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THE BEST in La Mesa Village!!! The food, service, and vibes are immaculate. We have always passed by and finally decided to stop by. They had such an amazing happy hour, I ended up getting a huge margarita for only $8 lol. A much needed size to start the weekend! The food was WOW. I had the pollo asado quesadilla with the rice and beans. It was delicious! The tortilla had the perfect crisp to it and the guac and sour cream paired very well. Don't even get me started on the dessert. The flan was perfectly cooked. It was caramelized just right and the whip cream was almost like ice cream! Definitely stop by for not only happy hour, but all their breakfast,lunch, and dinner options!!
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.
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"
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!
Ordered their chilaquiles and $22.50 for that small of a portion isn't worth it. They put it in a basic styrofoam container. Average chilaquiles, includes a side with some chips and salsa. Not worth the price in my opinion. Better chilaquiles out there for cheaper.
Met our friends here for lunch . Great little Mexican place that's been in the La Mesa village forever . My fiancé loves menudo and this is one of his favorites . They don't use Pata and the broth is very clean tasting . His only issue this time was it was not as red and flavorful as it usually is. The prices seem to have risen a bit . ( which is not unusual these days ) . I think the pricing on the Ala Carte items is a bit high. 9.99 for a Crispy taco is a tad unreasonable. Don't get be me wrong . The food is good and the service is warm and welcoming but the prices are high .
Carina our waitress was amazing! Look at this food :) 3 taco trio, authentic rice and beans. Good chips. Nice patio :)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. :)
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
I was fortunate to be back at Mario's De La Mesa during the Flag Day Parade. My Mom and I enjoyed the parade immensely. We needed to eat so we decided on Mario's! The food was impeccable and delicious as usual. I highly recommend it here! You always leave happy! read more
5 months ago
5 months ago
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. read more
THE BEST in La Mesa Village!!! The food, service, and vibes are immaculate. We have always passed by and finally decided to stop by. They had such an amazing happy hour, I ended up getting a huge margarita for only $8 lol. A much needed size to start the weekend! The food was WOW. I had the pollo asado quesadilla with the rice and beans. It was delicious! The tortilla had the perfect crisp to it and the guac and sour cream paired very well. Don't even get me started on the dessert. The flan was perfectly cooked. It was caramelized just right and the whip cream was almost like ice cream! Definitely stop by for not only happy hour, but all their breakfast,lunch, and dinner options!! read more
6 months ago
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. read more
9 months ago
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" read more
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! read more
2 months ago
Ordered their chilaquiles and $22.50 for that small of a portion isn't worth it. They put it in a basic styrofoam container. Average chilaquiles, includes a side with some chips and salsa. Not worth the price in my opinion. Better chilaquiles out there for cheaper. read more
2 months ago
Met our friends here for lunch . Great little Mexican place that's been in the La Mesa village forever . My fiancé loves menudo and this is one of his favorites . They don't use Pata and the broth is very clean tasting . His only issue this time was it was not as red and flavorful as it usually is. The prices seem to have risen a bit . ( which is not unusual these days ) . I think the pricing on the Ala Carte items is a bit high. 9.99 for a Crispy taco is a tad unreasonable. Don't get be me wrong . The food is good and the service is warm and welcoming but the prices are high . read more
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
11 months ago
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. read more
5 months ago
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 read more
4 months ago
Great place if you are in the mood for authentic Mexican food! The service is top notch! Constantly getting checked up on, and never having empty glasses. The chips and salsa were wonderful and the guacamole was flavorful! The crunchy beef taco was really good, the beef was so juicy and the shell was nice and crunchy. The enchiladas were just okay to me, I wasn't a huge fan of the enchilada sauce. Other than that, excellent place if you want some fantastic service and large margaritas! read more
Business owner information
Lizzette A.
Hi Cerena . We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to share with…
4 months ago
5 months ago
Just around the corner from the main strip in La Mesa is a hidden gem. This authentically feeling restaurant is ready to serve you all of the flavors and textures: spicy, crunchy, juicy, cheesy, fresh, aromatic,... ove delicious! Read the specials board on your way in because they have LOTS of options here and everything that came out of the kitchen looked incredible. I will almost always get an enchilada plate when I go to a Mexican restaurant, there's something about the cheese, sauce, and bean/rice that are so comforting. they served some great food - so much so that I couldn't finish and was stoked to have leftovers. My friend got the carnitas plate and it was a HUGE portion of meat that was tender and carefully prepared. The staff were great and made sure we had everything we needed, they were present and available, but not overbearing. We got there for a very early dinner, around 4 and there were only a clfew other people inside. We walked down the block afterwards to help digest this amazing meal and when we came back around 530, we saw that it had filled up, which is great to see - I love when good businesses are doing well! read more
Business owner information
Lizzette A.
We really appreciate you taking the time to leave us a 5-star review.…
6 months ago
7 months ago
The service here is always amazing! But the food is even better!! I've had fajitas at a few other restaurants near by but these are the most flavorful by far! read more
6 months ago
Made an OpenTable reservation for 6 on a Saturday evening, they had our table ready and had comfortable seating. We ordered the guac to start and drinks, after that the server took a very long time ti come back and take our order. But once the order was taken the service was better, my whole family enjoyed their meal which came out in a timely fashion. The food was so good none of us really had leftovers! We had a Concha French toast that's on their breakfast menu for our dessert. Unfortunately I forgot to take more pictures, but next time I will. read more
7 months ago
Business owner information
Lizzette A.
Hi there, thank you for letting us know…
We sat outside because I brought my dog, that's why it's a little dark. But the place is super cute and family friendly. The customer service is pretty friendly. The food is amazing!!! The salsa is pretty good and a little spicy. The enchilada is soooo good!! Perfect amount of meat and cheese! It's so delicious!! I ordered horchata also, and it tastes so fresh with the perfectly sweeten. My daughter got the hot chocolate, and she says it's the best hot chocolate. She ordered the enchiladas plate and loves it!! For dessert, we got the tres leches cake, and that's the best tres leches cake!! It's so fresh and delicious!! We will definitely be back to try more because it's so good!! #supportsmallbusiness read more
Business owner information
Lizzette A.
Thanks for the support!
1 year ago
That was a two napkin taco! Freshly made, abundant ingredients, and huge chunks of avocado in the guacamole. The enchilada sauce is delicious and the beans clearly a family recipe. Patio ambiance, colorful dining rooms, a very satisfying experience. (If you don't know, look up their story. He used to be the busboy, now he owns the restaurant!) read more
Love this place. If you want to eat healthy, low fat Mexican food, Mario's makes it easy! I always order the single shredded chicken taco on lettuce instead of a tortilla, no sour cream, and avocado instead of guacamole. Then I add a side of their amazing pico de gallo- best anywhere! Juan the owner who often takes care of us is so sweet and never bats an eye at my crazy annoying order! They have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating so we can bring our corgi with us! read more
Business owner information
Lizzette A.
Thank you for your feedback and support!…
4 months ago
3 years ago
Large portions, delicious Mexican food and friendly and fun service! We came to Mario's for a work event and got to enjoy the entire outside patio area. I'm not sure why I don't come to La Mesa more often. They've got a surprising number of great spots. While this one fairs more casual, the food doesn't disappoint. I enjoyed the salad which was on a crispy fried tortilla and loaded with pollo asado. I also got a side of a mole enchilada. The mole was delicious! Everything tasted home cooked and comforting! Top it off with a beer on a sunny day and you're golden. Can't speak highly enough about the friendly service. Our waiter was a hoot and so nice! read more
Business owner information
Lizzette A.
We’re so happy to hear you had a great experience at Mario’s . Your…
9 months ago
Food very delicious and satisfying .. really good customer service, very sanitized and clean place to come and eat with your family . read more
When I'm in the mood for cheesy, good Mexican food, Mario's is where I go. Love this spot. It's super cute inside and they offer patio seating. The service is always friendly and you can tell they take pride in their work. Their portions are pretty big. They start off with chips and salsa, which is always fresh. Their menu is expansive and has all the favorites. They serve breakfast, have a wide variety of soups, and desserts. I really enjoy the chile relleno. It's a good size, never any seeds, and the sauce is good. You really can't go wrong with anything you order. Parking is ok. They have a small lot behind the restaurant and few street spots. It's just at the end of the village, so it's a little bit easier to find a spot. Try them out! read more
Business owner information
Lizzette A.
We’re so happy to hear you had a great experience at Mario’s . Your…
6 months ago
6 months ago
6 months ago
1 year ago
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More info about Mario's De La Mesa Restaurant
8425 La Mesa Blvd
La Mesa, CA 91942
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(619) 461-9390
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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.
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