I had bookmarked this place since they first opened, and finally made it out for a Friday night dinner with my girlfriend. We frequent go to valle often, and this spot caught our eye with its modern take on Mexican cuisine -- and it did not disappoint. Parking Heads up: parking in Hillcrest near University Ave is no joke. Definitely plan ahead and give yourself some extra time to find a spot. Ambiance The vibe here is modern minimalist meets chic -- open, spacious, and airy. We were seated right away at a communal table, which worked fine, but next time I might request a quieter corner (more on that below). The menu is divided into two sections -- land and sea -- which I loved. We shared a few dishes: * Croquetas de Jaiba y Poblano (blue crab croquettes): Generously stuffed with crab (no skimping here!) and served with a fresh green salad. One of my favorites of the night. * Quesadillitas de Short Rib con Mole: Tender, melt-in-your-mouth short ribs with a rich, layered mole sauce. Flavorful and comforting. * Ensalada de Palmitos: Super fresh, with a great amount of hearts of palm, beets, and a light, zesty dressing. * Fideo Seco con Camarones y Chorizo: This dish was hearty, savory, but the flavor didn't wow us. We were full by the end and probably could have skipped one dish -- but no regrets! Service Our server was friendly and attentive. Food did take a bit to come out, but the place was buzzing, and we didn't mind soaking in the atmosphere. The One Downside It was loud. Not from music -- just the acoustics. The sound carries in a way that makes it tough to hold a conversation. Next time I'll ask to sit closer to the edge or near the outdoor area. Fresh ingredients, thoughtful flavors, and a beautiful space. It's a solid spot for a casual-yet-special night out. We'll definitely be back read more

Origen - Heart of palms and beet salad - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

The best coastal Mexican food in SD! food is incredible and service is amazing. Must try

Excellent food and even better service! It was our first time here and there was nothing I wouldn't recommend.

Incredible food, amazing service, great atmosphere. So happy to have them in the neighborhood! Can't recommend enough

Beautiful Minimalist Vibes & Flavorful Eats at Origen Finally got to check out Origen in Hillcrest and it did not disappoint! The first thing you notice is how stunning the interior is--minimalist desert vibes done so right. Think warm tones, natural textures, hanging plants, and soft lighting that makes the space feel chic yet relaxed. We sat inside, but they also have a cute patio that looked like a great spot for weekend brunch or sunset dinner. The whole vibe was fun, inviting, and definitely Instagram-worthy. The food was bursting with flavor--each dish felt fresh, vibrant, and well-balanced. You can tell they really focus on quality ingredients and thoughtful combinations. There's something for everyone, and everything we tried hit the mark. Seriously flavorful, not just trendy. Service was friendly and helpful, though a bit on the slower side--nothing major, but just enough to notice. It didn't take away from the experience, but worth keeping in mind if you're in a rush. Parking was a bit tricky (Hillcrest life!), but we got lucky and found street metered parking a couple blocks away. Give yourself a few extra minutes to circle the area if you're coming during peak hours. All in all, Origen is a beautiful space with flavorful food, good vibes, and a menu that makes you want to come back to try more. Great for date night, girls' night, or just treating yourself to something delicious in a gorgeous setting. read more

Origen - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

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The food, the drinks, the team and the ambience is amazing. We always love to come here! Today we celebrated a life event and there is no better place to be. read more

Everything we tried was delicious. The tiradito de res is to die for. The service is amazing. The paloma is delicious. A must try for anyone in San Diego read more

Definitely a 5 star. This place is a future Michelin Star restaurant, come and try the food now before they get the star and the price of the food bumps up! The interior is excellent and fits the theme. The service was one of the best. Aside from all the good food, they without a doubt have the best mole and cevice you will ever have, and we've had it at other Michelin star restaurants. Bravo Origen, keep it up! read more

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I live right by Origen so I knew I had to check it out, and WOW, it was delicious! It was truly a five star experience, from the bites to the service. First, our server Edgar, was fantastic! He was so kind and helped us curate the best experience for our meal with the best recommendations. The space of Origen is gorgeous too. The vibes here are immaculate, feels very desert chic themed. Ok, now the food - I would 10/10 recommend the pulpo dish, that was INCREDIBLE. Flavor and spice just right, I also love octopus hella so it was amazing, and with the lil pita we got too WHEW CHILE. It was bomb. We also got the quesadilitas con mole, another 10/10, i've back twice now just for these my gosh. mole is one of my favorite mexican dishes ever and i love their spin on it being an app. the blue crab croquetas - i will be ordering each time. they're perfectly crisp outside and tender inside, stuffed beautifully and with the avocado cream sauce on it? girl. fire. i've had both the salmon ceviche and the agua chile now, and i prefer the latter as it just tastes soooooo fresh and the spice in it is prime. i love salmon so much but it being in ceviche wasn't MY favorite thing (but it was still good to be clear). The Tuna Tar Tar, also good, basic in someways but one could also just say simple and simply delicious. Origen will definitely be a place I come to often with friends. It's so good and I hope they thrive here because they are incredible. read more

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This place is not shy about bold flavors. The dishes we had showcased the ingredients and creativity. The drinks were phenomenal. The waiters were knowledgeable and provided great service. It's not easy to find spots like this these days, authentic with a modern twist. Very solid dining experience! Highly recommend. read more

Origen - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've only been there twice, and both times I sat at the bar. But this gem of a restaurant is indubitably here to stay. Let's start with the design, shall we? The north wall of the restaurant is a work of art; asymmetrical carves outs in the wall are punctuated by various vases highlighted by a light source that runs the perimeter of the back wall of each carve out. It truly is a site to behold. The restaurant itself, I'm honestly guessing here, is informed by marble and wood and reminds me of many of the restaurants I've dined at in Mexico City. I met the two Chilangos who started Origen, Franco and Sebastian, and they are both really nice, very down to earth. There was none of that false modesty I find about as appealing as nails on chalk. Franco told me that he hoped to wait on me one day. Franco, if you're reading this: Voy a hacer que cumplas tu palabra, jaja. Cesar, the bartender, is the shitz. The first time I went he had back up so he had time to show me some of the more interesting mezcals they had; Elote-washed mezcal, anyone? He made me the closest cocktail to a Paloma, I've yet to find in this city and it was divine (though I may start bringing my own grapefruit soda). More than that, he is very charismatic and entertaining and is almost as much fun to watch as the entire dining experience was superb. The second visit, though? Not so much. For reasons unknown, he was the only bartender that night and for a Sunday night, the place was packed. And you cannot have just one person running a bar, a service bar, restocking, washing glasses, etc. by oneself. Still, he managed to pull it off for the time I was there with his usual aplomb. On a side note: The plateware, designed by Sinoloa earthenware, is simple stunning while the silverware by Eustis matched the interior design's goals of ordered asymmetry. Though I haven't tried much, what I have tried - Ensalada de Palmitos, Tartar de atún, and the Fresas con Crema - does indeed elevate your typical Mexican fare. The hearts of palm were bathed in this refreshing yogurt-dill concoction and brought new life to the salad. The tuna was rhapsodic. And in a world filled with generic Ahi tuna towers with avocado and mango - Yawn - this Mexican delicacy was enhanced by chipotle jelly, and house made jocoque (think tangy sour cream or yogurt). The cream served with the strawberries had this lemony essence of sorts and I gobbled it down like it was the last meal of my life. I will certainly come back to this bustling newcomer on Park Boulevard to try many of the other dishes. And my guess is that by the time I make it back, hundreds of others will have already discovered the well-earned charm of Origen. read more

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Awesome, local fav. The flautas are my fav! The service is delightful! xoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxo

The vibe is so perfect for a girls or date night. The drinks, food, and ambiance are unmatched. It's tapas style which is the best way to try multiple dishes on the menu. Definitely recommend coming here and will always be back! read more

I enjoyed this restaurant. The food was sublime. The ambience was fun. The staff was knowledgeable.

vibes were immaculate. our server, franco, was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu & his recommendations were top tier. i'd highly recommend the quesadillitas; the mole was incredible. will be back for the food & vibes. read more

Our party of 4 enjoyed this new Mexican restaurant in Hillcrest! Making a reservation online was a bit confusing as it gave you about 4-5 different options. I ended up booking a regular table for our party. Just a heads up that the "communal table" is a booth that can fit a larger party (around 6-8 maybe?) Environment/Service: -Loved the aesthetic and decor inside! Apart from the communal table, there were many 2-4 person tables inside, a few 4 person tables on the "patio" (which is still technically inside by just by the open window. -Service by Edgar was great and our food and drinks came out fairly quickly. Food: Their menu is meant to be shared family style and is separated by seafood and meat dishes. We ordered mostly seafood items but I wish we ordered more meat dishes. QUESADILLITAS DE SHORT RIB ($18/2 pieces): my favorite dish of the night. The short rib with the mole on top of the little quesadilla tasted great together. AGUACHILE VERDE ($27): served with tostadas; I enjoyed the spiciness and the overall flavor of the dish but that shrimp was just too raw for me and I unfortunately couldn't get past it. CEVICHE DE SALMON CON LECHE ($24): served with tostadas; this one I enjoyed and would get again. PULPA A LA SALSA MACHA ($38): octopus; again, this one was a texture thing for me. My husband who regularly enjoys octopus said that he enjoyed this dish. PLATANO FLAMEADO: served for the birthdays in our party. 2 pieces of plantain in caramel sauce with nuts. So good! Overall: I enjoyed the ambiance and the concept of this new restaurant. I'd love to come back next time and try more of their meat dishes. read more

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From the jump the restaurant atmosphere is welcoming and very cozy with a modern coastal touch. This is a family run business that is reaching its 1 year anniversary in March and you can just tell how passionate these individuals are about their craft. My party was immediately welcomed with warmth by the owners brother where he sat us quick and was on top of tending to our table. He gave us a run down of how the restaurant started and the best approach to ordering off the menu. Later on the owner himself came over and told us a bit more about how the restaurant came to be and all of the fun events they host from time to time! Now into the food and drinks.... The margarita my table ordered was probably one of the best margaritas I have had in a long time. While we opted out of the mezcal, but you could genuinely taste the quality of ingredients and craftsmanship that was put into the cocktail. So good! I'll be thinking about it regularly! For food my table decided to order a few plates and share it. The Guacamole y ceviche de mango was the perfect starter. The coconut leche they add into the Mix was impeccable, I have never tasted a ceviche with so many mix of flavors that blend and pair together so beautifully! Now while the rest of the plates we ordered did have smaller servings, it worked well for our party of 3 and everything was evidently fresh and high quality. At the end of our meal they brought us over these complimentary espresso cocktail shots I can't quite remember the name of, but they were SO YUMMY! Overall, the passion and kindness of the two brothers alone is making me want to come back just to learn more about what's to come as they approach their 1 year restaurant anniversary along with, of course, their delicious handcrafted food and drinks too! (That Margarita omg)!! read more

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Best aquachile of my life 1000/10. Great service and the restaurant is beautiful. Highly recommend read more

Origen - Aquachile verde - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

This place may have just opened two months ago under new ownership, but Franco and Sebastian are already making waves -- and let me tell you, it's not just hype. These two are some of the kindest, most humble owners I've ever had the pleasure to meet, and their warmth radiates throughout the entire restaurant. You can feel the passion in every corner -- from the evolving menu to the way their team takes care of guests. We came in as a party of six and were lucky enough to be served by *Cesar a.k.a. El Papi* -- yes, that's what he goes by, and trust me, he lives up to the name. The man's vibe? Impeccable. He made our first visit feel like a celebration, not just a dinner. Attentive, charismatic, and with the kind of work ethic that makes you want to come back just to be attended by him again. Interior: Minimalist, clean, and effortlessly aesthetic. Green aprons on the servers, sharp blue dress shirts on the bussers -- it's a simple but elegant vibe. The bussers didn't miss a beat: as soon as a drink or plate was done, it was out of the way like magic. Honestly, service across the board? 11/10. Now the food... buckle up peeps Flautas de atun ahomadas: If I could give these their own separate 5-star review, I would. We ordered one plate thinking it'd be a quick app, but after one bite, we ordered *two more orders*. Golden, crispy, savory, and absolutely addictive. (We were tempted to lick the plate). Aguachile Verde - Not as spicy as you'd expect (unless you confuse jalapeño with cucumber like I did hahaha), but the flavor is THERE. Perfectly marinated shrimp with a refreshing jicama crunch. Chef's kiss. Carnitas- Tender, flavorful, and comforting. Solid dish all around. Quesadillas de mole with short rib? YES, you read that right. Mole-covered quesadillas. Table favorite. Don't think, just order. Croquetas de Jaiba + Poblano: Think crab cakes, but elevated. Light, crispy, flavorful -- gone in two bites! The bartenders *do not play around*. You'll taste the liquor, but everything is perfectly balanced. My pick? The Carajillo-- like an espresso martini, but better. Smooth, bold, and dangerously easy to love. Street parking, so plan accordingly -- but trust me, it's worth circling the block a few times. Final verdict... dun dun dun.. This isn't just a restaurant. It's a whole *experience*. From Franco and Sebastian's hospitality to Cesar's unforgettable service and a menu that's clearly crafted with love -- it's clear this spot is going places. Already dreaming about my next visit (and yes, flautas will be on repeat). read more

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This spot was Baja inspired with a modern twist. Great drinks, clean plates, vibey space. Loved it. Food and service was quality. read more

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Such a cute spot! Came here with a few of my girlfriends for dinner. We were seated immediately upon arrival. The place was buzzing with people. The decor is super cute and aesthetically pleasing. Our server(I can't remember his name) was super cool. He gave us recommendations and we were not disappointed. One of my favorite dishes we all tried was the smoked tuna flauta with a shot of mezcal. It was excellent and I'm still drooling as I think about it. The octopus was also really good. Oh and we also ordered a salad that was really good and I can't remember which one it was. The drinks were also really tasty if you're a tequila or mezcal lover. I'll definitely return to order the flautas again as well as try other dishes. read more

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Admittedly, our group of 4 was late to our 5pm reservation by 11 minutes and only half of our party was there but they sat the two of us who were there immediately. Though, it appeared they were having a team meeting for the night as we were the first to arrive for the night and felt like we interrupted. Another couple came in shortly afterwards and it was mildly empty for a Tuesday night until we left around 7:15pm and it was packed. The drink recommended as the most popular order was the mezcalina and it was delicious. I was nervous it would be too sweet but it was nice and unique. The two of us who came early started with the crab tostada and that was my favorite bite of the night. Next time, I will order one of those for myself and not share. Once our full party came and the menu was explained, we ordered the tuna flautas and short rib quesadillas to start while we browsed the menu further. The flautas and short rib came out rather quickly - a pleasant surprise. But the unpleasant part was that they had brought a $40 short rib and mashed potato dish instead of the $18 short rib quesadillas in mole we had actually wanted to try. Then it was an awkward back and forth of should they take it back to the kitchen. Eventually, our group told them to leave it because HOW AWKWARD that they wouldn't just take it back when they realized that isn't what we wanted. The short rib and mash was the most bland dish we (didn't) order. The whole situation left me feeling a certain way for the rest of the meal. The smoked tuna flautas had great flavor and were delicious. We also ended up ordering the fish of the day (sea bass) with cebollitas (an herbaceous onion topping) which was also a table favorite. The octopus we ordered was my 2nd favorite dish of the night - only disappointment was the pita (2 half slices for 4 people with a good sized plate of octopus with delicious butter/oil) wasn't the best vessel to soak the deliciousness. I feel like a sourdough or any other regular bread would have been a better pairing. Probably because I was already mildly annoyed, but they often tried to take plates that we weren't quite finished with, but took forever to take my actually empty drink glass. Had we not ordered the $40 short rib, I think we all would have had more belly space to order and try more mains. But ce la vie, we ordered both desserts and the plates were almost licked. Overall, I'd go back if someone else chose to but not of my own volition after my experience. So many other spots with stunning food and great service to go to a place where service is subpar. read more

Many thanks to my Yelp Elite friends for this amazing find! Scrolling through my Yelp activity feed, I noticed a few Yelp Elites frequenting this restaurant. Love the desert vibe! Shout out to Alexis who was our attentive and informative waiter. What I had- Agua Santa - Refreshing drink with tomatillo. No it doesn't taste like tomato lol. Croquettes de jaiba y poblano- The blue crab was plentiful and fresh! Highly recommend! Flautitas de Atun Ahumado - I love smoked tuna and this was great in this rolled taco which def has a kick! Ceviche de Salmon - The hibiscus and raspberry sauce that they pour over the dish was absolutely delicious! Tartare de Atun - This tuna dish was fresh and loved topping it on my tostada. Camarones al ajillo - This warm dish had a savory garlic sauce which I recommend is delicious to dip some bread in. Quesadillatas de Short Rib - Tender short rib on fluffy tortilla Tortilla Clam Chowder - I loved this take on clam chowder with tortilla chips! Pulpo a la salsa mancha - This was soooo good. Highly recommend dipping bread into the sauce of this one! Platano Flameado - Loved the grilled bananas with the dulce de leche sauce! Fresas con Crema - Fresh strawberries with crème is a nice light dessert to finish off a great meal! Come early when it opens to get a better choice of seating and parking availability. Highly recommend reservations. read more

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I celebrated my birthday here yesterday and i absolutely loved it! The server was amazing I believe her name starts with a T but I forgot by now. A beauty as well! The food was delicious, more on the spicy side but we all enjoyed the different meals. The drinks were our favorite part! Delicious wines and cocktails Thank you for the experience and good vibes, perfect for pictures and a good time read more

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Service was good. Food was decent but a bit pricey for the portions. Was more of tapas than meals. But the drinks were good and the ambience was great. Weird that the other photos I posted didn't show up. Good date spot for light appetizers but if you're hungry I'd go somewhere else. But Definetly a nice spot for drinks read more

Origen - Pesca del dis cebollitas - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

Hands down one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. From the food, to the service, and even just the dining room. There wasn't a lot of room inside to wait after you check in, especially if the weather isn't the best outside ,so get ready to wait outside if you get there a bit early. Service was on top of it, from the front staff to the servers, waiters, and bartenders. Everyone was very attentive and you can tell they're really invested in the restaurant. All the dishes were prepared so well and had lots of flavors I've never really had before, but am so happy I got to try. Lots of good cocktail options as well so get ready to try a few with dinner! Love the ambiance of the place, it definitely goes with the vibes of the restaurant and the story behind the restaurant. This is easily one of the restaurants I recommend to people when they come visit San Diego. I definitely will come back myself too! read more

Origen is a very beautifully-designed bew restaurant in the eastern section of Hillcrest in San Diego. Parking can be somewhat problematic, since the restaurant is located on a busy stretch of Park Boulevard directly at the intersection with University Avenue. Once inside the restaurant, I love the lighted niches holding pottery on the north side wall. There is a long row of tables along a banquette that divides the main dining room from the bar, where you first enter when you come through the front door. The actual menu is physically small in size--like a little brochure--but each dish is well thought out. There are two fish dishes offered, both of which are recommended. The staff at Origen Restaurant is unifomally pleasant. Special mention goes out to Cesar and to Manuel. read more

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Excellent service from everyone but a big shout to Edgar, Juan Pablo & Enzo!!!! One of the best services i ever had, totally recommend coming. Good drinks and environment, 2nd time here and it keeps getting better read more

Origen - Cochinita pibil tacos Drink: mescalita - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

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A m a z i n g This place is a gem... in Hillcrest The food was delicious from our apps to our dessert so so good We ordered the avocado civiche, short rib empanada mole, carnitas de cerdo and for our dessert forgot the name but it's their key lime pie version Service was very friendly shout out to our server, Edgar he was very nice attentive and friendly and he introduce to one of the owner Franco he's so nice and friendly Ambiance is a total vibe love love love the decor the lighting so cool and all the cactus and the bar cool design Def we are coming back again. read more

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We come down from Los Angeles to visit our daughter in San Diego, and ORIGEN is always a must. The food is out of this world -- modernist yet deeply rooted in traditional Mexican flavors. Every dish feels elevated but still soulful and comforting. The service is just fantastic. Everyone is unbelievably kind and genuine. We especially love Cesar behind the bar -- an incredible bartender and a joy to talk to -- and Franco and Pollo are wonderful as well. The whole team makes you feel like family. Every visit is an experience. Beautiful food, great energy, and truly heartfelt hospitality. Can't recommend this place highly enough. We'll be back every time we're in town! read more

Origen - Bar/Dining - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

This is our second time visiting! Food is great. Tartar de atún is our favorite. We also tried the tacos de cochinita and flautitas de atún. Both were really good. Simple but lots of flavor. read more

A modern Mexican restaurant has arrived in the Hillcrest neighborhood where two iterations of a breakfast and champagne concept failed over the past couple of years. The space has been renovated with more neutral tones compared to the gaudy pink theme of its predecessor. Reservations can be made on Tock which are highly recommended as the initial interest has led to full capacity seating of about 90 customers on most evenings. I was fortunate to score an empty spot at the bar as a walk-in during the middle of the week on a rainy night. The menu will rotate frequently with my version having flautas and the "land" choices on the left and the "sea" choices on the right. Several sides and three desserts rounded out the offerings. One of my friends really enjoyed the tuna tartare. I stayed with the seafood theme and chose the Croquetas de Jaiba y Poblano to start my meal. Five croquettes contained soft shell crab with poblano bits and cilantro aioli. A small amount of mixed greens was added on top. The fritters were crispy with a creamy filling in which you could taste the crab meat. The greens appeared to be an add-on that didn't enhance the dish. For an entree, I selected the Pesca del Dia con Vinagreta de Cebollitas y Tallos de Cilantro. The fresh daily catch was striped sea bass. Two fillets were marinated with citrus-cilantro vinaigrette and served with a side of potato puree. Perhaps a stalk vegetable to fill up the plate would have been justified as this dish felt a bit lacking for the $42 price tag. The vinaigrette did provide a tart contrast to the mild flavored sea bass. I had no issues with the service from the bartender and other staff that assisted. It helped that my visit occurred on one of their slower days. My Origen dining experience was at a four star level. read more

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Visited this restaurant a while back. The food and service was decent. All of their food I ate seemed to utilize acidity. It was a bring too strong for my taste (drowned the flavor a bit), but overall tasted above average. However, it was extremely loud. They have a lot of tables within a small area, so it was pretty difficult to hear anything. read more

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Should have been five-star. Was five-star until literally the last minute. We had to wait for our reservation for about six minutes and that was okay. Our server was great. She knew the menu and we wound up ordering about 80% of it. The four of us shared all the plates. It was amazing. Then the unthinkable happened. We had part of a desert left and two of us still had cocktails that were not done. We had just paid about $400 for the meal and were finishing the drinks as well as waiting for one of our guests the return to the table. The waitress, very embarrassed, told us that we needed to leave as we were only waiting for our friend and they needed the table. What in the actual "F" happened? We spend $400 and we are kicked out when we would have left in a . Few minutes anyway? We didn't get to finish our drinks or our dessert but out we went. They do not care about you. They only care about your money and just barely at that. They took a wonderful night and made all of us feel "less than " and not wanted. Hard to imagine them lasting if they dispise their guests so much that they ask them to leave. Unconscionable. Great food. Great attention from our server. Abysmal caring from the management. read more

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We wanted a cute slightly more upscale date night spot and we came across origen! I love the decor and styling of the restaurant. We started with the agua chile and it reminded me so much of Mexico! It had the nice tang but it wasn't overly sour which I enjoy. I wish I could bottle up the sauce itself. We also got the pork dish and that was my partners favorite. It came with fresh, warm tortillas. And I got the beef dish, we loved the beef dish as well. It was full of flavor, we just wished that the beef slices were slightly bigger. But overall it was amazing! Drinks were yummy as well! Our waiter was so helpful with informing us on the menu and checked in on us multiple times. We will definitely come back since their menu does rotate! read more

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We tried this new restaurant called ORIGEN that just opened 3 days ago. When we arrived there , it was kinda hard to find parking, there's a lot of apartments/condos around, we almost left but we got lucky a parking spot was available. My wife ordered right away, she ordered her drink the CARAJILLO, more of Espresso Martini taste but stronger, she said it was good. I got PULPO ZARANDEADO, its adobado-style grilled octopus, it's a must-try, it's a very good one. My Wife ordered her TARTAR DE ATUN, it's a Sushi grade tuna with a delicious sauce and a side of Camote chips, my wife likes this a lot. My Son had the BRAISED SHORT RIBS, very tender and tasty. Great service from our server Alexis. The food was all tasty, just the Parking is hard to find. read more

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Originally saw this spot pop up on IG, and those can always be hit or miss. Thankfully, Origen lived up to the hype and we had a great experience. Though we had a reservation, it wasn't too busy on a Sunday evening at 6pm. We were seated right away and greeted by our waiter. I didn't catch his name, but he was a joy throughout. He had such a big personality and a great sense of humor. The food was not only beautiful, but also delicious. We ordered the short rib mole quesadillita, the tuna tartare and the pulpo. All were outstanding, although the standout to me was the pulpo. It was texturally perfect and tender, and the salsa macha made me weep tears of joy. The space itself is gorgeous with simple natural yet elegant finishes. Parking can be tough in the area but we got lucky with nearby street parking. read more

Origen - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place opened a month or so ago and the social media on IG did a great job of bringing this place to my attention. It looked great but so many places do on socials. I made a reservation through their website. Originally I tried yelp and open table but no luck. I went to their website and saw they use a different system which you put a $25 dollar hold for the reservation. I got the time I wanted and made the reservation a day or 2 out for 6:45. Origen is going to be real popular with the people who live in the area because they don't have to worry about parking. I bring that up but was able to park across the street after some circling. Checked in early and the hostess was able to accommodate us 15 minutes before our reservation. The restaurant was near full, with only 2 tables that I saw open. That was perfect because right before we were seated, someone came in with a reservation for 630. It's a busy, popular restaurant with that interesting style and ambiance. Most of the servers are in all white, so maybe don't wear white like I did. Someone did think I worked there because of my white bomber jacket for a second. We were seated inside, at the row of tables that share one long bench and then the outside side gets a chair. The waiter came over and explained about the menu and did mention the the portion sizes are meant to be shared. They refresh their menu every week. Their menu definitely is more geared towards seafood, but they have options for those who don't enjoy seafood. The waiter did highlight the catch of the day and seafood specials. Everyone I interacted with was very nice and I think the chefs are the guys in dark and they bring out food too. I ordered the elote old fashioned which was good. The food came out at a good speed and everything looked great. I made sure to snap some pics first because that sells me on food more then anything else. The quesadilitas with mole were very good. I would definitely like to try the mole on something with main entree energy. The smoked tuna flautas were delicious. The tradilitas is im guessing organ meat because of how thin it was and the seasonings. I eat that kinda stuff no problem and really liked it here. The beans were decent and the corn tortillas were fine. I definitely will come back. This is a really good date night spot if you like a little bit more lively restaurant. If you're starving and looking to crush food, this place might not be for you. I know often times people say they love Mexican food and then want to get fast and ready copious amounts. This isn't that place. I like to highlight that for correct expectation setting. I don't want people dinging this place when all they really wanted was a good taco shop. read more

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This is a perfect example of when you mix great food with excellent service, super cool vibe, young people taking care of business and beautiful people attending the place. Everything works. We were here for dinner on Saturday night. It was packed and still we had food in our table. Within 10 minutes. The drinks were awesome. I would say it was pretty inexpensive and we tried a little bit of everything but the best thing was the tuna flautas and the octopus Although I will come back to eat more of the blue crab to stop us. It's a must try read more

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Made a reservation for a Tuesday evening after seeing the great reviews. The ambience is very cool - very minimal. There is a nice long bar too. Our server was very knowledgeable regarding the menu and gave us some background on the chef and restaurant. The menu is meant to be shareable plates. I want to note that the portions are really nice. I will note everything we ate and let me tell you. We were full! We ordered a margarita and a Paloma. In the Paloma, I changed the mezcal to Fortaleza tequila. We both ordered the tequiflauta. What a fun little dish. Almost felt like a larger amuse-bouche (though not complimentary). A small shot of tequila, an orange slice with tajin and 2 amazing small flautas. Quesadillitas with short rib- it was good but I am not the biggest fan of mole. It was a heavier dish as well. The short rib was very tender. Shrimp and chorizo- oh goodness. This was so tasty. The shrimp were perfect and making our own little tacos was fun. Ceviche- this was so fresh and yummy. Richer than normal ceviche as they add the sauce. The apple slices were amazing in this dish! Croquetas- so moist and lots of crab. These were so good. Camarones Al ajilo- so fresh and light. Loved this one! So simple yet so good. Tiradito de res- this was not my favorite. The meat was a bit dry. Flavors were nice though. So we could have done with one less dish. Like I said, we were definitely full after dinner. You will be satisfied! read more

Origen - Croquetas - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Diego, California

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