Pokez is a very special place to me. I always finish my plate even though I get so full, but I can't stop eating cause the food is so damn good. Get any of their burritos and ask for it with the sauce and cheese on top (no extra charge). And be sure to put their salsa on top of every bite. You're welcome. Pokez is far from any other Mexican restaurant, taco shop, or anything in-between. Their generational family recipes are unique yet authentic, and have remained perfectly consistent over the two decades I have eaten here. Another aspect of their uniqueness is their offerings of the best vegetarian and vegan food I have had anywhere. Their tofu is truly the best which is why I almost always order it. Don't let their inclusivity to vegans scare you away from tasting the best meat options you can get at any Mexican restaurant. If you eat meat, get the heart attack burrito. Trust me! And if you want a side of beans and rice, it's delicious. I'm tired of writing now but quickly need to mention my appreciation for the familiar faces who have worked hard over the years to keep my favorite place in business, as well as what Pokez brings to true San Diego culture that certain forces are trying to build over and erase. I love this place and hope whoever reads this will give it a chance and agree on the value it brings to SD. read more

Pokez is a mouth-watering, delectable eatery that's taken it's place as an institution among other San Diego culinary greats. Half sit-down, half taco shop, the restaurant features a fun and accessible menu of tasty standard, vegetarian, and vegan options. A few of my favorites include the tofu burrito, potato taco, chicken enchiladas, and machaca. They also serve beer, seltzer, and soda. One of my favorite parts of Pokez is that it looks almost like a music venue and had a down-to-earth DIY vibe. Enjoy the atmosphere and your yummy Mexican food! read more

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A little hole in the wall. The communication and customer service - top notch! The food - hit or miss. I would totally return! read more

I really wanted to like this spot, but it just didn't hit for me. The chips felt like they were straight out of a store-bought bag. Hot sauce way too spicy. Overpowering instead of adding flavor. I ordered a massive burrito (rice only since I don't do beans, but nothing else came on it... Just meat and rice... no sour cream, tomatoes, or lettuce. The size was impressive, but the flavor was so bland. My buddy got the breakfast burrito with scrambled eggs, cheese, and bacon pretty classic combo but even that felt basic and lacked any standout flavor. The cabbage side and paper plate gave it a cafeteria/lunch hall vibe, which wasn't really what I expected. In the end was hoping for a little more personality in the food. read more

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Last night we ordered Door Dash from this place because I no longer live next door to them. And I'm sorry to say one of my favorite places is no more. They screwed up the order to where our was not edible and instead of offering too remake the order the lady said in a snobbish tone that next time I order to do something which I did do the forest time and that was to write what we wanted but that was ignored and when I started there would would be no next time she started that's fine we don't need customers like you and hung up. Never thought they could be so rude but this was the first time we ordered it delivered. So if you want to waste your money on a that makes the order the way they want and ate rude and inconsiderate then this is the right place for you although in sad and disappointed but they have been there along time but I guess they are going downhill. read more

Pokez: 8/10 Honestly I'm surprised this had the ratings it did! This place was really good and probably one of the better vegan Mexican places. Service: 7/10 where ordering is a bit slower, the attentiveness at the table was great. Aesthetic & Ambiance: 5/10 a bit more of a hole in the wall, but still fits the idea. Ambiance was slow for a Thursday night, only being us and 1 other table. Carne Asada Quesadilla: 8/10 the steak was tender and flavorful, the cheese had a great pull, and it came with some fresh guac and pico on the side. read more

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My wife is a vegetarian and this place has a good selection of vegetarian options. I ordered a California burrito it came with guacamole, sour cream and cheese. My wife ordered some bean tostadas that came with beans, lettuces, salsa Fresca the original order comes with cheese. The cashier was very helpful with any questions we had. This is a casual spot to come eat at and enjoy some Mexican food. read more

Pokez - California Burrito before I cut it in half - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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We stopped in here for lunch. We heard things about the food here so we wanted to try it out. We ordered the burrito plate and enchilada suiza. The burrito came out on a paper plate with beans and rice. The enchilada suiza also came out with rice and beans too. The food menu is quite extensive. You have lots of food choices. Overall, the food is a good place to stop for a quick fix, but if you would like really good Mexican food, then I can tell you that we had better. Overall, the food was ok. read more

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HORRIBLE PLACE HUGE ROACHES JUST RUNNING ALL AROUND LIKE ITS THE NORM!! I cannot believe This place passes inspection! Just cause I have a restaurant in Downtown, does not mean it has to have roaches. I worked up the street @ Ciros Pizzeria & Beerhouse for over a year and when had the Orken man show up like every so often spray and kept our Kitchen & Dining Area Roach / Bug free! I uploaded a video of lunch hour @ Pokez. Frankly I'm disappointed, I really wanted to eat here because the food used to be bomb. But this roach straight killed our appetite! We gave our $20 Nachos to someone in need outside.God bless. POKEYZ SHAME SHAME WHAT HAPPENED?ROACHES , ROACHES read more

Pokez - Enter @ your own Risk. - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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We met Carlos the night before while out for my husband's birthday. We asked him what was one place we needed to try before heading back to the Bay Area and he told us his restaurant, Pokez. The next day before we left for our drive home we stopped by Pokez to get breakfast. We were greeted with open arms and smiles by Carlos and his wife April. We took our food to-go and let me tell you... that was one of the best meals I had. Everything tasted fresh, delicious, and gave that nostalgic eating a home cooked meal in Mexico feel. Pokez is definitely a must try/stop if you're visiting San Diego. I know we will be stopping by every time we come to visit! read more

Pokez - Chorizo con Huevos and Green Chilaquiles - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Best nachos in San Diego! Lots of guacamole, pico, beans and plant based meat & cheese aaaaaall over the crispy corn chips. If youre like me, I hate it when I order nachos and there isnt enough toppings so youre left with a bunch of naked chips. Pokez really adds a ton of yummy toppings that last to the very last chip! 5 stars for the nachos! I ordered the tofu rancheros and I personally did not love the sauce so I had to take away a star. Would have been better if the tofu itself was seasoned and baked til crispy rather than sautéed. Service was super nice. Very punk place for lunch and portion size big enough for dinner. read more

Pokez - Nachos! Plant based meat option - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

What a rad place!!! Love the punk rock and art feel. We came for lunch, it was empty when we arrived but within 10 minutes, tables were filled. We were acknowledged immediately when we walked in the door. I was mesmerized by the artwork. We ordered the tofu tostada and tofu/potato/mushroom burrito. Food was brought to our table with 10 minutes. Love the salad/pickles that accompanied my burrito. Salsa was very fresh tasting too. We gobbled up our lunch since we were hungry. Portion was perfect! Only thing I didn't like was the disposable plates and utensils. Other than detail I was happy with our meal. read more

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Huge vegan menu and everything was super delicious. Went to San Diego for a 3 day trip and legit went here every day because it was just so good we wanted to try everything. Also the next time we went down to SD we went again. Prices are super reasonable for the amount they give you and the staff is nice as well. read more

the carne asada nachos i had are absolutely 10/10 totally recommend. the service was a little slow but our server explained they were a little backed up in the kitchen which is understandable. the ambiance got a little chaotic since a lot of kids starting showing up and running around but hey it's xmas break ‍ read more

Pokez - cool art - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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This was just okay. The service was very kind and welcoming, and they have plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. You order at the counter and they bring the food to your table. I thought the nachos were just alright, but I have had much better nachos elsewhere. Everything is served with disposable materials, unfortunately. Prices were high, but portions were decently large. It would be nice to be able to get a half portion. It is very dark, but not too loud, and the location was convenient for me. read more

Good portions were HUGE. Lot of bang for your buck here. Ambience was laid back and very chill. Great spot for a quick lunch. Tacos were awesome. read more

Pokez - Mahi Mahi taco, Carne Asada Taco - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Only have had two bites of my Beef Machaca burrito and I'm already loving it Such a beautiful curated restaurant. Thank you for your hospitality and great service, Miguel! read more

Pokez - Beef Machaca Burrito Eggs, delicious beef and pickled vegetables on the side. Oh and can't forget the red and green salsa! - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

I haven't had pokies for several years, but it was my absolute go to, the music was always rad. The location was just sick, and the tofu chimichanga was one of the best things I've ever eaten. Viva la Pokez read more

I've been here before countless times and sent my little sister here with her boyfriend for a vegetarian menu. She said the waitress was rude (then described her and I knew exactly who she was talking about). My sister noticed the different tone the group was spoken to by the waitress immediately but chose not to speak up. After being served food and informing the waitress that the enchiladas were too hot (inedibly hot, which is weird because when I had enchiladas I deemed them SPICELESS AND BLAND but I guess if they don't like you they'll make them so spicy you struggle to eat it). My sister is from SD might I add with no issues with Spice tolerance... not once in her life has she asked for a dish to be taken back because it was too hot for her... This is where they suddenly had a "gratuity" charge because they ASSUMED the party wouldn't tip. Why else would you lie and say there is gratuity? My sister asked for them to comp the enchiladas she couldn't eat and they would gladly pay and tip for the rest but the waitress escalated into a loud fit and went to go get cooks from the kitchen to defend her... how professional. Luckily... the food here is never good and I've only found myself here on accident or while intoxicated. I made a mistake recommending this place and that was lazy of me to not search for better because you could find better almost anywhere. If you hate your job then quit. If you can't be of service don't serve. read more

Love the vegan options! The beyond fries were great, and I love their potato rolled tacos. read more

Pokez - Beyond Nachos or Fries - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Great service!!!! The asada meat was fresh and soooo good so was the chicken tostada salad I highly recommend this place they also serve vegetarian dishes as well read more

Pokez - Chicken tostadas salad And Carne Asada Chimichanga wet style - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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The #5 was delicious and the Chile relleno amd shrimp cocktail and chimichamga and Johnnys breakfast burritol. So delicious. I would definitely recommend! read more

The taco salad was awesome!! So huge, pictures don't do a justice for the size of this thing. I added mushrooms with carne asada. The tostada shell you can tell is made in-house and delicious. The poor shell was fighting for its' life to hold all the contents and naturally started to crack open as I ate it which made a unique experience. Filled me up for 3 meals. Very impressive that the shell stayed together during transport given it was for takeout. Tasted really fresh, will def order again when in the area. read more

Pokez - Taco Salad with carne asada added mushrooms - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

Amazing Mexican food times all the live long day til the point of day‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼ This place has made me happy for years and years! I lover that they have a plethora of vegetarian AND VEGAN options!!! read more

Always a great spot. This is the last place I know of that makes the California burrito correctly without charging and extra $6 for Guacamole and sour cream. Highly recommend. read more

Pokez is the OG vegetarian Mexican skate punk taco/burrito joint. We lived in SD back when it opened and passing through town wanted to rekindle the magic. So happy to find that Pokez is as good as ever, with huge portions of delicious food with lots of veggie options. Service was fast and courteous. The ambiance is as always - punk rock hardcore vibe. Thanks Pokez! read more

I'm not a vegetarian, but I went with some vegan friends and got the mushroom + tofu enchiladas for $9, it was really good! I really liked the pickled vegetables on the side to balance out the meal. It was a little too MSG-heavy for me, but it was well seasoned overall. Like other reviews mentioned it is in a bit of a run down area of downtown, but I don't think the restaurant itself was unclean. I really like the street corner vibes that the place gives off. The staff were all super friendly, and it seems like there were a few regulars who knew the staff really well. We visited on a Saturday lunch and there were a couple tables open. It was pretty busy but we got our food pretty quickly. read more

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Cool vibe of old San Diego and big burros for sure. Last I was there was a bit of a wait to get food due to some kitchen back up, and no shortage of homeless cruising around shaking folks down for cash, but can't be helped by Pokez,.. Good eats! read more

I really wanted to like this place. Unfortunately, it was one of the worst meals I have ever had. I got the veggie enchiladas and my husband got the chicken ranchero. My enchiladas were too spicy, to the point that I had to dispose my food. I usually have a high spice tolerance but this was pretty bad. I did request for a milder salsa and the waitress said that it was their mildest salsa. I was very disappointed. The quality of the veggies was bad and the tortilla was raw. My husband said his food was not flavorful and not fully cooked either. I would not recommend this place. The ingredients are not the best quality. There are much better Mexican restaurants out there! read more

Pokez - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

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First off, I'll say that I really like the vibe and decor of this place. It has a cool, arty, punk aesthetic. Unfortunately I found the food to be overpriced and subpar. Nothing was seasoned enough and very bland. I had the chicken and beef tacos and both lacked flavor. Even the Mexican rice was bland. For paying over $25.00 for rice and 3 tacos, I expect a lot more. Service was decent and the food came out quickly, which was nice, but overall this was a pretty lackluster experience in a city that is known for having great Mexican food. I maybe should have suspected something was amiss based on the fact that there was next to no one in the restaurant during prime dinner time on a weekend. I have a feeling this place may not be around a whole lot longer if this business as usual around here. My friend who grew up in the city told me that Pokez used to be his favorite place like 15 years ago because they served solid vegan Mexican food, but even he admitted the quality had gone down hill significantly. I really hope they can put some love back into the food and revitalize this place as it could be such a great spot if the food were just a bit better and provided more value for the money. read more

I have NO idea how this place has an overall 3.7 star rating. We went later on a Friday afternoon. Portions are big and the tacos are amazing. Really glad they have vegan and vegetarian options and the corn tortillas. Could've used some more salsa is the only complaint. Cute quirky inside read more

First of the service was incredible! Host was very friendly.. loved his energy and conversation. Best part of my trip here! The vibe of the restaurant had me excited but... The food however was not great may be because of what I ordered. I got a beyond California burrito and I started eating it on my walk I wish I could show you just what it looked like.. left a lot to be desired. Not the best flavor.. honestly tastes a little old like it had something in it had been sitting out. I'm a savage I finish everything I order, I hate wasting but I don't think I'll finish this and that's saying something. Definitely wouldn't go back to this one read more

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Me & my bf really enjoy the food here at Pokez. Tons of vegetarian options which makes it so hard to choose what to eat, but hey I'm not complaining hehe. In our most recent visit, I ordered the potato flautas and my bf ordered rolled tacos (potato and chicken). Love that their rice and beans are also fully vegan! Parking might be tough, but I think it's totally worth it read more

If you're looking for fast authentic Mexican in downtown- this is your spot! Downtown has a lot of fine dinning Mexican spots or the fast food is more Mexican-American/ Tex Mex. This is that amazing, hole in the wall, authentic Mexican food that's quick & hits the spot. I always get it to go and the food is usually really in about 10 minutes. Customer service has always been great too! I usually go for the burritos & they never disappoint. Also, ask for extra salsa- it's home made & DELICIOUS!! read more

This is still the place we make sure to go when we come to San Diego. The menu is fantastic, the vegan options are optimal, and the service is perfect. Do yourself a favor and come here, order an entree and a beer and enjoy San Diego. read more

Pokez - 2 Piece Potato Enchilada - Mexican Near Me - San Diego, California

The customer service was very polite and kind, making the whole experience welcoming. The food was also amazing, full of flavor and prepared perfectly, making it a spot worth visiting again. read more

Food was good for the price but due to ambience my experience was not great. There is continuous smell of cigar or idk what the vibe is very loud and western. I might order to go from this place but will not dine in again. read more

They're great..........first time trying it today and food was just my style. No complaints

good food , service was ok but would def go back . good vegan options which brought me here

I was thrilled to explore the world of vegan Mexican cuisine in sunny San Diego. Did it meet my expectations? Well, it certainly didn't blow me away, but it had its moments. Among the dishes I tried was the tofu taco, accompanied by a delightful medley of rice, beans, and salad. The standout salad was bursting with refreshing flavors. The rice and beans were satisfying, delivering good taste and texture. However, the true star of the meal was the colossal taco itself. Generously portioned and brimming with enticing flavors, it left a lasting impression. The service at the restaurant was friendly and attentive, providing a welcoming atmosphere. Unfortunately, the state of the restroom left much to be desired. The overall hygiene of the place seemed lacking. Given the abundance of vegan options available, I'd definitely consider revisiting this eatery if I were a local resident. The wide array of choices made it difficult to settle on just one dish, leaving me eager to explore their menu further. I wish you can give half stars because I would give Pokez a solid 3.5 stars. read more

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