Chips and salsa were good, but that was about it. Ordered 3 different meals and they were all flavorless. Woluldnt come back.

Picked out Lupe's as a drive-by breakfast burrito & CA burrito stop while en route to Palomar Mountain. The cafe is fairly hidden but we found it. A pre-teen girl/ family member was taking orders. The menu looked inviting; inside the clean shop w/ us there was just 1 other customer at 10 AM on Sunday. My wife orderd the breakfast burrito with chorizo, which she thought was okay. I had some bites & it was decent, not special. Salsas-- red & molcajete green chile, were very flavorful & spicy without being firey. The CA burrito was mostly mine. Flavor was good, if a bit oily. The potatoes were not french fries, simply cut & cooked w/ the meat. The meat was the big problem; it had flavor but had ropey- fatty & elastic-ky beef pieces mixed in with the meat. I'm used to a meaty ( Angus) beef flavor that tastes more like juicy asada meat. The burrito also had no pico de gallo or sour cream. My wife & I shared both burritos and after getting THROUGH them- which is horrible to say about a meal, we know we will not stop in at Lupe's again. read more

Second time eating from Lupe's. I have to admit, it wasn't as good as the first time but it was still tasty. I do recommend this spot if you're craving Mexican food, however, it's more of a hit-or-miss spot. I will be back and hopefully it'll be better than my last time! read more

Wow, this is an amazing Mexican fast food spot. So far have had the Huarache and the fajita burrito, both of which are excellent. Food is not overly greasy and the fajita burrito was filled with sautéed peppers and vegetables. Simply delicious . They also have excellent salsas and free chips! Food is exceptionally reasonably price especially considering the quality. Super nice people I can't say enough about this place. read more

The undisputed king of Mexican food in Poway. You will find no better. We came here for a casual Christmas Eve lunch with my husband's family. Prices of the food can't be beat. They have a great selection of more traditional Mexican fare than usually found at taquerias. This time around, I ordered the Caldo de Reyes soup, which I had never tried before. It blew my socks off. My husband enjoyed grilled salmon tacos. Really great home-made food is to be had here. The only reason why it doesn't get a full five stars is because the food is still a tad too greasy for me. But this isn't health Mex. It's straight up traditional Mexican food. read more

"Hey we really should try these other Mexican joints around our house!" "Really? I mean Lolita's and Jalapenos is SO GOOD!" "Yeah but they're not really THAT close" That's the conversation we have had for the last 2 years. What do we do? We keep going to the exact.. .same... places... Nothing wrong with that, we just do it because we're creatures of habit. Well.. .This time, not so much. We went to Lupe's Cafe on the Yelp suggestion of best Mexican that I saw in Poway. We were pleasantly surprised! What got me the most was when we ordered, we saw the cook pull out a thing of raw meat and cook it right then and there. Cooked to order!!! Either that or we were lucky and they just didn't have a back stock of cooked beef. Cali Burrito: Great! Not fries, instead potatoes, which was a great change of pace. I remember when Cotijan's was potatoes... Yeah not going back there. But this was good. The meat had a good seasoning and everything in the burrito was great. Salsa bar: More sauces than the average place and best part? They're covered so the flies dont' get to it! Restaurant seating: Small. I'd expect most people to take the food and run simply because the place is small. I don't recall seeing any high chairs so I'm not sure if it's good for kids. Overall, I'd definitely go back. Is it better than Lolita's? I'll have to get their Carne Asada Fries next time to find out. read more

My first visit here was terrible. Thankfully my friend who owns a salon next door had me try them again. I was very impressed with Lupe and how much she loves her customers. The salsa has changed since I was last there and it's very good. The food is really good and seriously the burritos are MASSIVE! Don't think that bean and cheese burrito is gonna be dinky it's so flipping huge I couldn't even eat the whole thing I had to save half and I was beyond full. The prices are cheap too. The breakfast burritos are heavy and huge also. Great service, great taste only wish it was a drive thru read more

After hiking Iron Mountain I pulled up Yelp to find a nearby restaurant to satisfy my starving friends and Lupe's came up with rave reviews so we gave it a go. The yummy smells from inside nearly intoxicated us and made our mouths water when we walked into the somewhat hidden taco shop. The staff was very friendly and brought us slightly oily but obviously fresh and REALLY crispy, delicious chips to enjoy while we waited for our food. Their fresh salsa bar is one of the best I've seen - the salsa fresca was my favorite. The salsa verde was a hit with my friends. The 5 of us unanimously concluded that the FISH TACO SAUCE was the best ever, and the crispy fresh fish and homemade tortillas made the the tacos a big hit. Plus they were only $1.25 - a great deal! We tried a few Carne Asada and California burritos between us. None of us liked them "wet" - the enchilada sauce was funky and not very good. The burritos were pretty disappointing actually - there was generous guacamole but they were kind of bland. The ingredients were fresh but something seemed to be missing. Maybe we're all spoiled with the great concentration of authentic Mexican burritos as you head West then South. The great salsa makes them okay. Next time, and there could very well be a next time - we are all getting fish tacos! read more

Lupe's Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

This is my go to spot for Mexican in Poway! It's not a chain, it's not fancy, it's not where you'd take someone on a first date, but it's where to go if you want authentic Mexican! Matter of fact, it's where Mexican's go for Mexican in Poway. Haven't really seen too many gringos up in there! Mexican family, Mexican love, Mexican pride! It really shines through their food! Lupe's is family owned and run - I love that. It's nice to see the whole family working together. Lupe runs the front of the house and husband works the kitchen, and their children are also hard at work after school. Their food is 100% homemade using fresh ingredients! My girl is a vegetarian and they always accommodate. Here at Lupe's if she asks for nachos, they grill fresh vegetables, then load the chips with beans, guacamole, cheese, and pico (sans crema- she doesn't like sour cream). They always hook it up. During my last trip to Lupe's I was craving a fish torta (not on the menu). I asked if they could make a torta with the same ingredients they would put into the fish taco. NO PROBLEM!! They made me the best fish torta I ever had! The salsa bar is perfectly simple with 3-4 homemade salsas like chipotle, hot, and mild. You'll also find fresh limes, onions, and cilantro at the salsa bar. Don't expect to find 10 different options like Rubio's or other gringo'fied places. Hot tip: Their chicken soup and menudo is perfect for a hangover! Seriously, they have the best hangover remedies...chicken soup, caldo, or menudo! read more

Lupe's Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

Damn Lupe, your cafe is fire! Authentic quality Mexican food. You never disappoint. You go Lupe, you go girl! you sure know how to make our day less depressing with your comforting food. Always on point. Our #1 spot if we're too lazy to cook Mexican food ourselves. :) read more

Very authentic Mexican food. I moved to poway from southeast San Diego. I didn't think I would find a good Mexican restaurant in this neck of the woods and boy was I wrong! Everything we've tried on the menu is delicious. Their house hot sauce is really good and is why I'm giving them a 5 read more

I miss my mom's home cooking. The only thing I have ever ordered here is the #10. It so much reminds me of how my mom makes bistek (steak) that I can't order anything other than that. The #10 is served with salsa verde accompanied with potatoes, tomatoes, jalapeños and onions. Also corn or flour tortillas. Personally I opt for corn tortillas. One last also rice and beans. Upon sitting down before your main order you get a complimentary basket of chips and salsa. The salsa that they have in their molcajete in my personal opinion is where the great salsa is at. They also have a wide assortment of salsas and other add ons in a silver basket bin next to the molcajete. It's not the biggest space but I usually go solo so it's big enough for me. Prolly on a guesstimate they have around 10 tables where 7 tables accompany 4 or more. Great place, highly recommend. read more

Pretty satisfied with the food we got. Torta and California burrito. Although the California burrito wasn't what I'm used to getting it was still pretty good. They were very fast with prepping our food. read more

The carne asada burrito I got here was really delicious! Not only was the beef good, but it came with a lot of fresh onions, tomatoes, and guacamole to make it very scrumptious. I especially love dipping it in the fresh salsa this place serves up. Other great perks are the tortilla chips and salsa that you get for dining in- they were great with just a bit of oily tinge, and tasted good even after I left them in the fridge for several hours. The final thing I have to say is the price is awesome. I got all of this for about $5, but I was so full after only eating half a burrito so I took the rest home and ate it for dinner. Best deal ever. Definitely can't wait to try their other stuff. read more

Lupe's Cafe - Chips and Salsa - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

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Delicious!!! This is my new spot and the soup is amazing! Asked for no bones and white meat only... so so good! Bean tostada was also very good! read more

Lupe's Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

If you are looking for a delicious hearty meal, this is the place to go. At first, it might appear small and separate from the big well known eateries, but the quality exceeds expectations and there are enough big tables to sit at, or you can take out to go. I had the Carne Asada Tacos and they were very filling and had generous amounts of everything, and both the cashier and cook are extremely kind-hearted and thoughtful towards each customer that comes by! Check this place out at least once and decide for yourself. read more

Left the house and realized I should've eaten before I left. I wanted something quick, so I stopped at the first Mexican food spot I could find. Easy parking, clean restaurant with lots of bright colored decor and a beautiful mural on the wall. Service is friendly, although I'm not sure how jazzed the cook was... Maybe it was just his bitchy restaurant face? My order of one fish taco came out quick as lightning, hot and fresh. It tasted delicious, but I would have liked a little more cabbage for crunch. I'll probably stop in again when I'm in Poway. read more

Quick service, parking out front, close to work and a great value for the price. Got the Carnitas plate and an horchata...they were both outstanding! Large portions and very flavorful beans/rice. The salsa bar was extremely good as well, with many good choices, from smoky to spicy and mild. I will be back! read more

Lupe's Cafe - Carnita's Plate! - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

The carne asada burrito was epic! What an amazing find here in Poway. Plus, their dining room is open!!

First time to try Mexican food restaurant in Poway. My parents wants to try tacos because it's Taco Tuesday. Haha! I saw the restaurant in Yelp, looks good so we try it. We are definitely love the tacos and carne asada fries! We ordered carne asada, pollo and carnitas. Carnitas is my favorite! We will come back next taco Tuesday! read more

For personal reasons I have eaten there three times in the past three days. The huevos rancheros was excellent but the eggs were slightly overcooked. The Chile relleno and beef enchilada combo we're both very good. The Carne Asada plate was slightly bland needed a lot of salsa to help it out. But still overall a very good meal will be back. Support local! read more

Oh well this is my place to go to for enchiladas, told the lady in Spanish what I wanted and still got it all wrong, wonder why there has been so many new girls @ the register/servers lately, what happened to Ana!. Man not the owners or anyone's fault for the wrong order she placed she also seemed rude on top of it, girl on 4/12/18 at 6:45pm I said de pollo con salsa verde!! Been a customer here for 3 years. I guess I'll come back when this new cashier girls aren't here. It's a sad day for my enchilada fix, Came back on 4/17 and I had to update the review. All I have to say there is NO place like Lupe's for enchiladas, Aka there is no place like home! This enchis taste just like my mom's used to read more

Best hole in the wall Mexican food for miles around !!!! All home made, the owner and his brother cook for you and boy, do they deliver !!!

First tome at Lupe's (went because Lorenzo Charro was closed despited posted hours). Turned out to be a good find. Friendly service. Had cheese enchilada and wife had chorizo burrito. Both were good. We'll be back. read more

This is by far our favorite Mexican restaurant in this part of San Diego. We love everything here and if you have got to try their delicious churros!! read more

I work in the Poway business park area so when I was craving Mexican food, I chose this place because I saw they used a lot of cheese and guacamole on their rolled tacos vs that light green pasty guac that other fast-food joints use. I was not disappointed when I ordered their rolled tacos and fish tacos. They use quality ingredients and tasted pretty authentic to me! read more

Great food! Great service! Their catering is also amazing and never fails! I have recommended them to friends and always get good feed back!

Excellent food great service at reasonable prices... what more can you ask for. I've been here twice now and have been pleased on both occasions which means I'll be back. Vanessa was very nice and helpful. It's not the fanciest place so if that's what you are expecting forget about it. But if you have a decent appetite, then this place will do the trick for sure. Keep it up Lupe's read more

Ham, egg, cheese breakfast burrito was delicious! They use chopped up ham steak, not the cheaper sliced ham normally used on sandwiches. Try them out! You'll be glad you did! read more

What a great find in Poway! Just celebrated Taco Tuesday with 4 fish tacos which were cooked perfectly at $1.25 each! What?! I'm from AZ so I'm pretty particular with Mex food and Lupe's is legit! As good as I've had anywhere in SD county; highly recommended & service was fast & friendly; clean, too! read more

I would maybe try this place again if I was in the area. I got a breakfast burrito and it was just okay. It wasn't the worst I've had but it definitely wasn't the best. As another review said, it's kinda bland. It tastes like a burrito I'd get from a grocery store. There's not much flavor! It needs something!! read more

Nice staff, casual atmosphere, good food, love the salsa bar and marinated carrots! Inexpensive. They sell Coca Cola products...yum. read more

Lupe's Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Poway, California

Called in an order of Carnitas Fries with 2 fried eggs on top and Chilaqiles Rojas. Soooooo good. Everything has so much flavor. The carnitas was really tasty. Not too salty either. Absolutely love the salsas. Nothing bland here. Highly recommend! read more

Yummy place the Chilaquiles are delicious! With 2 fried eggs on top, beans and rice... and a friEndly environment...

Every single time I go to this place, I have to say it's always perfect, my favorite taco shop in poway! Nobody comes close to this place. My favorite is carne asada fries, like no other and the portion is great. Definitely something to try. read more

Amazing authentic mexican food! Everything tastes so fresh! The staff is nice and helpful. Highly recommended!

We dropped in here on President's Day on a whim but it's been on my list for a couple months after I stumbled on the ++ yelp reviews while dining at Kaminski's next door. Mex is one of my favorite ethnic foods and the ratings peaked my expectations. We ordered a combo plate of enchilada and tamale and a separate carne asada burrito. The latter was 4 star tasty, but my combo plate was somewhat disappointing. The tamale had a couple small dried areas and the enchilada was nothing to write home about. After re-reading a few reviews, maybe this "off" meal was linked to a particular chef issue as noted, but Mex cuisine isn't rocket science for the most part. However, I'm going to visit one more time and see if Lupe's can live up to its ratings. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. read more

Great costumer services and the food was great. So rare to find a place that has fresh salsa and a really tasty salsas. The cashier so friendly and so polite. Always attentive. Rare for find that too. I wont mind to drive all the way here to eat, cuz would be worthy for sure. read more

Excellent authentic Mexican food! We love this little hole in the wall hidden in Poway! The service is great, the food is outstanding & occasionally they have an amazing roasted salsa (that thankfully doesn't have cilantro in it!) that is amazing! I just wish they had that salsa every day! This is by far the best little Mexican restaurant in our area which is penasquitos & Poway! read more

My father and I went here for lunch yesterday. I will rate the following on a scale of 1 to 10 with a 1 being bad and a 10 being perfect. Service and attitude of personnel: 9/10 Carnitas burrito: 8/10 Fish Taco: 7/10 Salsa bar: 9/10 We will be back! read more