We were so impressed with the foods here from our last time, we decided to repeat the experience... There are actually 3 or more locations (possibly bigger) throughout San Diego, but we went to the same one in La Jolla due to its proximity. Anyway, we started with their amazing Flautas just as last time. I got the same Short Rib Quesabirria, and I just can't remember what my husband ordered. I also added the Rice and Beans as sides, and we also got their Guacamole. For drinks, I think I got the Watermelon Margarita (but not sure?)...and my husband ordered some beer (??). Just as last time, we both were blown away by how good everything was. My husband is a HUGE fan of Mexican food, and I think this is still his favorite Mexican spot in San Diego...with good reason! Though nicely decorated (with new patio area as well!), I did find this place a bit too small and claustrophobic. But the foods made up for it and more. Maybe next time we'll check out its bigger sister location? read more

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Came here on a taco Tuesday and it was packed. We got a quiet table in the corner but could still see the baseball game. This was my first time sitting inside. It was noisy but not too bad. I liked it better than sitting outside in the street. We had the sweetest and nicest young male server that was so attentive and apologetic even though it was busy we were timely served and well taken care of. The food was yummy and fresh as always. I had the short rib, filet taco, and the mushroom. The mushroom is my favorite but the filet is delicious too. My kids enjoyed the chicken and filet. The kids meal comes with a generous serving of rice and beans. Pina Agua Fresca was refreshing and yummmy too! read more

Food was awful. Location was understaffed. Short rib enchilada. 1/5 Absolutely not using short ribs. Meat was stringy, dry, bland. Extremely basic. Also no cheese even tho it was listed? Filet mignon bowl 2/5 Dish came cold. Not a little, but sitting for 15min cold. Was barely touched. Private Batch Mezcal flight. 1/5 If you're going to advertise a private batch mezcal flight the least you could do is pick a few decent ones. Classic guac 4/5 Guac was pretty good. Small amount of chips. The server was too busy, and she was hustling. Wild to see a company stress employees so much to save some money. Puesto, do better. read more

It was 4pm on a Saturday. We went to another taco place and the line was too long. Was recommended by friends to come here instead. We had a big group and still got seated inside quickly. Parking around was not easy. We had people dropped off first. The AC was on the low side but was ok The server was nice. Didn't come by often but would happily give us what we asked. The chips that came first was really yummy. The black salsa it came with was a little bit spicy. We got a Taco each as this was an early dinner. The kids ordered kids meal and got a really good amount of food and they loved it. Each kind of taco tasted good. Feels like they used good ingredients and made it well. It is on the expensive side though. Great place to sit and chill read more

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Taco Tuesdays are the BEST here! Totally worth the wait. Service is great and the drinks are delish. I always bring friends visiting from out of town to this spot. PROS: - Great selection of tacos -Taco Tuesday specials are 5/5 -The staff really helped my out of town friends answer questions they had to decide what tacos to try -Fun atmosphere and close enough to walk around and check other places close by as well. KEEP IN MIND: -Parking in the area can be a hassle -Usually there's a wait during dinner hours, especially on Taco Tuesdays -Can get a little loud...but maybe that's just the crew I was with read more

The restaurant is nice and open, the decor is pretty and the bathroom was beautiful and smelled great! The first basket of chips was kind of broken but warm and delicious and the second basket was better with larger chips. The guacamole flight was pretty small, but the steak and chicharrón guacamole was really good! We also got the esquite which was delicious, best thing we ate! The filet mignon bowl was also really good! All of the servers were kind and fast, especially Piper she was incredible! Would definitely come again! read more

Everything was delightful and delicious. Starting with the Puesto Perfect Guacamole, it was tangy and creamy with chucks of Parmesan cheese. The chips were crisp and perfect. Our bowls were filling. I didn't end up finishing mine (I had the Al Pastor chicken bowl). The chicken was well marinated and very soft and juicy. My husband had the short rib bowl. We each had a drink, I had the fruit cart margarita and he had the passion fruit mule - both 10 out of 10. The place was busy. The decor was cute. The service was great and fast. We were able to get a same day reservation (highly encouraged that wait for a table was 30-45 min). It's located in a great location with the beach just a block away. read more

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My wife and I were in La Jolla to visit my aunt and I have had Puesto before and I saw they had a write-up as the best Mexican in San Diego, so I tried their La Jolla location. It is located by a bunch of other restaurants and we went during happy hour and got three $6 mini burritos, a couple of beers, a salad, some beans, a green salad, some guac and a filet mignon taco. Our service was excellent and the beer was a tasty homemade brew. The Michelada was spot on as well. Star of the show was the filet mignon taco, but we loved all three of the mini burritos as well! Lots of great guacamole and tons of chips to use for dipping. My wife's beans were outstanding as well. Loved the huge decor in the paradise that is La Jolla! I loved everything about this place, it can get a little spendy, (It is La Jolla) but pretty reasonable during happy hour.(Get those mini burritos!) Five star all the way! read more

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This was our first time at Puesto and it was FABULOUS!! I was the winner of an Instagram contest by San Diego magazine and we were invited to enjoy a variety of salsas and burritos. The location is on Wall Street in the busy downtown area. Parking is challenging and I didn't want my 82 year old grandma walking too far. The restaurant is colorful and well appointed with wood accents and beautiful chandeliers. Our meal was outstanding!! The chips and variety of salsas and perfect guacamole was beyond amazing- a fantasy of flavors. The fillet mignon burrito was delicious, tender and so flavorful!! The fillet mignon was tender and generous. The rice and beans were perfectly cooked inside the burrito. The chicken al pastor was flawless- so flavorful and tender. The Birria burrito was a dream of tender flavor. The entire meal was beautifully served and cooked. I highly recommend coming to Puesto. My 82 year old grandma said it was the best burrito she ever had in all her years!! I agree with her!! We will be visiting again soon!! Thank you Puesto for a wonderful meal and fabulous time with family! read more

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Great place. We came here for lunch and were seated immediately. Service was super nice, attentive and polite. Ambience is very pleasant. It's more of a casual place but their food is definitely stands out. We had cucumber salad-amazing! Salads flight-very unique and delicious. Local fish ceviche- super fresh and delicious. Mushroom taco-amazing. We also had a mocktail which was pretty good as well. Absolutely loved the place. So happy to eat some Mexican food in the area and it didn't disappoint. read more

Puesto La Jolla - Local Fish Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

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The chips and salsa is complementary and honestly had so much flavor - I could only imagine how good the flavor of the food would be. I came in for their Horchata, which is made in house every day. They also had special menu for the World Cup which included grilled octopus tacos. This was so flavorful. I have never had octopus before, but I was so excited to try it. This is a nice place with indoor and outdoor seating and the windows open because of course it's La Jolla and perfect I want to shout out my waitress Ellie for being so kind and helpful. She's amazing say hi if you can she's the best. read more

Puesto La Jolla - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Stopped here while visiting La Jolla. The food was really good, I had the short rob quesabirria taco with beans and rice + the signature margarita. My husband had the enchilada suisa which he said was excellent. The margarita was tasty, just strong enough. The service was good and the ambiance was nice. Nice music playing at. Good sound level. I would definitely return and I recommend Puesto La Jolla. read more

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Hey, if you go -- grab a small bite first. Portions are kinda small, that's just how they do it. Heads up. But the food's good. Worth it if you're around here. Stop by. read more

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A night out in La Jolla and one of my memories was eating at Puesto. Parking to get here was tight - I had to circle the block and was lucky to find street parking!!! We were a party of 5 and I had booked our dinner via OpenTable. Our waiter was really cool, patient and really helped accommodate for the kids. We enjoyed the complementary chips and salsa. We ordered the mango ceviche which was okay. Needed more kick to it thou. The kids ordered their kids meals and had some type of juice drink which they loved. The waiter even gave me a cup to try!! We ordered the tacos and the taco that had the shrimp and meat was just overcooked. It's like cooked in cheese then wrapped in tortilla. I had to deconstruct to just eat the meat in the tacos but the other type of tacos we got were spot on. Overall. I didn't realize this was a chainish store. There is one in the Bay Area!!! Anyways we enjoyed our time here and enjoyed the atmosphere read more

Was in La Jolla for a business conference and came upon Puesto. What a great choice! The ambiance was nice with the outdoor seating. Servers and hostesses are friendly. The food was delicious! Started out with complimentary chips and salsa, the Clara IPA was a nice flavor for us "corona" lovers. I chose the mix and match pick 3 tacos...chicken verde, Baja with grilled shrimp and carnita tacos. Chicken was a little dry but all in all the tacos were very good! Would definitely go back if I have the chance to visit the area again! read more

Thank you for a great meal! Piper was a great waitress, and helped with our large party.

Great food, delightful atmosphere, but our server Ryan was the biggest jerk I've had at a restaurant in decades. The only reason why this isn't a 1 is because the A hole abandoned our table and another sever picked it up and was awesome. Ryan literally failed to get our drinks, others delivered our food and he never checked on us - instead he spent 20 minutes socializing with the people at the next table about his real estate ambitions. We were literally at the next table and he couldn't be bothered by us. That said if you go, if you get a guy waiter - ask his name. If it's Ryan, leave or insist on someone else. You'll be rewarded with great food and drinks otherwise. Only food we didn't like was the pulled pork, but other things we ate were good. read more

Puesto La Jolla - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Food was delicious. Really. Tacos are the best. Service was awesome. Getting ready for a rehearsal lunch soon and are so happy we chose this place! read more

Puesto La Jolla - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

Puesto has been around for over a decade and was one of the earlier upscale taquerias in the SD area. The La Jolla branch is closer to my house although the parking situation is much worse than the Mission Valley location which has a shared lot with the neighboring businesses in the shopping plaza. I decided to order some tacos to-go after a gym workout. When I came to pick up my food, there was a solid line of people waiting for open seats in the inside dining room and on the front sidewalk area. I chose the following items for my post-exercise nourishment... * Duck Confit - cilantro chimichurri, black beans, spicy avocado mousse, pickled red onion * Maine Lobster - black beans, crispy onions, avocado, crema de cilantro, jalapeño pico * Chicken al Pastor - crispy melted cheese, hibiscus & chipotle tinga, avocado, piña habanero pico * Tamarindo Shrimp - crispy shrimp, tamarindo-chile sauce, classic guacamole, cilantro Each of these tacos was flavorful and tasty. I did appreciate the two seafood offerings more than the poultry ones. The succulent lobster meat was very enjoyable. There was also something about the tamarindo-chile sauce that really enhanced the profile of the shrimp. Their prices have always been on the high side, but it's what you pay for gourmet-style tacos. read more

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Amazing !! I know I'm super late to making a review but my boyfriend took me on Valentine's Day 2026. The food was amazing and the meat melted in your mouth! The corn was also phenomenal and the environment was beautiful to be around. The service was also very good for it being a busy Valentine's Day afternoon. read more

Delicious food. I had the lobster taco. Hallie was one of the best servers I've had in awhile. I love that they leave a carafe of water. From start to doggie bag... All is first rate. read more

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Taco Tuesday was fun and I enjoyed seeing the various types of tacos. Strongly recommend the filet mignon tacos with verde salsa instead of pistachio salsa! The free chips (seed-oil free) and salsa was a highlight as well! If you like spicy, the quesabirria tacos have a bit of kick to them as well. Overall, was fun to enjoy half-off tacos tonight! read more

Puesto La Jolla - Short Rib Quesabirria Taco x2. Filet Mignon Taco x1. - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

Puesto La Jolla is serving Mexican food and drink in their trendy, modern interior and exterior spaces. SERVICE attentive, helpful, knowledgeable w recommendations FOOD 5/5 December Taco of the Month Taco de Pulpo En Recado Negro tender grilled octopus over a crispy cheese blue corn tortilla, smoky morita salsa (low heat), and flavorful guac 4.5/5 CEVICHE ZARANDEADO* GF Tender Bluefin tuna, serrano and chipotle aioli packing a lil more heat than I wanted, pickled onions, crisp blue corn tostadas read more

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First time trying Puesto and lucky us it was Taco Tuesday which is 50% off tacos. I was in the mood for fajitas but I was disappointed it was not on the menu. Excellent consolation was Taco Tuesday. We ordered chips and salsa. The chips are a little thicker and definitely not greasy. Thank you! I ordered one chicken, one fillet mignon and one carnitas taco. I'm not a spicy loving person so I got all the sauces on the side. All three tacos are stuffed with meat on a blue tortilla. The tortillas are smaller than normal but it was stuffed full. The chicken was very tender and moist. The fillet mignon was tender and it had a nice char and smoked flavor. The carnitas taco was ok but not on the same level as the chicken and fillet. Excellent from everyone we encountered at the host stand and Devon our server. This restaurant has an upbeat vibe. read more

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We swung by Puesto yesterday for lunch. I ordered a mango margarita as my drink and filet mignon taco for my meal. I also ordered the herb lime rice and black beans on the side. The mango margarita was perfect in every way. I'd recommend that for sure! The filet mignon taco was super tasty and filling, but do I think it was worth $13 for one? Probably not.. I was expecting the taco to be bigger for that steep price. The rice was addicting and I'm glad I opted for it as I would've been hungry still after the one taco. The service was pretty good. The ambiance was lively and it was a happening place. I'm giving Puesto a 4/5 as I think the pricing is a bit on the steep side for what you get, but the vibes and food were great overall! read more

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Located in such a cute area. Great outdoor seating. Good selection of tequila, they had our favorites- tapatio and G4. The margs were delicious made with real lime juice. The fish taco was very good as well as the guac, chips and salsa. I'm only giving it a 4/5 bc they do not offer queso :( read more

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This is a great spot in La Jolla! Great authentic vibe, close to a lot of fun stuff. Staff was extremely kind and the food was delicious. I personally loved the guac sampler and thought there were so many interesting pairings that worked well together (I never thought Parmesan would go so well with avocado!) Everything had a bit of a fun spin and the plates were both pretty and delicious. Will be back to try more! Definitely recommend!! read more

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Shoutout for our wonderful server Ashlee! So kind and thoughtful and told us about the secret menu! As always we loved the food but having her made our experience even better! Cheers! read more

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Nice and clean establishment. Nice art giving it a thought out cohesive theme throughout the place. read more

Puesto La Jolla - Menu - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Came here during my work trip with some colleagues- taco Tuesday hooray! Lively atmosphere and friendly staff (though a little slow), taco Tuesday deal was great! If you can, try the lobster taco. So much lobster and spiced to perfection. Had an amazing time, would definitely try another location back home some time. read more

Puesto La Jolla - Grilled Shrimp Taco Lobster Taco Baja Fish Taco - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

Puesto is a popular Mexican spot in La Jolla but I found the meal overpriced and underwhelming. We were able to sit outside which was quite nice. Our server was attentive and personable. I tried the following food items: -passion fruit mule (4.5/5; sweet, delicious and well balanced) -shrimp ceviche (4/5; decent flavor, but I didn't get a single piece of mango. Sauce was tasty) -short rib birria enchilada (4/5; tasty overall. Birria was well cooked and seasoned. Nice sauce and avocado and onion on top were nice touch but rice and beans should be included for $30 enchiladas...) Overall, the food was decent but for the price (not a single taco cost less than $10), I expect better. read more

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So good! I recently discovered that this is the original Puesto location--and it completely lived up to the reputation. I've loved their other spots, and this one absolutely did not disappoint. Puesto has truly figured out how to elevate the humble taco into something extraordinary. Every bite was packed with bold flavor, thoughtful ingredients, and creative flair. You can really taste the care and quality in each taco--delicious doesn't even begin to cover it. We opted to sit outside since the wait for indoor seating was a bit long. It was a little dim once the sun set, but the atmosphere was still relaxed and enjoyable. And the service? Excellent. The staff were friendly, attentive, and clearly well-trained. If you're a fan of tacos (or just good food in general), this spot is a must. read more

Puesto La Jolla - Short rib and Mushroom Tacos - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

Great Mexican restaurant, very good locally made beer (FYI you can only get their beer here, but it's good). Had lunch outside on the patio. Service was good. enchilada 8.8 out of 10. Baja fish taco 9.5 out of 10. Carnitas preparation is slightly different but also outstanding 9.5 out of 10. standard signature margarita was good and a decent size drink as well. They have 1/2 price tacos on Tuesday (after 3pm). read more

Puesto La Jolla - Baja Fish Taco and Carnitas Taco - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

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So cute inside and the tacos and margaritas were top notch. We also loved the guac sampler. We went on a Sunday and had to wait a little bit it wasn't too bad. Still thinking about the filet taco and their homemade salsa. read more

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I love Puesto atmosphere and service. That only is a 5 star. Staff is very friendly. Also it is so nice to enjoy the sunshine outside and the orange color is like a visual vitamin. The tacos are amazing, flavor on point...bit $12 for a huitlacoche taco is certainly a bit too much. I understand is about the location...so we only stop there for a bite before going for a beach walk. read more

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The service was extremely disappointing. The wait staff was rude, impatient, and unnecessarily confrontational from the moment we arrived. When I clearly told the staff member that I wanted to sit inside, he responded by yelling, "Inside or outside?" as though he hadn't heard me. He then rolled his eyes and, despite another customer being ahead of me, raised his voice again and told me to "come closer so I can be taken care of." There was absolutely no reason for that kind of attitude or tone. I understand that restaurants can be busy, but being busy does not justify speaking to customers disrespectfully or treating them as though they are a nuisance. Basic courtesy and patience should be the minimum expectation for anyone working in customer service. This interaction immediately created a negative impression and made the entire dining experience uncomfortable. read more

Stopped in on Saturday, 9/19/26, for a small impromptu celebration with family. Nice atmosphere in the La Jolla location but I was very disappointed in my choice of a taco. For $17.00 (approximately) I ordered one taco - a surf and turf héroe (filet mignon and lobster). It was VERY disappointing and probably overcooked because it didn't have any of the flavors or textures of either filet mignon or Maine lobster. I've been to Puesto before in another location, but this was really disappointed. Other people in my party did not comment on their food choices, with the exception of my granddaughter and husband who loved the rice and beans. read more

Puesto La Jolla makes some of the best American / Mexican food I've had in a long time. And yes, I did say American / Mexican food. Don't get me wrong, I'm not comparing Puesto to Chipotle or Rubios or Baja Fresh; they are way more elevated than that. But, coming from Southern California I had East L.A. in my universe and now living in Chicago I have Pilsen 15 minutes away and you can't get more authentic Mexican food than that; outside of Mexico City of course. But, there is a place for American / Mexican food and Puesto La Jolla is one of the best! On this Friday night Puesto was packed - a very good indication of what's to come. Us four ordered: * Guacamole and Chips - of course and it was delicious * A Jalapeño caesar with Little gem, breadcrumbs, Parmigiano-Reggiano, jalapeño slices - loved it * Crudo verde - Ensenada kampachi, avocado, hoja santa leche de tigre, tomatillo - excellent * Potato taquitos - Queso fresco, guacamole, garlic jalapeño salsa, chile oil - picture perfect * Taco Plate - with Wagyu brisket * The bar worked on all cylinders The service was top notch and the ambiance was modern cool. Us four really enjoyed this dinner! read more

Puesto La Jolla - Jalapeño Caesar Salad - Mexican Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Here's my honest review about Puesto La Jolla! Came in with a party of 9 but had a reservation and they were amazing at honoring it. Once we go seated, our waiter Jayden G. was incredible. He made our entire experience a fun and entertaining time! He gave awesome recommendations and provided our group some great customer service. I was very pleased with his service as he made us feel welcomed and supported. As for the food, it was solid, good mexican food. Prices are decent and it isn't the best mexican food I've had, but it definitely was yummy. Service was great and wait time for food coming out was minimal. It was a positive food experience for my friends and I. One thing to note, I did hear some of the staff members in the back making fun of my "elite yelp status" in a taunting way. I did not appreciate such and was somewhat taken aback by these comments. I'm reviewing this location from the perspective of my food experience and customer service, but I definitely don't think you should be making fun of a customer overall. Try it for yourself and see if you enjoy the food forsure! read more

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You have to get the potato taquitos it's astonishing on the taste buds. We also got the guac flight. It was a very interesting take on guac but, I like it I think that it's different. read more

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