We took a DAY TRIP to Borrego Springs from San Diego. We went to the Anza Borrego Visitor's Center FIRST, and went on their short PAVED WALK through the Desert Landscape. We then headed to RED OCOTILLO for Breakfast. It was utterly FANTASTIC, from the service to the food. We had as our server GLORIA. It took us a couple attempts on the LOOP to get the right EXIT. We walked in and were directed to a table by our SERVER GLORIA. We got a great table right up front by the window. She started, by taking our drink orders. We looked over the menu, admittedly looking at it the night before. I selected the HEUVOS RANCHEROS, and an Arnold Palmer. As for my partner, he had a CLASSIC DESSERT BURRITO. We added Chips and Guacamole, made fresh on the spot!!! It could not have been a BETTER EXPERIENCE!!! read more

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Friendly staff. At the time there was just one server and she was helping everyone there. Even though she was busy she managed to still check on us, get our drinks, and order. The food was good. I do think a bit pricey but understandable since this is a pretty remote area. I got the chicken Marsala and I will say for me it was pretty bland. Specifically the pasta. I asked for pepper and Parmesan cheese and that definitely gave it more flavor! Note: make sure to ask without onions if you don't like them since the sauce comes with them. My husband said the taco salad was also ok. It wasn't a pretty big portion! Steak was good. My daughters shared the cheese penne pasta (we got the full size) and they loved it! It was really good. The garlic bread and bread and butter they gave us was also very good. The place itself was very nice, quiet, they also had lots of outdoor seating. Total for 3 plates and 4 drinks was $100.58. read more

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On a weekend book club retreat to Borrego Springs, we decided to grab dinner in town the night we arrived and with minimal options in this small town, it was determined that we would visit Red Ocotillo. While not all Mexican food is created equal, I do tend to think that it's a type of food that is really tough to completely ruin. Unfortunately, I was proven wrong with this visit. I decided on a cup of the tortilla soup, and I ended up only having a couple of bites them throwing the rest out. The chicken was full of bones, which was so gross and not normal or expected for this dish. There were mixed feelings among the group I think, but those who were seating near me did not enjoy their food across the board. read more

Arrived just at sunset and what a view. Large exterior patio and small interior seating area. We were disappointed that filet Mignon wasn't on the menu anymore. Our server was new and didn't know the menu and the service was inconsistent. Sometimes it was prompt and other times slow. We had the flat iron steak, beef stroganoff, and cherry cobbler. The stroganoff was good but not great. The flat iron was good but not the filet Mignon. The cherry cobble was stellar! read more

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My visit here was because of another place I found on Yelp was not in operation. Unknown reason, no sign on the door. So I Yelped and found this cute spot. It's off the turnabout so listen or look closely on your maps where to turn. There is plenty of parking, at least there was today (Thursday AM). As I parked and made my walk to the front door, I found it to be a zen feeling. No one was seated outside yet so it was quiet. The patio outside the entrance was framed with lattice and covered with real greenery vines. I had walked in and saw it had plenty of seating and had a very nice open feel but still cozy. I could see there was more outdoor seating on the other side of the building. I was invited to sit with a group of ladies I'm camping with. At the time of our visit the show was being handled by one server, Gloria. We could see she was a little hurried but she made sure to check with all of the customers. Before we placed our order we were given a dish of coffee cake. A very nice surprise and quite moist. I ordered Avocado toast for my breakfast. It came with an egg cooked to your liking (I selected over easy) and also one side. I selected fruit but they were out so I chose cottage cheese. I enjoyed the flavors and I especially like the chopped red onions mixed with the avocado spread. As you can see in my photo the egg was cooked to perfection! Everyone seemed happy with their order. If you pay by cash you get a little discount! I would definitely visit this spot again to try some of the other dishes and maybe a drink from the bar. read more

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Had a great Sunday breakfast here. They warned us the wait for our order might be 40 minutes, but it was nowhere near that, maybe 20. Time enough to enjoy a beverage outside in the temperate December warm patio. A few lazy flies weren't too annoying. I had a Bloody Mary - not too boozy and plenty of veggies with a stick of bacon. My bacon crumble Benedict was perfect. read more

Red Ocotillo - Bloody Mary - American Near Me - Borrego Springs, California

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I ate there three nights and one morning. The waiters and waitresses are very TIP driven, almost pushy! When they bring the machine to run your credit card, they push the high tip percentage then they hand you the machine. I went there for breakfast,asked for decaf coffee, she said they ran out. One time I called in advance because I was confused with too many menus online and asked if they had soup and salad combo, she said yes. I went there at 6 for dinner and first the waitress told me about the soup of the day. She came back and ordered soup and salad combo, she said we don't have any right now, I can bring you a cup of soup with a side salad. I said fine. Then she came back and said they don't have the special soup that she mentioned 15 minutes ago but she can bring me lentil soup, which was watery. I said fine. Then when I got ready to pay she brought the machine with 20% already selected, and stood over me with a pushy and demeanor until I finished paying. The food is good with the exception of lentil soup. read more

End of August during a severe heatwave in Borrego Springs? Go to Red Ocotillo for some food! Ive been up since before sunrise photographing the local wildlife and decided to go grab a bite to eat. Holy smokes!! SO good and it hit the spot. Service 5 Food 5 Air Conditioning 1000 oh and ambiance...5 what a great little restaurant! read more

Red Ocotillo - Egg Scramble with Rosemary potatoes - American Near Me - Borrego Springs, California

Honestly the food was pretty decent, but it took a really long time to get served. My biggest complaint was the waitress was outright frightening to the point that everyone at the table was afraid to ask for things they needed. read more

Had lunch outside and was expecting a better experience. We could hear the sound of the air-conditioning next door. The place was practically empty but yet service was very slow. Lots of folks with dogs. The fish tacos and fries were good, I have to say they do fried foods well. The lemonade was from a cheap powdered mix, I was hoping for better (made with real lemons?), and they give you a whole pitcher of it no less! I actually sent it back and just drank the tap water on the table which didn't taste great either. It's such a small thing for restaurants to serve filtered water, but I guess not in the budget for places like this, sadly. read more

Red Ocotillo - Fish tacos - American Near Me - Borrego Springs, California

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We went for breakfast and the service was excellent. My hubby had the biscuits and gravy superb! I had the salmon Benedict superb also!! Very cute place that offers outside seating also and pet friendly!! read more

I finally tried the seared Ahi salad. Gotta tell ya, I was not disatified! Absolutely wonderful. I actually had enough Ahi to finish with the whole salad. Impressive. Its servings like that, that keep me coming back. Just don't go to Carlee's place. It's bad. Bartenders suck there. But the bartenders at Red O treat you like you wanna be treated when one goes out. Fresh, good energy. Makes you feel good when you have a satisfying experience. read more

This food was not good, the service was not good, and the wait was so long. My friend and I had come around dinner time (7-8pm), and when we first came in no one greeted us. We stood around for 5 minutes waiting for someone to greet us. When someone finally did, I thought I heard them tell us to seat ourselves, and we found one open table. It was fairly busy and there were many other people there. I should have left when I saw almost all the tables around me with no food, just water. After seating ourselves, no one came to provide menus or water. So we got back up and walked back to the entrance because maybe I had misheard about seating ourselves. Another few minutes pass and then someone seats us and provides us menus. At this point we are extremely hungry and a bit confused. We ordered buffalo wings, the beef stroganoff, and my friend ordered some other dish. They also provided complimentary soup, cream of broccoli, and that was the best part of my experience. After the soup, it took over 30 minutes to get our entrees. The buffalo wings had such a strong buffalo scent that it was almost too sour to eat. We didn't finish the wings. They were not good. Once my beef stroganoff came, which was lukewarm, we were already pretty upset at our food and the amount of time everything took. I had lost my appetite from the wings. I took both wings and the stroganoff to go, but ended up throwing it away because it just wasn't good. We also noticed that surrounding tables did not get their food for a long time too. It also took a very long time to pay for our bill and leave, which was unfortunate. Overall, a really bad experience and understaffed. I don't think I would ever come back again. read more

Red Ocotillo - beef stroganoff - American Near Me - Borrego Springs, California

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This place is a little gem--super cute and conveniently close to Borrego Springs Resort. We ordered the spaghetti and meatballs and the chicken parmesan, and both were surprisingly delicious with generous portions. The spaghetti came loaded with mushrooms, which I wasn't expecting, but it actually worked really well. They could ease up a bit on the mushrooms, though I didn't mind it. I also ordered a side mixed salad that came with olives. Personally, I thought that was a little odd, but it was easy enough to pick them out. Overall, a pleasant surprise and a solid spot for what it is! read more

Red Ocotillo - Side soup with the meal - American Near Me - Borrego Springs, California

Located in downtown Anza Borrego. We came on a weekend with a large group and sat at separate tables. There were 12 of us. We were seated right away. There was plenty of outdoor seating as well, but it seemed understaffed. The food. The pea soup is really really good. Rivals that of Pea Soup Andersens in Solvang. The cesar salad amazing! Everyone liked their sandwiches and salads. The downside is the food came really slow. First table got the food in about 15 minute wait and our third table waited about 35 minutes for their food or more. I lost track. Perhaps the chefs are understaffed as well. Anyway, I had a great experience here. It has a full bar. I would be back if I'm in Anza Borrego. read more

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Our favorite restaurant in Borrego Springs. We eat breakfast here every morning while we are in Borrego, and sometimes lunch or dinner. The food is yummy, especially the coffee cake they serve at breakfast. The service is very good, and the staff are all very friendly and accommodating. Our waitress Gloria was great! We enjoy eating outside on the patio. read more

My wife and I decided to visit Borrego Springs for the weekend to hopefully see a nighttime carpet of stars. We were not only blown away by the nighttime sky, but also by the food at Red Ocotillo! We started our meal with a cup of their clam chowder which was the soup of the day. We both agreed that it was some of the best we've ever had! Huh? In Borrego Springs you say? YEP! Also, their chips with guac and salsa were delicious and freshly made. Their #1 burger (a HALF POUND burger patty, bacon, avocado, red onion, and your choice of cheese) was HUGE, tasty and oh so filling! The fries and coleslaw were on point too! To add to our wonderful experience, our friendly waitress Gloria checked in on us often and made sure all was well. We highly recommend Red Ocotillo when in town. read more

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Good food, nice vibe, friendly service. It's not going to earn a Michelin star, but if you want to be well-fed on a reasonable budget, Red Ocotillo will get you there. The meatloaf and fried chicken are excellent, and drinks are cheap. If you don't expect white gloves, you'll be glad you went. Good stuff read more

Great atmosphere outside in the patio area. Gloria was very welcoming and knowledgeable. Food was delicious. Breakfast burrito was big and the bacon was thick and fresh. read more

Very disappointed with Red Ocotillo in Anza Borrego. The prices are extremely high for what you receive. $4.50 for a basic cup of coffee. The omelet had almost no flavor to the point that we questioned whether the eggs were even real. The potatoes that came with it were undercooked and overly salty. The French toast was also undercooked and bland. Three slices were $13.95, and we barely touched it because it simply wasn't good. At the end of the meal, we politely asked if the uneaten French toast could be removed from the bill. They refused. For the prices they charge, the food quality did not come close to justifying the cost. We left feeling overcharged and disappointed. read more

Red Ocotillo - Very expensive - American Near Me - Borrego Springs, California

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I love this place... it is my "go-to" restaurant whenever I'm in the Borrego Springs area! The food is great and with wonderful service from the staff like Gloria and Gaby this place ranks as the top of Borrego Springs' restaurants!!! This restaurant belongs on your list of places to try! You'll thank me later! read more

We had a wonderful breakfast at Red Ocotillo on May 29, 2026. First time at this restaurant. Had heard about it and finally stopped by. We sat on the beautiful patio since we had our dog with us and was warmly and friendly greeted and served by Gloria. Beautiful place, wonderful people, great food. Thank you Gloria! Will definitely stop by again next time we are in Borrego Springs. read more

Service is good, you have to not be in a hurry and be patient, it takes about 45 minutes for your food to be served, there kitchen is small. The drinks are good though. read more

Red Ocotillo - These girl's were great severs and Bar tenders. The Margaritas are my favorite . - American Near Me - Borrego Springs, California

Great food and great service! Gloria was so sweet and took great care of us! My favorite was the bacon, thick and crispy!

We were in Borrego for various reasons and since a lot of the town is closed during the month of August we were happy to find that the Red Ocotillo was open. We've tried to come a couple times and it was packed and we just didn't have time to wait. Today was the day! We came in about an hour before closing and Sherry was happy to seat us. The asked what we'd like to drink and informed us the special was the Stroganoff. I ordered a Gimlet and explained it's contents as sherry hadn't made one before. My buddy ordered a draft beer. A few minutes later drinks showed up and Sherry makes a pretty darn good Gimlet, especially for a first attempt. My friend got the Ruben and I got the special. After a brief wait here comes food! His Ruben was good according to his response, I don't like kraut so I opted not to taste it. My stroganoff was fantastic! Short rib with a prefect gravy and perfectly cooked al dente noodles. The food was great, service was quick, but not so quick that you knew it was simply reheated. Sherry was a delight! I'm coming back for the food and service, but I'd come back just because she was so much fun. I see they have breakfast and a Bloody Mary, so that will be the next sampling. Stay tuned, I'll keep you posted. read more

Food is great and everyone is attentive and pays attention to details. Thanks for the great breakfast, lunch and dinner Red O! read more

Red Ocotillo - American Near Me - Borrego Springs, California

Menu was extensive with something for everyone. Our group gravitated to the Italian foods and were not disappointed. Chicken Parm was outstanding as was the Penne Bolognaise. The 3 cheese pasta with chicken was drowned in too much cream sauce. I was hard to find the pasta, Service was great and the noise level allowed us to have a conversation. read more

The steak taco salad is delicious and the tortilla is still crispy and everything taste fresh, couldn't wait had too dig in before I took a picture but the presentation was great. read more

Red Ocotillo - Steak Taco Salad - American Near Me - Borrego Springs, California

We come out to Borrego annually for an antique motorcycle run and, once we discovered this place, it became our annual go-to restaurant. The food is consistently well prepared and the service is very efficient. Frankly, we'd dine here more often if it wasn't so far from our home in LA! The prices are fair, too. And the menu offers classics such as meatloaf and spaghetti with meatballs, to fine dining braised beef short ribs and lamb shank. Perfectly cooked every time. I definitely give this place a thumbs up and must try! read more

Big portions, fair price, and good service. Definitely a restaurant to check out after a long day of hiking at Anza Borrego State Park.

Ok average, but not worth going out of your way for. Nice facility, nice server, but the food - an avocado toast (sour dough) with sunny side up eggs for breakfast was slow to come (which many have commented on) when the restaurant was maybe 20% busy at the most. The meal was really just mediocre with mashed avocado, no other greens but some parsley on top and my side choice of tots for potatoes were a bit over done. Shoulda got the cut potatoes, they looked better. Coffee was basic fine, but no flavored creamers which tho pleabean nowadays, seems a no brainer seeing that so many use that sorta creamer. All for nearly $23ish with coffee. I think we should all give a bit over to a more expensive meal in remote locations because it's also more expensive for the businesses. read more

Had dinner on May 29 and my wife and I had the spaghetti and meatballs. Service was poor as only one server and a family had their children being obnoxious. Subsequently we ate outside. At around 4am on May 30 I succumbed to food poisoning! An hour or so later my wife was affected by projectile vomit and diarrhea. It was the spaghetti and meatballs. We were scheduled to leave on May 31 and there was no way we could drive the 4 hours home. We had to extend our stay one more night at $250. There are very few nice places to eat in Borrego Springs and now we will take Red Ocotillo off our list! read more

Love the Red Ocotillo- breakfast, lunch or dinner. Never had a bad meal there and we've eaten there 20+ times over the last probably 10 years. Whenever we are in BS we eat there at least once. The chicken Parmesan is really good and so is the BLT. U really can't go wrong. read more

What a find! My husband and I literally stumbled upon this cafe . Somewhat unassuming on the outside, upon entry the charm factor kicks in. With lots of seating with views, both indoors and outdoors, our enthusiasm after a long drive, certainly picked up. We were impressed with the menu with both traditional and more avant- guard choices. My husband ordered a simple a la cart breakfast. Yum. I ordered the crumbled bacon Benedict, also yum. Service by Gloria was very personalized. She was most attentive, and took the time to give us a number of Borrego Springs directions and recommendations. Very enjoyable, relaxing, and delicious Borrego Springs experience. read more

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Gourmet breakfast in Borrego Springs, CA. Tasteful indoor seating and two spacious outdoor seating areas. Food is delicious with nice presentation! read more

Red Ocotillo - Omelette with veggies and potatoes - American Near Me - Borrego Springs, California

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My husband and I discovered the Red Ocotillo a couple of years ago and make it a habit of stopping for breakfast every time we drive through on the way to AZ to visit family a few times a year. the food is always outstanding, including the coffee (and we love the fresh baked complimentary coffee cake!) Service (Gloria this time ) is always warm, friendly and efficient. We had dinner on the return. we both had the shrimp salad, which was amazing, super fresh, plentiful and beautifully presented. (Wish I had taken a picture). The fresh iced tea had a sprig of mint which elevated it even more. I'm looking forward to stopping by again on our next trip! read more

I'm back to make a second review of Red Ocotillo after a pretty bad experience 2 or 3 years ago. Things have changed! For the better . They have added a large outdoor patio and the wait staff is much friendlier and efficient. The food was wonderful too. I had fish and chips which were crisp and perfectly cooked, two others had the spaghetti and meatballs and were very happy and the fourth on our party had the shrimp tacos. He loved them. Service was timely, food was excellent and we will return! Thank you for an awesome dining experience under the stars in beautiful Borrego read more

Tough dinner menu if you're gluten free, or don't eat beef or veal. The fish tacos are breaded but they did offer to substitute salmon or shrimp for an up charge. I chose salmon and they were good. Great if you're into fried foods and lots of meat. read more

Had lunch on their pet friendly outdoor patio and breakfast inside, minus the pup. Both visits were outstanding. Attentive service, plentiful portions of delicious food and gorgeous views. Right off the town's main roundabout with plenty of free parking. Don't hesitate! read more

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Every time we are in the Borrego Springs vicinity we have to stop by Red Ocotillo! Their breakfast and lunch items are all hits. We drove in one afternoon and had lunch, it was so good we came back for breakfast the next morning before we left (as well as another family that we saw at lunch the day before). Staff is friendly and there's an option to sit inside or on the lovely patio. This is by far the best place to eat in Borrego Springs. Be sure to try: - Rosemary potatoes - omelette - patty melt - burger read more