The location is great! Such a great atmosphere. Went for happy hour and their appetizers are all so good. The drinks were great as well. The service from our waitress, Zorka, was top notch; was never waiting on anything. The drinks were never empty! A great place to catch a happy hour. read more

The restaurants in Balboa Park are all very good & you'll enjoy this restaurant as I did. There's a nice coffee bar nearby for folks visiting the park during the day. read more

This is my 3rd time here. Every time I come to Balboa Park this is must stop for me. I love the location, it's pretty much close to all the museums here, and the combination of indoor and outdoor seating is great for all seasons. They always have top-notch service, from the host to your server. The menu is eclectic, with a few seafood dishes , and even tacos. It has a very diversified drinking menu, since we're gonna be walking around the park we decided to keep it light with a few San Diego lemonades, which are perfect than the light alcohol and lemonade. We went this time for lunch. My wife ordered the Prado Paella which is fish, mussels, shrimp, calamari, chicken, scallops, chorizo, peas, lobster saffron broth. I ordered the Kobe Beef Burger with a side of French fries. The portions are perfect, not too much and not too good. The food tasted great! Again, we don't wanna eat too much cause we're gonna be walking around the park most of the day. I love the outdoor setting, again. It has an eclectic ambience, and you get a nice view of the surrounding areas.outdoors. inside the restaurant, it has a nice vibe as well, you can sit at the bar and order some drinks while you're waiting for your reservation. once again, it's my third time coming here in the past two years, and I think every time I come, this would be a stop! read more

See all

Glad we got to sit outside while eating here because it is a nice atmosphere. However, I really didn't like our server. He would continuously interrupt me and even walked away while I was in the middle of a question. Very unprofessional. Started with drinks, which were average at best. I had tried their monthly special - Blackberry Lychee Margarita, which was a heavy syrup taste but you couldn't taste any lychee. We got the following to eat: - Seared Ahi - would skip next time. Nearly $30 for 6 tiny, sad pieces of ahi that had zero flavor to them. We got the sauce on the side and it wasn't good - Sea Bass - cooked very nice and loved the flavor of the puree. I wish I got bigger pieces of potato, but would get again - Red Beet Ginger Mashed Potatoes (side) - these sounded too unique not to get and they were surprisingly really good! Had a refreshing flavor to it - Prado Paella - too peppery and overall average. There was not a lot of substance or flavor to this dish and many of the proteins were overcooked and dry 3.5 stars for the food. read more

See all

My family and I decided to try this place out for my brother's 18th birthday. The moment we walked in we were welcomed with amazing service!!! Our waitress, omg... she was AMAZING!!! She made my family and me feel so special!!! The food is delicioussss. Although I will say the chicken pappardelle was good, if you are someone who gets tired of single-flavored food easily, I would not recommend it. However my mom and dad got different plates that were mouth-watering. At the end they brought my brother out a special birthday flan with a handwritten card from each staff member. My brother even put it up on his wall. We were all so grateful for the staff and how well they treated us. The food, I wish I could taste again. Anyways do not skip this beautiful restaurant!!!! read more

See all

Headed to the Old Globe for a show and hit this joint for a quick dinner. Perfectly seasoned and cooked chicken served over greens and quinoa and garnished with fresh veggies and cilantro. I ordered the guac and chips to complement. All was good and portion was sufficient. Ambiance is sidewalk picnic, service was at the counter, and prices are high. read more

The Prado at Balboa Park - Chicken quinoa bowl - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

We had an amazing lunch at The Prado! From the moment we arrived, everyone--from the hostess to the waitstaff and bussers--was warm, welcoming, and attentive. Our waiter, Maurice, was exceptional. He made some wonderful suggestions and went out of his way to make sure our lunch was perfect. He even helped us sign up for their rewards program. The food was absolutely delicious, the service was outstanding, and the beautiful Balboa Park setting made the whole experience even more special. We couldn't have asked for a better lunch. We will definitely be back! read more

The Prado at Balboa Park - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

We've coming to The Prado for years now; have tried their happy hour, holiday dinner and regular dinner. Overall, they don't disappoint. Some dishes have missed for us, but there are been more hits than miss. Staff have always been welcoming and despite having to manage a lot of tables, they stay attentive. We've paid anywhere between $220-330 (tip included) depending on what was ordered. We're definitely making our way through the menu. The Food: Seared ahi - tasted good, but we felt the dish was "too busy." Fish got a bit lost in the other components Mexican cocktail shrimp - tasted bright and complex. Unfortunately, it lacked heat and they didn't have Tapatio Spicy calamari fries - calamari was tender and flavorful. I liked the crunch of the batter, but some of the crunch was lost in the sauce Prado sea cake - bland and we thought the sauce clashed with the cake Pan roasted sea bass - absolute perfection; moist fish with nice crispy skin. Fresh ingredients that perfectly paired with the protein Prado paella - good depth of flavor, but a little more salt would have enhanced the dish Red wine short ribs - short ribs were tender and the dish felt homey Chefs cut steak & marinated shrimp - not the best cut of steak but it was cooked to desired temp. The shrimp were large and flavorful Duck breast - cooked well and seasoned Kids chicken tenders with fries - one of the only places that gets this dish right. Chicken was actually flavored and crispy while still moist. The fries were salty and crunchy Carrot cake - shareable piece and best to enjoy right away German chocolate cake - chocolatey and decadent Piloncillo flan - good consistency Crème brûlée - my favorite dessert but I've ordered less and less in general. For me, the brûlée was a little undercooked; consistency wasn't the right firmness read more

See all

Great spot for dinner before the theater. Tonight we had: Seared Prime Beef Sushi Roll - we have had this several times. It is always very good. Grilled cauliflower appetizer - disappointing. I'm was barely warm when served. I would it order it again. Black Bean Soup - Good flavor but it was not hot when served. Beet and Goat Cheese salad- very good. Grilled Sea-bass - good, but not good enough to order a second time. Service was good. read more

See all

We went here before we saw BEGIN AGAIN at the Old Globe. It was delicious! Scott, our waiter, was friendly, gracious and a fantastic host! We were also celebrating my parents' anniversary and they were given a lovely anniversary celebration and we really appreciated the delicious desert they were provided. Thank you so much for a wonderful evening! read more

See all

Beautiful, iconic spot in Balboa Park to grab a drink and appetizers or dinner! This time we just had margaritas, beer, ceviche, and guacamole with chips. Everything was fresh and flavorful on a hot/humid summer afternoon. Love the architecture and views. Side note: our high school hosted our graduation luncheon here in the patio back in 1992!! read more

The Prado at Balboa Park - View from the courtyard seating - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

I don't know why this restaurant doesn't have a higher rating. I'm willing to give it a five-star because the food is excellent even though it's on the casual side, the quality of the dishes and attention to details are to be commended! Besides, it's located inside a beautiful Spanish courtyard with large inside dining space and a beautiful outdoor dining patio. What's not to like? Again, the food is fantastic, it's a polished, made from scratch type of comfort food that is really satisfying. The service is standard. I would definitely come back next time I'm in the area. read more

See all

Easily made reservations online and we were seated immediately upon arrival. We sat outside and it was a beautiful day the music in the background from the Organ was wonderful. The raspberry lemon drop was fantastic as well as the mango margarita. The mustard crusted pork chop was phenomenal and the short ribs were scrumptious. Staff was attentive and service was excellent. I would love to come back and try something else on the menu, everything sounded so good. read more

See all

Stopped into the Cantina for dinner, ordered the Carne Asada Tacos, price was reasonable, tacos tasted good and two tacos were filling. Staff was friendly but not very attentive, several servers walked by with out greeting me, finally after about 10 minutes my server showed up and took my order, food came quickly. That was the last I saw of him until my meal was done, he came and took the plate away and said he would be right back with the bill, he disappeared into the back for another 10 minutes before he came back with the bill. This seemed to be typical as none of the servers seemed to pay much attention to the customers. Overall food was good but I expected better service. read more

See all

Excellent service!!! So accommodating too I brought a cake right away Caroline took it for later We sat in the patio and we enjoy this beautiful afternoon I even ran into a friend here too. It's so nice here we had 6 of us to celebrate a birthday Everyone enjoyed their food it was delicious And service was excellent I will be come back here Soon read more

See all

All afternoon/evening happy hour on Wednesdays. Carlos at the cantina took care of me. Thx u. read more

The Prado at Balboa Park - The Prado Cantina Sign - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Our group attended a show at the Old Globe. We made dinner reservations here afterwards. IT WAS AN EXCELLENT CHOICE! We ordered: 3 Short Rib Dinners, and they were FANTASTIC! The servers were amazing and they each had a great personality to offer us as we dined. I highly recommend The Prado before or after attending The Old Globe performances. You will not be disappointed. read more

See all

This is a great location in the middle of Balboa park. Really a great place to have a leisurely drink in on the shade of the patio on a warm day. The food is a solid choice and they have a good selection. Something for everyone. They get pretty busy so if you are grabbing dinner before a show at the Old Globe, leave yourself some time. We had to rush things a bit even though the waiter was aware we had a show to catch. read more

The Prado at Balboa Park - Dinner salad - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

This place is nice. An art gallery and restaurant all rolled up into one. We ordered: Mushroom Risotto (asked to split it into two plates) Shrimp Cocktail Squid Fries We asked for all the food to come out at once, since we only had one entree. This was a good move, because risotto can be rich in flavor on its own. The MUSHROOM RISOTTO was really good. I would definitely order it again. The SQUID FRIES was our favorite dish, I would ask for the sauce on the side to keep its crispiness. The flavors were great. The SHRIMP COCKTAIL was good (more of a ceviche), I would recommend that you ask for some tobacco or even horseradish fresh or creamy, to add a bit more of a kick. I look forward to visiting this restaurant again if I am ever back in San Diego. Wendy was our server, she was great. Count yourself lucky if you find yourself in her section. read more

The Prado at Balboa Park - Mushroom Risotto, Squid Fries, Shrimp Cocktail - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

Make your way to this spot whether you just came from the zoo, the rose garden or a museum close by. I stopped in the Cantina for a beverage and a bite after spending a couple hours walking through the Zoo and the park. In the Food and Beverage, I went this way: for drinks I got the Guava Ginger Martini and followed it up with a Carajillo. Both were delicious. For a bite, I settled on the ceviche. My only note of improvement was the chips. Chips were stale. Like the bag was left open stale, I didn't want to bother the staff because they were so busy to ask for fresh ones. It made the dish dull and took away from the overall bite which is a shame. The atmosphere was colorful and lively. The wait staff was a well oiled machine of efficiency. Winston was incredibly kind and knowledgeable while covering quite a few tables all at once. Definitely enjoy this place if you are in the neighborhood. read more

See all

3/14/26: Stacking up the reviews, so buckle up! *so much has happened recently* My curly haired cutie loves her some Cherry Blossoms! So much so, that she has a beautiful tattoo of them on her arm! Obviously, we're hitting the Cherry Blossom Festival at the Japanese Friendship Garden! It was whelming. Not quite a full bloom this year. (we'll see a better one in a few reviews...stay tuned). And what better way to satiate your appetite after a brisk walk around the Cherry Blossom trees? The staple. The spot. The Prado! Only here for some morsels, as other plans have been made. Luckily, the Cantina Menu works perfectly! Guac and chips are a perfect pairing for the margaritas that are about to be ordered. Eating light, because like Remo Williams, the adventure beings! (nobody's going to get this) However, how can you say no to this intoxicating enchantress who guides you on a savory side quest? And it paid off! The food was delicious! We shall return to explore more of the menu. The drinks are here! Blood Orange Margarita for your amigo, because you can't say "tajin on the rim" & me NOT want it. My lovely lady doesn't miss a beat with her Spicy Mezcal Margarita. She likes her drinks like her man, strong & spicy. *flattery will get you anywhere* I cannot complete my review without saying how nice everyone is here. Our server was delightful & so ready to suggest any alternative as we were about to ask. "Gl..." Yes, we have a gluten free option. "Um..." Yes, we can put this on the side. Mind readers, I say! Lovely pitstop when you're on the go. Or if you have time, come check out the happy hour. TL:DR - The right one makes anywhere the right place. read more

See all

I came here for lunch and had the Chicken BLT with fries and it was yummy! The restaurant is nice inside and out with seating in both areas. Service was good as well. I would recommend! read more

The Prado at Balboa Park - Chicken BLT with Fries - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

This is a really nice restaurant, the interior was beautiful. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive. We only got a couple of appetizers and drinks, they were very delicious. I hope to go back again soon! Kinda pricey tho read more

The Prado at Balboa Park - Balboa Park Sangria. Summer shrimp roll. Broccolini. - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

I love that this place is dog friendly. The servers and hostess are nice and their food is ok. I love the atmosphere so for this they get 4 stars. I was here for happy hour, otherwise I would not pay 17$ or 23$ for fish tacos. I loved their birria queso dip and their fish tacos were very decent. The carrot cake was also pretty mild and good. I did not like the mole chicken wings, but then again I dont like mole anything. The rolled tacos lacked a good bit of meat and the happy hour prices were hardly "happy" hour prices, but again, this place was awesome to chill at and the atmosphere is quite cool. Sometimes thats all you need. An awesome vibe amd environment and good servers! read more

See all

Our server was Scott, and he absolutely MADE our night! He was so fun! We will definitely ask for Scott's area next time we eat at Prado read more

My family came here for lunch this past week, and it was a great experience. Whether you're a local or not, sitting on the patio immediately transports you to vacation mode. Inside is absolutely gorgeous as well, but the patio is my personal favorite. Our waiter was wonderful. The potstickers, grilled cauliflower, and guava lemonade were all incredible. The steak tacos were yummy as well, especially with the charro beans. The Prado is a great choice if you're at Balboa Park. You can go for a fun lunch or a fancy dinner or anything in between. read more

See all

Spent my last night in San Diego dining here. The ambiance is incredible. The food is fantastic and the service is the best part. Lisa took care of me and she was so genuine and you could really tell she loves what she does. I have celiac disease and she made sure all of my food was safe. I'll always come back here and ask for her! read more

This place has a great outside patio that just made a great end to our visit to the zoo and walk through the historic buildings. Server was great, they have a diverse menu. All of our lunches were great. We had the Cobb Salad, Chicken BLT, and seared beef sushi roll. A mush place to checkout. read more

The Prado at Balboa Park - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

Had dinner the other night out on the patio. The food is always great. The last two times I've gone Michael G was our server. Super nice guy and very attentive. Highly recommend. read more

The Prado is such a San Diego classic! We love it! If you have a kiddo who loves the Grinch, this is such a fun place to take them. Both the Grinch and Santa were walking around at lunch time today and the whole restaurant was decorated beautifully for the holidays - so many pieces of Grinch decor. Everyone enjoyed their meals today. They have a great kids menu. I love that you can get the chicken tenders grilled or crispy. We shared the chips and guacamole which was delicious. There were microgreens on top with small slices of peppers. Delish! I had the vegetarian black bean soup (minus the crema on top) and the beet salad with truffle vinaigrette. So flavorful. Our server was very accommodating with multiple requests and also helped our kids with the opportunity to meet the Grinch. It looked very crowded when we arrived, but we walked right in with a party of 11. They moved two tables together for us in the bar area. So always worth a try even if it looks crowded. read more

The Prado at Balboa Park - Chips and Guac - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

My mom hasn't stopped talking about the Sangria. Service was great. Very attentive. We were one of the first at opening so we got a great seat outside with nice views. There was a special for $25 sangria pitchers. I ordered a steak sandwich with fries and my mom ordered a burger. She loved it and wants to go back. I have been for happy hour as well. This is a staple on Balboa park for a reason' read more

See all

The restaurant has such a nice atmosphere! Our waitress, Zorka, was amazing -- super quick, very nice, and had a great sense of humor, which made the whole experience even better. We really enjoyed our drinks, appetizers and dessert! Definitely a great spot for a nice meal and drinks! read more

The Prado at Balboa Park - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Amazing! Parking isn't easy to find if you just GPS the address so make sure to locate the parking lots near it before going. Service, food, and atmosphere was awesome! The food was very good and the plating/ presenation is just beautiful and to perfection on every plate. We had a party of about 15 people and they all gave raving reviews for the appetizers, entrée, and desserts. They have vegan and vegetarian options too. It's located in Balboa Park area so plan for a nice walk after too! read more

See all

I was fully prepared for this restaurant to let me down but now, I'm actually glad that I had a good time at dinner last night. Putting aside the parking issues in Balboa Park that are certain to be exacerbated in the coming new year, the Prado actually delivered on a terrific dinner experience. No one on the staff threw a hissy fit for being a few minutes late on our dinner reservation of 5pm. I thought our waitress was a bit overenthusiastic for my taste but it's better than having one that doesn't care about anything. I ordered the paella, which from the menu description sounded tasty. The dish was actually quite good. I thought the rice should've been a bit crispier but oh well. The seafood was excellent. I didn't like the sausage but that was easy to just put to the side. The mussels were smaller than I expected but still good. I thought my raspberry lemonade was good, although I think the carbonization of the drink made it taste more sour than I would like. The French fries from the kids menu were also quite good. I also liked the short ribs. Very tender. Fair warning though: The food is pricey. My paella dish was close to $40. The dining room and our table was very spacious, even as our table was squeezed between two pillars. The music in the room wasn't too loud so people could actually have a conversation without screaming. read more

The Prado at Balboa Park - Seafood paella - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

The food was great! We shared the cauliflower and elote appetizer and the birria torta which came with fries. The service there was excellent and they made sure that everything was going well. Though the restaurant was a little crowded with costumers, we still got our food in no time! We had sat outside and the view was amazing and so was the weather. We are definitely coming back! read more

The Prado at Balboa Park - Torta and fries - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Conveniently located in Balboa Park, The Prado is a culinary and festive gem. It's the perfect spot to have a nice dinner after or before experiencing the rest of the park or seeing a production at the Old Globe. The park itself is festive especially during the holiday season and The Prado matches the vibe. Adding to its usual eclectic but classy vibe, they added a Grinch-theme and other decor. As I've always experienced, every one of the staff from the hosts to servers were so friendly. This evening we sat in the dining area that had a nice view of the outdoor patio and our server was very knowledgeable and accommodating, especially since this was the first time for some of the group. Alas we apparently picked some of the most popular items on the menu, including the mustard crusted pork prime rib, chicken milanesa and pan roasted sea bass. I was fortunate to try all and all were great with their own distinct flavors. I'd say my favorite was the sea bass which was locally caught and could definitely taste the freshness. To top off the night, they brought a flan dessert to help us celebrate a birthday. A very nice experience and a perfect spot to celebrate. Definitely recommended if you're spending time in Balboa Park, and would suggest making a reservation since it is pretty popular. read more

See all

I came here for Restaurant Week, and the so-called special was not special at ALL! It was basically $30 for a house margarita that tasted like Kirkland and a chicken BLT. The sandwich was decent but $30 for a bottled drink and a mid sandwich is wild. No need to respond with your usual spiel about contacting you guys. Just take customers' reviews to heart and fix the suggestions presented. Thanks! One thing I've noticed about this brand for as many years as I have been patronizing, is that while although their food is indeed good, the ambiance oftentimes outweighs the food. read more

I came in prior to concerts in the park with a friend. She ordered a boozy drink and I ordered a dessert because booze makes me sleepy and I was breaths away from needing a nap. The bartender looked at me and offered me a coffee! I'm not going to lie those were some very sharp observation skill and I was definitely in need of caffeine! The desert was okay but honestly the most memorable and impressive thing was the service. read more

My cousin made reservations for our family brunch at this spot located at Balboa Park. Before entering the restaurant, you will see a Woman of Tehuantepec, also known as Aztec Woman of Tehuantepec, is an outdoor 1935 fountain and sculpture by Donal Hord, installed in the courtyard of Balboa Park's House of Hospitality. A great photo op with friends and family. As we checked in with the hostess we were seated at the patio with an umbrella. The Patio was lush and warm outside. My cousin ordered a lot of appetizers for us to try such as spicy calamari fries, and grilled cauliflower. For myself, since it was resturant week I opted the restaurant week menu price which I ordered the red and gold baby beet salad with prado sangria. I loved the salad very light and refreshing. Lastly for dessert, we all shared tres leches with white cake, pistachio meringue, and strawberry sauce! Very yummy! A great brunch spot! read more

See all

We had a reservation for lunch & were seated promptly. We shared a chicken dish which was huge. The patio is cute. Our server was attentive. No issues. read more

The Prado at Balboa Park - Patio - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

See all