Spending a lot of time in the area since it's a favorite surf location for my husband. Yelp is my go to app to find recommendations. Today Puntamar was the location of choice. We were not disappointed the staff was welcoming and very friendly. The restaurant is not very large but it has a great open vibe. To start I tried one of their margaritas made with mezcal, the mint cucumber just sounded refreshing and...it was. Loved it even though I'm really not a tequila girl. They start you off with tostada's and 3 types of salsa, I should have taken a picture of those but trust me it was tasty. Who knew you could put habanero and ginger in soy sauce delicious! My husband ordered the Taco trio he really loved the fish taco although the birria taco he enjoyed as well. I had the shrimp flautas since I've never thought to put shrimp in flautas. They were very yummy I'm not sure if I just liked the flauta or all the stuff on top; guacamole, pico, cheese. Both of us left very full (I probably could have brought a flauta home). Next time I think we'll try one of their yummy looking ceviches dishes and share the fish tacos! read more

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This place is top tier! Vibe is incredible and intimate yet fun, service is so friendly, and of course fresh and delicious, vibrant and flavorful food with great portion size. Everything I've tried on the menu has been fantastic. Definitely a regular spot to come back to that stands out in the area for amazing quality and experience :). read more

Ok so our waiter was nice and everything when we first sat down but barely came to the table, offered us chips & salsa but didn't actually bring them until 2 other tables that sat down after us got their's and some time past. Then one of our friends ordered something that was apparently out of stock and instead of just saying that and telling her right away and asked if she wanted to order something different (which she did), he said "no they're working on something for you". but couldn't explain what it was (which is concerning because what if she had an allergy or dietary restriction). Which by the way was after one person's food already came out and a lot of time passed. Then no one came by to check in, offer more water, nothing. Also that guy never came back. Then we were trying to pay and another waiter looked at our table, made eye contact with us gesturing to pay multiple times and just ignored us. Then we tried walking out and he continued to look at us and continued talking (flirting) with another waiter. Also why does host look and act like he's hosting a fraternity party. Lastly, there's a minimum 20% tip so....be warned. read more

Amazing meal, service was great and team was friendly and knowledgeable. Cannot recommend them enough. Octopus was fork tender, molé was flavorful, savory, and a little sweet. Birria was tender and carne melted in your mouth. A great find in Encinitas. read more

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This was a really cute place and the food was 10/10 amazing !! The service was excellent as well . We are definitely going back and bringing family with us ! read more

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Decided to come here for late lunch/early dinner around 4pm. Pretty empty, service speed was fine. Seating is outside, very cute space but a little chilly. The food was okay, not bad but I was not particularly in love with any of the dishes. We tried the aguachile, mole enchilada and the giant shrimp skillet. The aguachile was good, a little slimey for my liking, even though I love raw shrimp sushi and I've had aguachile elsewhere... the shrimp is whole and it's just hard to eat with the slimey texture. I managed to eat 1 serving, my husband liked it enough but suggested for it to be cut into smaller pieces. Mole enchilada is up to par, my favorite out of what we ordered. The giant shrimp skillet is just several bigger shrimps chargrilled. Nothing else came with that dish and it was $27. We thought skillet would mean it comes on a skillet and/or includes something else to make it an entree, but it does not. It's not quite as good as food I've had in Mexico or LA. Their mango michelada was delicious though and would really be the only reason i would come back. Overall, prices are high, food is ok, parking lot is convenient but small. I am not very likely to come back but it might be a fun place for drinks and some bites for a small group in Encinitas. read more

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Great food, service, and ambience! We will definitely be back. Best churro ever. Very friendly staff.

Our favorite place to get amazing tacos, Mexican seafood and drinks. The service, the atmosphere, and music is terrific. The closest to being in Mexico City that we can get near San Diego! Highly recommend!!! read more

Puntamar - They served churros on this "boat" - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

The food itself was good, but the service made the experience extremely uncomfortable. We ordered two raw fish dishes, which still took a long time to come out despite the restaurant being nearly empty. Our server also forgot my husband's wine order. What was most concerning was the server's behavior. He hovered over our table while we were paying, made a loud, irritated sound that was unnecessary given he had no way of knowing we intended to tip in cash, and then followed us outside and stood at the front of the restaurant staring at us while we went to our car to get the cash. This felt inappropriate and intimidating. Tipping should reflect service, and while we did intend to tip, the behavior crossed a line and completely overshadowed what could have been a pleasant meal. Management should seriously address this. Our visit was around 2-3pm on 2/1. read more

Everything here is amazing, authentic and the service was top notch. Drinks were outstanding- The dishes were awesome and unique with amazing flavors and sauces! Will be back very soon! read more

Puntamar - White fish ceviche - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Best elevated Mexican food I've had in San Diego! We got the shrimp ceviche, the grilled octopus, and the chicken mole. Perfect portion sizes and the tostada chips and salsa were addicting. That was the best mole I've had, but that octopus is really something else. Definitely coming back for that and we want to try more on the menu! SD, put this place on! read more

The shrimp flautas were so good. Went on a Friday night and they had live music. Love the beachy vibe and attentive service. read more

At puntamarsa experience the taste of the sea, one bite at a time. As their website says, "Puntamar is more than just a restaurant; it's an authentic experience celebrating quality in every detail. Here, fun and excellence merge to create unforgettable moments for our customers. Discover the true essence of Mexican cuisine, crafted with authentic ingredients and genuine flavors. Their dedication to quality seafood, delicious pizza birria, and refreshing micheladas sets them apart in a crowded market. At Punta Mar, they combine fun, authenticity, and fair prices to offer a unique gastronomic experience." We tried: * Micheladas * queso fundido * chicken pazole * trio de tacos * parmesan fish milenasa * churros labsolutely loved this spot, the food, the decor and the service were phenomenal! read more

Very attentive service, excellent food, and nice decor. The owner came by our table twice and owned up to a mistake he made. (My husband ordered the ceviche as his main course, but they brought it before my main was ready. ) Nice presentation of the ceviche and my taco trio. The only taco that needed a little extra salsa was the shrimp one, but all three were very good. Looking forward to going back! read more

2 star because the drink were good but we asked for the check at 7pm and didn't receive it after asking for 2 more times and we finally got it at 7:24pm. sat at the bar. Place was busy, but all they needed was to print the check to pay with a QR code. As a previous server this was not acceptable. read more

This place is a gem! It's not your typical heavy SD Mexican food. This is fresh and elevated Mexico City fare. The seafood is insanely delicious. The owner is hospitable. The chef is top notch. If you don't try it, you slate truly missing out. One suggestion: Have a kid menu / some more basic dishes so we can bring the whole family. Some friends have mentioned the same. Lots of kids in this town. Garcias! read more

Finally, some real Mexican food in Encinitas! Such a good place for seafood and their mole was phenomenal! Service in incredible as well! read more

Puntamar - Hamachi tiradito - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Pretty good! Plenty of open spacious seating, friendly service. The least-wacky Michelada (and there are many) is the Clamachela, and it was tasty.. with a saucy sesame rim. I liked it! Solid at $9 The Beef and Cheese crust sonora taco street food plate was 4 tasty tacos, very reasonably priced for a sit-down place. If you're not too hungry, it's a full meal.. if you're big-hungry, you'll want more. Fresh, meaty -- loved it. But the salsa game, not so strong, not for San Diego. The servings were really tiny, fresh but unremarkable. Nothing on the table had any heat even on the weakest jalapeño scale. The bottled sauce was extremely salty. I did like the whole corn tortilla chips. I feel like I have to go back and try something seafood at some point, but it should be a day when micheladas will be the theme song. I'll smuggle in some hot salsa. read more

We most definitely will be back to this place. A taste of Mexico City, the food here has a lot of love and flavors. read more

Puntamar - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Absolutely adore this gem, like being transported to Tulum. My sister and I sat at the bar and enjoyed a cocktail and snack. Will absolutely be back for both the margaritas and ambiance read more

Puntamar - Outside - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

We had a wonderful time at this restaurant! The moment we stepped inside their indoor outdoor space we felt like we had been transported to a little Mexico paradise! The servers were all so friendly and attentive too! We had seen previous review of service issues but we felt welcomed and accommodated! We ordered a round of drinks and of them all, the Michelada Kraken definitely was the stand out drink. As for the entrees, we got the quesabirria, the taco trio, and the Machu Picchu ceviche. The fish taco was light and tasty, and the ceviche had a generous serving of fish. For desert, we got churros, which came out with a sparkler and decorative plate! They were delicious. Overall we had a great time and would come back! read more

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Just ok. The food was good, but not great. Service was ok. Could have been a bit more attentive, but still good. Loud in there, but cool decor. I don't think I need to go back, but a decent spot. read more

My husband and I went for lunch (a Friday) and were welcomed immediately when we walked in. The server was so enthusiastic and fun. We ordered drinks -a mojito and a Paloma- and shared three dishes: the tuna tacos, the ceviche verde, and the octopus. All. Were. DELICIOUS! The dishes were great portions- the ceviche had good sized pieces of fish and a it was definitely shareable. The tuna inside the crispy tacos was smoked, and had flavors that really made it unique and again, great sized dish. The octopus was the star of the meal; it was PERFECTLY cooked, charred nicely with sliced potatoes underneath. It was mouthwatering. SO GOOD. The owner came around to check in on us and we feel it really makes the experience at any restaurant when this happens. He is warm and really shows pride in dishes and the restaurant. This place is an absolute gem. Its vibe with musicá Latino is perfectly matched to the tropical atmosphere; you're transported to vacation, instantly. I can't wait to go back. It's vibrant and welcoming and overall such a great experience with incredible flavors. read more

Not your typical Mexican restaurant, which is a good thing. The owner, who was our waiter, and was very nice, said that the recipes come from Mexico City. The drink menu had some twists to the staples you'd expect and were all very good. We stuck to margaritas, but they're known for their Micheladas. The Machu Pichu ceviche was delicious, super fresh, topped with perfectly ripe avocados and served with tostadas chips. Tuna Melody Tlacovos was suggested by the owner and they were very very good. The Birria pizza is dynamite, almost like a large Birria quesadilla, the size of a pizza with the right amount of crispness and 2 fantastic sauces. One was called coffee sauce, which reminded me of a Chipotle style salsa and a really good consume, often served with Birria. I feel like they'd do well with a happy hour. The vibe is cool - will definitely be back. There's so much more I'd like to try. read more

Shorted this message: Food was so fresh and amazing! The owner is so intentional from where they source ingredients, to the decor of the restaurant. Good quality food and presentation with a more relaxed ambiance. Corey was also great! My cousin and I yapped for so long we were the only people left in the restaurant and Corey made us feel welcomed and offered us churros! Churros were delicious, the chocolate dip was divine. read more

Puntamar - Churros and chocolate dip! - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

Puntamar was the best! The owner himself took care of us and gave us the best service and even on a rainy night the environment felt very cozy. Food was also tasty and authentic to Mexico City. Definitely coming back on a sunny day to try their Michelada. read more

Puntamar - Churros and Café de la Olla ! - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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One of my favorite things during s recent wine & food festival was tying the ceviche from Puntamar. That was a couple weeks ago at Liberty Station. Yesterday I had the opportunity to try the restaurant in Encinitas and got the same fantastic impression that at that booth in the fair. The service was super friendly and fast, loved chatting with our server. The day was gorgeous and my boyfriend and I felt like we were in Baja...well actually I like Encinitas more:). The restaurant is so cute, very north county coastal vibe. Super clean, so pristine and love the different scenes. We sat at the patio because I wanted some sun rays caressing me, but the bar area and the middle bigger zone are so gorgeous. We got a dozen of super fresh oysters, what a treat to start Thanksgiving week San Diego style and we also shared an also very fresh ceviche. I would like to try many more dishes in the near future! Thanks for the nice welcoming. read more

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The best Mexican food! It feels just like Mexico City!! The food, the service, drinks and cool vibe makes us coming back for more! The owner, Alexandro will make sure that you're always taken good care of while you're in his warm and inviting restaurant! Thank you to all the staff who always make us feel welcome!! read more

Saw this spot on TikTok. The vibe & food seemed elite so thought we'd give it a try... I would rather grapple a gator and pay $100 than eat another meal there. All the food seemed to lack flavor. I did give a 2nd star only because the steak taco was pretty solid. read more

Incredible fresh and tasty seafood! Highlights for us were oysters, fish ceviche, and the al pastor fish tacos. It does seem like every dish you order will be amazing! We had Eric as our server and he had amazing recommendations for us. Will visit again! read more

Puntamar - Al pastor fish tacos - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Great food, fantastic atmosphere, we will be back soon! We tried three home made salsas with fresh tortilla chips, great fresh ceviche and quesabirra. Everything was so good, can't wait to try more items from menu! read more

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First time at puntamar after seeing it multiple times!! Insanely fire and a huge amount of fish with the civeche! Corey was the man and the food a service was incredible!! Definitely coming back with friends and family. read more

Puntamar - Pizza birria - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

My wife and I came here for dinner and it was INCREDIBLE!! The fish was so fresh, the drinks were super tasty, and the service was attentive. Cannot recommend this place enough! read more

Arrived at around 4:45/5pm and was seated quickly. Granted, we were the first ones there on a Wednesday!My friends and I were looking for a new spot & I found this one on instagram! I ordered the fish tacos & two margaritas ($5 happy hour? Yes please!). Our waiter was attentive & we all shared several laughs! My friends & I were impressed with the aesthetic and appreciated the playlist! A great place to visit during the week after a long day or for a fun lunch/dinner with friends! Only recommendation I have is better signage for bar vs restaurant. read more

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Came here for date night on a Saturday night and had a great time! Our server Augustine was extremely helpful and attentive. We ordered off all his recommendations and loved everything. The food as incredible! We had a few appetizers and shared some main dishes and were so so full. We ended with churros which were a fun surprise and treat! The food and atmosphere definitely reminded us of Mexico City and I'm glad we found it. We hope to be back soon! read more

Puntamar - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

The drinks were good but seemed small. Service was really slow, maybe cause we went at a weird time and we were out of view. Still, the restaurant was nearly empty and we had to flag down our waiter twice. Queso was yummy! read more

The food and drinks here are seriously so good! The menu is creative with tons of options, and everything tastes fresh. You can tell they use really good ingredients. The hamachi is especially delicious and always super fresh. The staff is friendly and checks in to ensure everything is of your liking. I've been here a handful of times and I have never had bad service. read more

Alex the owner was kind enough to invite me back to apologize in person and show me the new updates they made to the menu. The food was great and the service was wonderful. :) read more

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Really cute place with delicious food. The enchilada mole chicken was the best! Salsa dancing on weeknights.

Excellent Mexico City inspired food. Chicken mole enchiladas & tuna tostados are worthy of going back for again & again. Great service & hospitality too. read more

Puntamar - Chicken mole enchiladas - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California