're happy to provide. Thank You ! ! !

David S.

3

9

2

9 years ago

I have been here several times for breakfast this place is always been consistent and the different things I try are always good

Martin N.

4

24

1

2 years ago

Food is great and decent prices. There are certain tastes with some of the plates that remind me of Baja.

Lynne B.

0

8

0

15 years ago

Refreshing authentic Mexican Food. The enchildas verde were the best I have ever had.

Julia P.

232

22

9

9 years ago

This place has the best customer service and most delish shrimp burritos yum :D

Toan N.

0

12

0

12 years ago

Definitely the best Mex resto in Poway! Will come back again and again.

Robert N.

97

99

14

15 years ago

Best kept secret in town... Authentic!

J D.

0

320

0

10 years ago

Average in flavor. Don't bother...

Aj M.

2

110

21

13 years ago

Very friendly; good wholesome food

Aracely A.

10

29

2

12 years ago

I love their chicken soup! ;)

Lupe's Cafe - mexican - Updated October 2026

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Senor Taquero 2

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Love love love this place. The owners are so nice, the portions are huge, the food is delicious for…read morea decent price. They have free chips and salsa, not much seating but it was clean and maintained well. Definitely best Mexican food in that area!

This is a great neighborhood taco shop. We had the adobada taco today. It's full of flavor and it's…read moredelicious. But I like their breakfast burrito and fish taco too. I appreciate that they give complimentary chips even if it's to go. Not many places do that. They have a salsa bar that is covered which I also appreciate to deter debris and bugs from getting in. Service is always great.

Salsa Mexican Food

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Overall a good casual Mexican place in Poway. It's nice to have a drive thru so you can order and…read morestay in your car. The menu includes most typical Mexican options including tacos, burritos, plates, tostada, and quesadillas. The prices are typical for most Mexican restaurants around $12-25 per entree. The food took a little longer but I appreciated the food was fresh and hot. The portions were generous, the food was delicious, and I liked how they used double tortilla so the taco didn't fall apart. Their hot sauces were really good too. Only thing is a lot of their specialty menu is on a white board that is weathered, half erased, and hard to read. Please refresh the board and rewrite the items so it's more legible.

Was in the mood for a simple bean and cheese burrito. This place is just down the street from where…read moreI live and it was my first time stopping in. They have a nice list of food and idrink offerings and have happy hour prices every morning for breakfast. Just check their white board at the drive thru. Service was great and the burrito was so big I had to cut it in half and ate the leftover the next day. It was a great value for the price. I'll be back to try more. The drive thru was convenient.

Taco Taco Poway

4.0

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I've been driving by this location so many times that I finally made the effort to stop in and try…read moreit out. I decided to order one of their 99¢ fish tacos and an order of fish and chips. The fish taco was satisfying and delicious. Paired with the fish and chips, it was a great and affordable lunch. The fish was crisp and flaky and they provided a mountain of fries to go with it. They inciuded all the fixings to go with the fish. Plenty of tartar and cocktail sauce and limes. I was impressed with this place The service was outstanding as well. Friendly and efficient. Next time I visit, I'll have to try one of their margaritas.

Don't believe reviews from 20 year olds about tacos on TikTok…read more Yes this place is cheaper than any Taco store in SD. Most of the tacos are $2.85. Some 1.25 but the quality is I mean cheap is cheap, and I was willing to give it a shot to prove me wrong. Also, when you order chips and salsa, there is no real salsa they give so you are just paying extra for chips. They give you free sauce anyway but it's hot sauce not salsa even if you ask them the cashier person doesn't understand this. And the chips are not good either!!! One more thing the elote in a couple was corn from a can with heavy mayonnaise I added my own lime and spice to make it better.

Lienzo Charro

3.9

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If you are looking for a local Mexican restaurant, you have to try Lienzo Charro. It's a small…read moreplace with big flavors. A hidden gem in Poway. The staff was super nice. They were playing World Cup so it was nice to be watching that while eating lunch. They also serve table chips and salsa, which was delicious! With the salsa was a little spicier. I ordered the carne asada del charro. The meat had so much flavor and it was super tender. The bf got the beef taco, chicken enchilada, and beef tostada combo and it was a lot of food. Everything was delicious and tasted fresh. We will be coming back anytime we are craving some good Mexican food.

Always a great spot to sit and relax…read more Cervezas and chips and salsa and whatever else your heart desires. Great food, excellent service and not far from anywhere I'm San Diego. I'll be back again. They sell gift certificates too! Perfect for any occasion .

The Burrito Factory

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The Burrito Factory has much improved their Mexican food quality and it is consistently very good…read more Their salsas are delicious and there is a lot of variety. Prices are reasonable and they do not kill you with an aggressive tip policy. It's just good food for a good price. The restaurant is clean and bright. Steak n egg burrito for breakfast here is a must try.

The place is clean but has very very salty food. Pricy too. Customers service is hit and miss.read more

Jalapenos Mexican Food

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The best taco shop up this way. All of thr food hits. You also get chips and salsa if you dine in.read more

I've been eyeing Jalepenos for a while and decided to finally try it tonight…read more It's bigger inside than I thought from seeing it from the parking lot of the shopping center. It's got a fun San Diego surfboard vibe mixed with sports jerseys and pictures on the wall which makes it a fun place to go with friends. I actually think it might be a better place to dine in then take out since it feels so clean and fun and surprisingly roomy inside as well. However I was a bit disappointed by the food. I was definitely underwhelmed by my California burrito - it was a little undercooked for my preference - no melted cheese on the inside and the tortilla seemed like it was just taken out of a bag and slapped on and it was actually a little tough to chew. The French fries didn't taste that good to me either and I felt as if I'd be better going across the lot to McDonalds and ordering a few fries to add in there. I was a little surprised the burrito wasn't cooked more because my to go order took a little bit longer than I expected to get to me and there wasn't that many people inside the restaurant so I thought at least it would be really hot and ready but I was a bit bummed by the overall taste when I bit in due to the way it was cooked and just overall taste. I still really like the vibe of this place but I thought the food was just okay.

Rodrigo's Taco Shop

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Always worth the drive no matter where you're coming from…read more Delicious food, excellent service and a clean and comfy dining area. You must try their carne asada fries or chips. Everything else is on point too. You won't be disappointed. Been coming for years and plan on doing so until I kick the bucket. Be sure to tip. Friendly family owned establishment. Support small business!

This is not a review about their food even though for us it was less than ok…read more Yesterday my husband and I placed an order to go in person. We used our cc card and hit "skip" for the tip. When asked, my husband told him he didn't want a receipt. As we sat waiting for our order I noticed the register showed a paid amount of $7 more than the order cost. We asked him about it, and he started stammering and said the amount is different because of the tip. So obviously he added an unapproved 20% tip to the order. I said to him, "so, if people don't ask for a receipt you automatically decided to add the maximum tip?" He agreed to refund the tip. Needless to say, we were both disgusted and very disappointed. Unfortunately, from now on, we will have to ask for a printed receipt even at sit down restaurants. Don't judge, we always tip 20% at sit-down restaurants.

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