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    Mario's De La Mesa Restaurant

    4.0 (494 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 9:00 am - 8:30 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    MARIO'S DE LA MESA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Mario's De La Mesa Restaurant

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    Generous portion of Carnitas. A little dry but flavorful.
    D B.

    Ate here today for Mothers Day with the family(party of 8). Parking is limited. We had to park down the street and walk uphill to get to the restaurant. Thankfully we had a reservation. This place was packed, however we were seated in a few minutes. After about 20 minutes our order was taken. An hour later we received or food. I had carnitas, which was flavorful, however a little dry. I never saw a dedicated bar, however they do serve some alcohol. I attempted to use the bathroom, however it was locked. That indicates to me that it is small and intended for one person to use at a time. The restaurant looks to me like it was a house that was converted into a restaurant. I would not return.

    Chilaquiles
    Jillian N.

    Breakfast at Mario's in La Mesa was a pleasant experience. Let's start with the positives. Cafe de olla was amazing! Not too sweet and tasted like cafe de casa de abuelita. The location was busy but we were seated right away. Cons. Parking. Very cool that they have a small parking lot, but the spots are small and today happened just to be crowded. The food was also good, but I wish we had been offered spicier salsa. Had to ask a couple of times for water and left there still not having received it. All and all it's a good home cooked Mexican food restaurant. I would try to come back when it's not a Sunday rush.

    Chilaquiles Con Huevos
    Kika M.

    My first time here came early morning was walking around downtown La mesa while my daughter was getting her hair done me and hubby happened to see this place and decided to get breakfast the decor is so cute soon as we walked in were seated they gave us chips and salsa while we look at the menu food was delicious came out fresh such good flavor salsa had a nice kick service was amazing was taking care of the whole time will definitely be back please go if your in the area

    Chips and salsa
    Luis V.

    Mario's deserves more recognition! We typically drive by Mario's on a daily basis and this last time we decided to stop by. Let me tell you, it was definitely worth the stop. It is located on the corner of La Mesa Blvd and Grant Ave, which gives the front of the restaurant such an amazing view. The inside of the restaurant looks amazing and very vibrant! Please note that this is a family owned restaurant and we had the privilege of meeting the owner. He along with his staff are very sweet and the service is phenomenal. To start, the chips and salsa were great and the salsa itself was delicious! I had the enchiladas plate, which came with beans and rice. The beans and rice were tasteful and exactly what I wanted/expected. The enchiladas were great and I would definitely get them again! If you're near La Mesa please support this business. They deserve all the support and recognition!

    Entrance to patio from sidewalk.
    Cynthia C.

    What a fantastic find in La Mesa - thanks fellow Yelpers! It's been a minute since I've experienced some great authentic Mexican food and I was excited to get over to Mario's. We parked in their parking lot, located behind what we think use to be a house. We passed the softly lit patio and admired the glow and warmth. We noticed street parking is available along this downtown edge of La Mesa, which is also easy to walk. The gorgeous Christmas lights and exterior decorations should have prepared us for the eye candy awaiting inside, but WOW, what a burst of vibrant color the interior holds! We were greeted warmly immediately upon entering and shown to a table and offered drinks, chip and salsa. While noshing, we perused the menu and made our selections: Christmas + Mexican food = TAMALES! So I chose the in-house made pork tamale plate with ranchera sauce and cheese. Hubs chose the a la carte large beef burrito, also with ranchera sauce and cheese. BOTH WERE OUTSTANDING! Hit the mark perfectly for what we were craving. LOADS of delicious meat filled each of our selections. The masa of my tamale was light and fluffy. Hospitality was delightful and attentive, even as the restaurant filled with more locals and some large parties. Before leaving, we made use of the baños and were delighted to find adorable drawings of characters looking like they stepped from the "It's A Small World" ride at Disneyland directing us towards the Damas and Caballeros "rooms". So cute! A delightful and delicious meal warmed our hearts on a chilly December night in La Mesa and we look forward to eating here again. Cheers! "CC"

    Baja Shrimp Burrito
    Mimi L.

    Uninspired, standard Mexican fare. I ordered the Baja Shrimp Burrito. The few shrimp, themselves, were delicious but enclosed in what seemed to be two tortillas (waaaay too much unappetizing floury crap), with a scant amount of the promised vegetables, and dripping in an unnecessary sauce. The accompanying refried bean were delicious, but it's hard to go wrong with refried bean. This was most certainly overpriced for what I got. The atmosphere is nice, tho'. It's a clean establishment, with beautiful tables and prettily upholstered seating. Free parking in the back. All-in-all, I'd rather drive across town to a more interesting, authentic, and better value than return here.

    Small Bowl of Menudo
    Jack M.

    It has been a while since I've been to Mario's de La Mesa. I heard the new family who owns and runs it now has made some positive changes to the menu, like adding the Taco Tuesdays special. Street tacos are $2.95 all day long. I came in for lunch and ordered an iced cold beer and two carnitas tacos and one carne asada tacos. The street tacos, although they were small, they came generously filled with their appropriate protein. The carnitas were very good. They were a touch dry but not by much. I liked that they were tender but also had some crispy bits inside as well. They came with only chopped white onions and cilantro. I was hoping for a little guacamole, which would have been great with the carnitas. Going double on the corn tortillas would have been good, too. The carne asada taco was good, too. The meat was well seasoned and tender to eat. The carne taco also only came with cilantro and onions. Where's the guac? Just a little. Both the green sauce that came with the tacos and the red hot sauce that came with the tortillas chips were very good. They had good flavor and heat. The tortilla chips they offer when you dine in are good eating. The service was very good. They lady who took my order and served was very nice. I liked that they served your beer in an ice cold glass or mug. That is the way to roll.

    Traci D.

    Carina our waitress was amazing! Look at this food :) 3 taco trio, authentic rice and beans. Good chips. Nice patio :)

    Chicken Mole
    Kathy B.

    Have wanted to try Mario's for years and finally made it for lunch. The atmosphere is festive and welcoming, and the service was attentive and friendly, but the food was a hit-or-miss situation. The chile relleno was a hit, but the carnitas were dry and the chicken mole was boring/lacking in any distinctive flavor.

    Shrimp Ajillo
    Claudia S.

    My family and I were looking for good Mexican mole but my mom was underwhelmed. Same thing for the albóndigas not bad just not great. I liked their fried food like their surtido mixto appetizer which is a medley of fried Mexican finger foods. I also liked their sautéed shrimp. Their rice and beans are delicious and authentic. Unfortunately the churros were also a miss. Not sure I'll give this place another try but maybe in person someday.

    Chicken Mole
    Rocky R.

    OMM-Oh my mexican. Simple authentic and tasty. this might be the best mole in town and we added a fluffy Relleno which was the perfect pairing. Two skinny's and it's a complete meal. :)

    Carla O.

    I have always driven by this little cute and cozy Mexican restaurant but have always been too busy to stop. Today was the day finally I got to try Mario's! I really love that they have a parking lot of their own so you don't have to have that challenge of trying to find parking. I drove right in the parking lot and walked right in. It's a Saturday early afternoon and thankfully not too many people. They had festive both Spanish and American music playing in the background to enjoy while eating. I started off by ordering an iced tea. Of course, I was enjoying the chips and salsa at the table. The salsa is tangy with a little kick. The perfect spice, not too mild, not too spicy but just right! My entree consisted of one cheese and one chicken enchilada with rice and beans. A wonderful homemade taste and so flavorful! The decor is happy and delightful reminiscent of being in Mexico. My waiter was super efficient and friendly! Kudos to the cooks also for making such flavorful food! I will be returning to Mario's when I am in La Mesa, it is a little sweet Mexican cozy haven to escape to when one needs to get away from the hustle and bustle of life! Mario's of La Mesa thank you for providing the perfect restaurant experience! Tell them Carla sent you! #la mesa #san diego # city of la mesa # san diego magazine

    Mixed Fajitas

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    1 month ago

    Great place to bring the family. Food is the best and the relaxed atmosphere is great!!!

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    17 days ago

    The restaurant is super cute and authentic. Food is yummy and service is nice! Would definitely come back.

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    Lizzette A.

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    1 month ago

    Service was fantastic! Cozy atmosphere! Family friendly! Great happy hour! Delicious taco Tuesday!

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    2 months ago

    On time service. Price of food can't be beat, and the quality is authentic and delicious.

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    Thanks for the support!

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    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - Mario's De La Mesa Restaurant

    How often is this restaurant packed? What time of day is the busiest, as well as day? Thanks everyone!

    Of the dozens of times I've eaten here, I've only had to wait for a table once or twice. Weekend breakfasts are the busiest.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    We sit in the lounge area. Less crowded and faster service. Grilled fish tacos were superb and…read morethe rest of the food scored high marks as well. Fresh made tortillas are a hit and the salsa is amazing.

    My best friend and I came here today to have a girl date. We ordered a shot, a margarita, and an…read moreappetizer. We were having great conversation and catching up, just the normal things you do when you have a "girl date". Anyways, we ordered another shot to take as we were vibing out and enjoying our ceviche when we were told that "we've had too much", since we had not yet ordered our entrees. I have been here more than 20xs in the last 6 months. I've been HAMMERED, I've been sober, you get the point. Never once have I been told of this "policy". Never once have I been cut off or warned. From the second we got here, the bartender was rude. He wasn't the main bartender, but that's neither here nor there. Every interaction we had, he never made eye contact, never engaged, never NOT seemed annoyed to be there. Anyways, after being told that we needed to order entrees before we were able to get another beverage, I asked to speak to the manager. She came over a few minutes later trying to explain responsible service to us...my best friend and I are bartenders and have been since we were in our 20's. We're now in our 40's and are not sloppy. Anyways!! I am not sure where this came from; had we been acting intoxicated and embarrassing, not another word would have been said. We would have left with our tails tucked and many apologies would have been given. We will never go back. This "policy" has never been enforced in all of the times I have patronized the restaurant, and this fully ruined our evening. We understand responsible service and how to appropriately gauge a customer's level of intoxication and never once were we acting in a manner that would warrant such actions from their employees. Very disappointed by this experience.

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    Vegetarian friendly
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    Squeezed into a small shopping center on the corner of Washington and Magnolia sits Chuy's Taqueria…read morey Burritos. Needed a quick bite to eat so to Yelp i went ... saw Chuys had some good looking food and reviews so we took the 9 minute drive from Parkway Plaza after some holiday shopping. Upon walking in there is about nine bar stools aligned the L shaped bar table for sitting along the left wall/window. Place was spotless, super clean with pretty dope street art to your right! The woman at the register was very nice and the cook seemed to carry a great attitude as well. I noticed many customer coming were returning customers which is something I always like to see. California burrito was packed with meat and cooked to absolute perfection. I could actually taste the carne asada over everything which is honesty rare for me. The guacamole was not oozing out nor was it overpowering the taste of the whole burrito. The size of this thing was as about the size of my forearm! Filled me up for sure!! 6 rolled tacos with guacamole, sour cream and cheese was also perfectly cooked. Perfect amount of crunch on the ends and not too soft in the middles. Plenty of meat in the rolled tacos as well, which you could also taste well through all the toppings! We'll definitely be seeing you again soon Chuy's!!!

    Chuy's doesn't bother with theatrics. It's a straight shot of San Diego comfort: a counter, a warm…read moregriddle, and a crew that treats your custom order like it's the most natural thing in the world. I ordered a California burrito and asked to swap in adobado pork. No hesitation, no side‑eye, just a nod and a "you got it." That alone puts them ahead of half the shops in the county. The burrito itself delivered. The adobado came through with that deep red glow and smoky tang, the kind of flavor that feels like it's been tended to, not rushed. Fold that into fries, cheese, and a tortilla doing quiet, reliable work, and you get a bite that hits all the right notes. Rich, bright, salty, satisfying. It's a simple thing done well, which is exactly what you want from a neighborhood taco shop. Chuy's isn't trying to reinvent the wheel. They're just making a damn good burrito and treating you right while they do it.

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    Hey guys, The Big Gorger here, had to come back to grab the best burrito in San Diego. Now these…read moreburritos are bigger than the size of my head! What an absolute monster! Take a look at the picture below and tell me that is not one of the BEST looking burritos you have ever seen. 10/10 spilt pull of a burrito. Makes your stomach talk to you and say "OM NOM NOM GIVE ME BURRITO!" The flavor, the taste, the texture, everything was perfection. Absolutely delicious! Ms Gorger ended up getting the 3 Mini Tacos (Adobada) with rice and beans. Ms Gorger says that these are her absolute favorite tacos she has ever had! The lady ringing us up was super nice and I forgot to mention, we took our order to go and it was ready in 3 MINUTES. I was shocked and had to ask her if this was our meal! Love good fast service. If you are ever in the area please go try this place, you will not regret at all. Thank you Chuy's Taco Shop! Will be back soon! Best, TBG (The Big Gorger)

    On my bday, I came here for lunch and ordered 1 carnitas burrito & 1 horchata. We sat inside the…read moreshop and ate. The burrito was very delicious, I liked the little shredded lettuce and pico that they had on the side of the plate. If it was in the burrito that would have made it even better. It was nice that they didn't just have the pulled pork, but bits of fat as well. Texturally was nice. My mom said she would have liked a little more crisp on the carnitas. The salsas were restocked and delicious! I loved the green one and the extra hot was a fav of my mom. I also really enjoyed the carrots! The only thing was while I was eating the burrito, I bit into something hard and I took it out -- it was a piece of a bone. It was shaped a little bigger than a pebble. I didn't know it was possible to have bones in carnitas/a burrito. Idk if that's the norm, because when we mentioned it-- the woman working basically casually continued her napkin sorting or whatever and said "oh okay.." lol this made me think this was just another everyday occurrence. Although, a little more acknowledgment would have been better on her end. For this specific experience, 3 stars, but truly a 4-5 star taco shop! Overall, minus the bone, and the dry response...the food was great! Salsas fresh and restocked, they had way more options than usual. The horchata was a little too sweet, but overall refreshing. They have a large menu, so be sure to check it out.

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    Panchos Mexican Restaurant - Sizzling chicken - it had steam!

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    Great Mexican food. Friendly service , I will be returning to order more food.the inside was ok.read more

    A couple of friends lured us here. And thank goodness for it. I have driven by a dozen of times and…read moredidn't consider stopping in. Walking into Panchos, you are immediately greeted by a bright, colorful and welcoming scene. It gives you the feeling of walking into your tía's favorite old school restaurant. The tables and benches are dark wood. And there is papel picado hanging. It's charming. You get the feeling that Panchos has been around for decades. Apparently, the restaurant has been open here since 2004. And the real star? Our server, whose name I cannot recall. He was equal parts waiter and comedian, a very kind man who was highly attentive and extremely helpful. If you like spicy salsa, be sure to tell him to bring you the good stuff from the back (after he offers you bland Tapatio). The menu is absolutely massive. They have breakfast burritos, breakfast plates, chips and fries, shrimp plates, soups (check with the team about offerings, like caldo de res), tortas, quesadillas and a kid's menu and more. I highly recommend the cheese enchiladas and the chile relleno. The chile relleno is especially good. It isn't your soggy, cafeteria-style relleno drowned in red sauce and regret. It is the best comfort food, and Panchos does it well. There is a generous melt of Oaxacan cheese, the batter is very light without being greasy. And then there was the ranchero sauce! Tangy tomatoes, a hint of garlic, and a tiny bit of chili. So very good. Also popular on the menu is a pitcher of margaritas, which you should plan on sharing with three others. The mango margarita is also quite nice. And they also have a Baileys & Coffee. And you can easily get a delicious, filling meal for $20 or less. All around, a great place.

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    El Azteca is still number one in my heart. They have my absolute favorite dish at any taco place,…read morethe Rosarito plate, I've even gotten my mom hooked on it. It's delicious chicken with tomatoes, onions, and peppers served with rice and beans and your choice of tortillas, plus a drink. All at a reasonable price. It makes two meals for me every time. My son swears the quesadillas here are magical and always eats most of it in the car on the way home because he can't wait. Service is always great, it's a family owned restaurant and they're consistently friendly and fantastic. It's a small business, but there's a few tables inside and chairs if you're getting takeout. They take phone orders too. There's plenty of parking in the lot and on the street. When I first started coming here a long time ago it was cash only, but you can use plastic now too. They do close early on Sunday, don't be like me and show up after 3 because you forgot..

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    Mario's De La Mesa Restaurant - mexican - Updated May 2026

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