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    Mustangs & Burros

    3.5 (235 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Mustangs & Burros Photos

    MUSTANGS & BURROS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Intimate
    Upscale
    Happy hour specials

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    Grilled Seasonal Vegetables and Calabasa en Nogada
    Christopher W.

    One of the many great restaurants in Estancia La Jolla. Their menu features Mexican sea bass, lomo soltado steak and fries, and the vegetarian Calabasa en nogada. Family friendly with kids menu and desserts. Service was friendly and options for indoor seating or outdoor by the fireplace.

    Ann V.

    Thank you Santa for showing up and putting a smile on my face after a disappointing experience at this place. It was my first time and last time for me. Because of Santa, I'm giving only 1 star. Rewind...We got seated and it went downhill from there. Three different staff came to us and we finally figured out who was our server. It wasn't that busy for the exception of a large party keeping the staff on their toes. I'm not sure why it took forever to get our cocktails. We wanted to order some food and had a few questions but the hostess/manager dropped the ball by going MIA. It was a wraaap!!

    $12 for chips and salsa!!!
    Abby W.

    While the food was decent and the ambiance spectacular, the prices were unexpected and the food was not worth the cost. My friend chose this spot for her birthday dinner and I was excited to try a new Mexican restaurant. We were greeted by our waiter and asked if we'd like chips and salsa to get started. Not only did we not realize that they charge for chips and salsa, but they charge for refills. As this typically comes complimentary at Mexican restaurants, being charged $12 for the initial basket plus an additional $6 for refills was over the top. $9 tacos are also a bit steep for basic tacos. There are just too many better Mexican spots in San Diego to come back to a spot that charges these ridiculous prices.

    Vina R.

    Was super excited for the Xmas bar (The Frosty Saddle) they set-up plus the Santa Suite experience. May have been a misinterpretation, but the santa suite experience was just a photo op outside of the restaurant. It was not inside the restaurant and will need to make a separate reservation for the Xmas bar/restaurant. From the start it was disorganized and slow. Once we told the host how many in our party we had to wait as another party was being helped (who got there after us). We were able to get a table (by the fire) and it took forever to get someone to come and take our order. We had different individuals approach us for different things, but it took time to get our menu questions answered. Asked the manager about dairy on some of the dishes and she never came back. Based on how long it took just to take our drink order we opted out on food. The drinks were delish! We ordered the California Christmas and Chocolate Manhattan highly recommended. Luckily for us Santa walked into the restaurant and we were able to take pictures with him. Please note Santa is there for photos on select Fridays. Unfortunately the service did not leave me wanting to come back. The resort is beautiful and love the Christmas bar idea, but some things still need to be worked out. FYI: they do parking validation for self parking make sure to ask the host for the validation sticker. Happy hour is from 4-6 pm.

    Tacos
    Amanda C.

    This is a quaint and cozy Mexican restaurant located on the Estancia hotel property. It has both a small indoor portion and an outside portion with colorful pillows and decor. It's super close to the beach and we enjoyed a sunset stroll that took about ten minutes after we ate. It also fun to walk around the property which is really quaint, has great places to sit, and has a very earthy California vibe. I was a little surprised to see such low ratings at this place after I enjoyed an absolutely delicious Mexican dinner. When I investigated a little further I heard they recently hired a new chef and I think that change must be doing a lot of good. The guacamole was divine. The pomegranates in it were such a nice pairing and everything tasted super fresh with it. It also came with so many chips! I had to take some home, but they were crisp and good. I loved both the fish and birria tacos and was happy that we got to enjoy them at happy hour price (it just came out as one taco for happy hour but the portions were bigger than I thought). The yucca fries were just okay to me, slightly bitter but I had never had them before so that may be just how they taste. Would definitely be back for more! Especially that guac again!!

    Cocktail menu
    Jenna D.

    Old fashioned was perfectly balanced. Wagu sliders were delicious. Service was friendly and unobtrusive. We came during the holidays and they decorate well. Give yourself time to sit in the hotel lobby and listen to live music. My only hang up: self serve parking is $18 for 0-2 hours!! That seems outrageous when you're coming for the restaurant. They should validate or something. Not sure I'd come again because of that.

    Karina D.

    I will start off by saying I didn't walk into Mustangs & Burros in La Jolla expecting much. The place looks sharp--upscale, dimly lit, with that polished wood-and-candle vibe that screams "you're paying for ambiance." I braced for overpriced mediocrity: a $50 steak that tastes like it came from a gas-station freezer. Boy, was I wrong. The food is stupid good. That tomahawk ribeye in the center of the table? Perfect crust, rosy medium-rare, juicy enough to make you forget your table manners. The sides--truffle fries, charred shishito peppers, whatever that mushroom-onion situation was--punched way above their weight class. Even the little ramekins of sauce (chimichurri, I think?) were bright and balanced, not just garnish. Drinks matched the food step for step. The cocktails were strong, creative, and didn't taste like they were hiding cheap liquor behind a $20 price tag. Our server--shoutout to the guy who knew the menu like he cooked it himself--steered us right without hovering. Attentive, not annoying. Rare. Yes, it's expensive. Like, "I'm eating this steak and silently calculating my rent" expensive. Thankfully, my brother had a discount voucher that softened the blow. Without it? I'd still go back, but maybe after selling a kidney.(jk) If you're in La Jolla and want a meal that actually justifies the hype (and the bill), hit Mustangs & Burros. Just bring a rich friend. Or a voucher.

    MaDonna W.

    We really enjoyed our stay at the hotel. This restaurant which is also connected to the hotel Offers some of the best level up Mexican food I enjoyed the salmon and we also had the chicken with Mole, so damn good... The chips and salsa fresh baked delicious. They've got a very impressive outdoor patio with a fireplace. We decided to eat inside as it was a little chilly very dog, friendly very kid friendly they've got a beautiful fireplace on the inside as well.

    Shareable: Chermoula Marinated Spanish Octopus** ($25)
    Hanna K.

    Summary: paid parking ($7/$10), dog friendly, food price ranging from $11-$130 (not including desserts), nice indoor and outdoor seating, good portions, good seasoning Parking: follow the self parking on your right and park in the hotel visitor parking. It will be $7 with restaurant validation. Get the sticker and scan the original ticket and then the sticker barcode to drop the fee. Valet parking is $10. Enter the lobby and go past another double door to the outdoor area where you will see the restaurant. They have plenty of tables and chairs to lounge if you have to wait or hang out. It was not busy on Monday at 6:30pm. The food portions were pretty good. Even the shareables were enough as a main for a regular portion eater. I had leftovers from the Taco. They were all pretty well seasoned; not too salty and enough sauce. The Mole was really good! Ask for some extra and they will gladly provide more. It has a great spicy kick with the cinnamon noticeably which reminded me of the Mexican hot chocolate. Sitting outside was really nice. The bench chairs were a bit dirty looking as they are outside furniture so wish they covered or washed it? Other than that, the regular wooden chairs were fine. Service was great by all the kind staff and the mood was nice to celebrate the birthday of our family member. Nice place to visit for a mixture of steak and seafood lovers. Not too upscale feeling but also not cheap.

    Tomahawk with chimichurri sauce.  Sides of cheese, corn relish and charro beans.  Delish!
    Liza H.

    We picked this place as it was across the street from school and we needed a place that was open late for dinner. I wasn't expecting much as I read some of the not so positive reviews, but we had to pick it based on the convenient location.. We were very pleasantly surprised. We ordered the ceviche which as really good and decided to try our luck with the Tomahawk which was served with chimichurri sauce and very delicious corn relish.. It was perfectly cooked and plenty for 3 to share and we paired it with yucca fries. Everything was unexpectedly fresh and good and exceeded or expectations. Service was good and the place virtually empty at 8:30pm and it has a very nice outdoor area, although we chose indoor because it was a chilly evening.

    Fireplace outside of the restaurant/hotel.
    Eric S.

    The restaurant location is great. The grounds of the hotel make you feel far removed from the bustle of the city. The food was good. The standout was the cauliflower frito starter. The queso fundido was pretty good, but I'm not sure I would get it again. It was served with pork rinds instead of chips. I had the birria tacos, which were pretty good, but still not better than the best I've had - at a food truck in Santa Cruz! And for the price I would like it to come very close to those! I'm sure some of the other tacos are probably quite tasty as well. This is definitely an "elevated" Mexican food place, which can be a nice change, but just know that you're getting the experience and not your neighborhood taqueria experience.

    Gin Cocktail with fresh juice
    Katie D.

    The indoor ambience is cozy and nice. The service was on the slower side, but I think it may be because the food comes from a different building and/or they were serving a large event outside. As for the food itself, it was pretty good. Nice homemade chips with the guacamole. The kids burger will definitely fill up your young one (and the parents too). Octopus flavor was good but a little bit tough. Overall a fine experience!

    Chicken Tinga Sopes
    Jennifer F.

    I stopped by this restaurant due to convenience since it was located inside the resort I was staying at. I sat down immediately as there wasn't that many people there and it was towards when they were going to close. Service was great but I think the food lacked flavor. I had an order of the sopes and an al pastor taco. The sopes were good but the taco had a weird seasoning that I just could not eat at all. I ended up leaving most of it because I didn't like the flavor at all.

    Steak!

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    2 months ago

    Delicious food. Sat on the darling patio with a beautiful mural. The owner waited on us and was very welcoming.

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    9 months ago

    I got food poisoning I think from the Caesar salad. And the food was not good to begin with.

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    1 year ago

    They charge an astounding fee for chips and salsa so BEWARE. This is as Gringo as it gets, but I enjoyed my shrimp salad. Yep. Gringo.

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    Mustangs & Burros Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Mustangs & Burros

    Is it dog- friendly?

    Yes it is very dog friendly, they even have a dog menu!

    View All 2 Questions

    Javier's La Jolla - La Jolla Location

    Javier's La Jolla

    3.6(1.7k reviews)
    2.0 miUniversity City
    $$$
    Fine dining
    Outdoor seating

    One of the most beautiful restaurants I've been to. *(…read moresee pics featured below) Food was elevated Mexican cuisine. Short rib with mole sauce ( si tender and flavorful) Seafood pasta ( scallop, shrimps and crab claws ) Cocktail drinks were perfectly made. Pineapple margarita ( hubby enjoyed his drink ) Pina colada ( the best one I've had ever! ) Mezcal margarita w/ 1/2 tajin/ salt rim Overall, wonderful dining experience. Would definitely dine here again!

    Made last minute reservations for a friend's birthday, Friday at 5…read more First the place is beautiful. Gorgeous ceilings. It's loud though. Especially once every table was filled. Our waitress was nice but could have checked in a bit more. We started with the complimentary salsa and chips. The salsa is spicy. Too spicy for us. But the chips were good. We ordered the guacamole to go with the chips. It was good, but definitely needed more salt and lime. May ask for salt on the table once we did that it was fine. She ordered the taco, enchilada, chili rellenos. The portion was large. It came with beans and rice. What I love is the taco comes on a separate plate so it doesn't get soggy from the enchilada sauce. She enjoyed everything, but was unable to finish the entire meal because it was so large. I ordered the fillet and shrimp. The fillet was the most tender cut of meat I've ever had in my life. I could cut it with a fork. They had a nice crust on the outside with good seasoning. The shrimp were a little undercooked, but the sauce was good. It comes with a side of plain rice, which I felt could've been seasoned a little better. Since it was her birthday, they brought a complementary scoop of ice cream, which I thought was very nice. For drinks, she had a beer and I had a virgin margarita which really just tasted like a limeade. With tipped the bill came over $200. Not something that I would do every weekend, but definitely felt festive.

    Photos
    Javier's La Jolla - La Jolla Location

    La Jolla Location

    Javier's La Jolla - La Jolla Location.

    La Jolla Location.

    Javier's La Jolla - Jalapeño Margarita

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    Jalapeño Margarita

    DRIFT eat + drink - Shrimp Tacos

    DRIFT eat + drink

    3.6(104 reviews)
    1.5 miUniversity City
    $$

    Review could have been a 3, but this placed saved us on a Friday night…read more We stayed at the hotel and we went out during rush hour and could not find parking or short wait list anywhere else. Ended up giving the hotel restaurant a chance despite the 3.5 rating. Was very pleased with our experience! Our food was pretty good Salmon was an amazing recommendation The braised short rib was a little disappointing. Flavor did not penetrate the meat so it felt bland. The wine sauce was very subtle. But the mash potatoes were good. The Ahi Tuna tostadas definitely had really good flavor! The cheesecake was good paired with a cup of Americano. The price did feel on the high side for the portion size and quality, but I think we're really just paying for the convenience. Wasn't very busy, service was attentive. We sat outdoor and the heat lamps were working effectively. Outdoor seating options are pretty casual and comfortable.

    Drift totally surprised me, in the best way. Came in not really knowing what to expect from the…read moremenu, but it turned out to be a genuinely great experience from start to finish. The staff was super friendly, welcoming and impressively quick. We ordered the Pretzel Sticks, Tuna Tostadas, and the Arepa, and every single dish delivered. I'm not exaggerating when I say the flavors were outstanding - everything tasted fresh, well-balanced, and really well curated for a hotel restaurant. This is the kind of place you don't expect to be good but it surprises you in the best way possible. Would come back here in a heartbeat.

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    DRIFT eat + drink
    DRIFT eat + drink - Chili-Chile-Lime Salmon

    Chili-Chile-Lime Salmon

    DRIFT eat + drink

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    The Amalfi Llama - Truffle & Mushrooms Pizza. The light truffle flavor combined with tender mushrooms & indulgently rich cheese exceeded expectations.

    The Amalfi Llama

    4.3(716 reviews)
    2.2 miUniversity City
    $$$

    Cesar was an amazing server! I would come back specifically because of him! The steak was good but…read morenot perfect, the menu had good options and I would give it another shot. The establishment is gorgeous and the playlist was great!

    Our family had an amazing first experience at Almafi Lamma Restaurant in the UTC Mall in La Jolla,…read moreand a huge part of that was because of Rodrigo. From the moment we sat down, he made us feel welcomed and taken care of like valued guests. Rodrigo took the time to explain the menu in detail and walked us through the different dishes, ingredients, and recommendations. Since it was our first time visiting, his guidance made a huge difference and helped us confidently choose some of the best items on the menu. Every recommendation he made was absolutely outstanding. What truly stood out was his professionalism, patience, and genuine passion for providing excellent service. He checked on us consistently, made sure everything was perfect, and created such a warm and enjoyable atmosphere for our family throughout the meal. The experience was so memorable that even my son wanted to leave Rodrigo a tip from his own piggy bank because he was so impressed with how kind and attentive he was. That alone says everything about the level of service Rodrigo provided. Thank you, Rodrigo, for making our first visit such a fantastic experience. We will absolutely be coming back, and we highly recommend Almafi Lamma Restaurant to anyone looking for incredible food and exceptional customer service.

    Photos
    The Amalfi Llama - View of the kitchen

    View of the kitchen

    The Amalfi Llama - Truffle & Mushroom Flatbread. Love the mushrooms and truffle flavor. Cheese is rich and obviously delicious.

    Truffle & Mushroom Flatbread. Love the mushrooms and truffle flavor. Cheese is rich and obviously delicious.

    The Amalfi Llama - Olive oil with herbs for dipping.

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    Olive oil with herbs for dipping.

    Mustangs & Burros - lounges - Updated May 2026

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