I went to high school at Santa Fe Christian just up the street and we used to come to Fidel's and Tony's Jacal often. Too many times to count once senior lunches became a thing. Fidel's was always the go to main spot, but it would often get too busy and crowded so Tony's Jacal was a solid second option. It's a traditional sit down Mexican restaurant with truly great flavors and quick service. It's quite large on the inside, they have indoor seating and out, and when you sit down you're given a number and then when you are ready to check out and pay, you leave the table and give the cashier your number and then pay at the front. A unique system, but it works. Parking is also extremely easy, there are plenty of free spaces all around the restaurant as there is a large parking lot attached on the side and then back. Everything that we ordered came out very fast and our server was friendly. I started off with a cup of the Albondigas Soup and loved it. It really hit the spot on a cold November night and I would happily order it again. For my entrée, I chose the El Rey combo and selected Carne Asada and Chile Colorado (red). Both were great as expected and the tortillas were fresh and delicious. Every part of the meal was honestly really good and I have zero complaints. Pricing is fair, the menu is huge, and service is fast. It's a great option if you're in the mood for some great Mexican food. read more

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NOT DOG FRIENDLY Came in on a Friday around 1:15 PM. The patio had a few tables already seated and looked nice at first glance. The experience started off a bit off-putting. There's a sign saying no dogs allowed on the patio, which felt odd for an outdoor space. We were told dogs weren't allowed, even though another table had a dog sitting there. Our dogs are registered service animals, and when that came up, the interaction felt tense rather than straightforward. We ultimately said we'd take our business elsewhere, especially since there are other restaurants very close by. After that, the situation shifted. One of the staff members ended up seating us, and our server was genuinely great. She was kind, attentive, and easily the best part of the service experience. Another staff member did seem a bit uncomfortable or standoffish when bringing waters, but things improved once our server took over. Food-wise, I ordered the turkey taco and enchilada combo with rice and beans. They're known for turkey dishes, but it didn't really stand out to me. The turkey was on the dry side. The beef enchilada was better and pretty standard for Tex-Mex. The salsa had a solid heat to it, which I didn't care for. They don't serve queso, which was surprising. I also tried the guacamole, but it tasted more processed than fresh, so I wouldn't order that again. We also tried one of their popular margaritas, which our server recommended. It was fine, nothing memorable, but not bad either. The food came out in a reasonable amount of time. At checkout, the same staff member who initially handled the dog situation was much friendlier and even gave us a chocolate on the house, which was a nice gesture and appreciated. Overall, the patio is cute and the service from our server was excellent. That said, the initial welcome and inconsistent handling of the patio policy left a bad first impression. Food was average. I don't see myself coming back though. read more

Tony's Jacal - Taco and Enchilada Combo - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Not Biggie approved! NOT Dog friendly! Family has been going to Tony's since the 50's, yes the 50's. We showed up with our dog, very chill, not aggressive we were turned from there out door dinning! The food on the other hand is absolutely amazing! Love their salsa- no other Mexican restaurant has that flavor! The shredded turkey tacos are insane and they have best cheese enchiladas! The Chilaquiles are original- not just chips drenched in red or green sauce, much more flavor than any place I've tried! If you're ever at the Del Mar fairgrounds stop by just don't bring your dog! read more

Tony's Jacal - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Came for a family dinner party of six and started with some drinks in the bar and then we were seated in a back room and it was perfect. We tried many different types of margaritas: muddled orange Cadillac margarita, Cadillac margarita, too shelf margarita, classic house blended margarita and Modelo beer. For food, combo plates, chili Colorado, Chile relleno - a little too much egg batter for me but I ate every bite, veggie burrito, crab quesadilla and everyone was happy. Wait staff were friendly and quick to refill water and chips. We had a lovely dinner and prices were fair. Happy to return. read more

Im just going to say it: I dont get it? To get in this place you have to get there at 4:30 when they open, and there is a LINE out the door. The salsa and guac taste store bought, and the tacos were good but not mind blowing (ive had much better tacos at el pueblo, city taco, etc). I think I would have given this place 4 stars but it was $70 for 2 N/A beers + 4 oz of guac + 5 tacos with rice and beans. I noticed that most people seem to be locals, and maybe its just a family tradition but the food just isnt worth the price. We also noticed a lot of people drinking so maybe there's something there? The bar seems nice.. but not somewhere we would be back to eat at. read more

Tony's Jacal - Carne Asada Tacos (Baja Style) - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

I have been twice now and cannot believe I have never been here before! The service is AMAZING! So efficient! Servers were friendly and checking on us every 5 minutes. Food is authentic and soooo good! They make authentic ranchero sauce that I want to put on everything! I haven't had real ranchero sauce in years. Hands down best Chile Relleno ever, even better if you put Ranchero Sauce on it! Chicken chile verde enchiladas were delicious and chile verde pork was incredible! Skinny margarita was also on point. So happy to finally have discovered this restaurant! read more

Tony's Jacal - Cheese crisp! Ooey gooey cheesey! Get it with the Ranchero Sauce! - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

We usually go to Fidel's. But tried Tony's. It was outstanding! From the friendly staff and server, to the delicious enchilada, Chile rellano, chips and salsa, and of course, a margarita. We will be back! read more

As a third generation California resident, I've had some sit down Mexican food. From Alvera St, to East Los, to SD. This is by far, one of the best sit down historical Mexican Restaurants around. We came in and sat on the beautiful patio. The salsa had oregano instead of cilantro and a little heat! The chili relleno was amazingly old school with a perfect egg batter. The beans were amazing. The rice had heat. The turkey taco was the standout. The marg wasn't a face punch of lime and sugar. Service is weird, but not enough to tank a perfect meal! read more

5/5 Food was pretty good, all of it had solid flavor and it came in big portions so I was able to share 2 orders with my two friends 4/5 Service was decent, they came and checked a couple of times and tried to be as accommodating as possible, everyone was very kind 5/5 Ambiance was cool, it's a good spot for groups and families, I saw a lot of people come, some were celebrating so it's versatile 4/5 Accessibility, The table was hard to fit under, I understand that 3 wheelchairs is a lot of space needed but it was hard to find a good table to fit us and lots of the seating was benches at least outside read more

Tony's Jacal - shrimp and Vegetable Fajitas - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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I love this restaurant. The food quality is consistently exceptional, and drinks are heavenly. A family and community gathering place for celebrations and casual great meals. Staff is warm and competent. My food favorites are turkey enchiladas, carnitas, pot beans, Mexican corn, and salsa Fresca. I also suggest trying Tony's Gold Coin Marguerites. A Solana Beach treasure. read more

Great authentic Mexican food with history. Server had some good stories and helpful. Been there a long time. Loved the margaritas.

I tried the mole with rice and beans. Rice and beans were really good. Chicken was a little dry but very well seasoned. Tortillas were excellent. read more

The service was fast and friendly. Very cute establishment with a relaxing vibe. Our food selection was very tasty we enjoyed it. The only thing I was not a fan of was the salsa that was brought out with the chips. It was very salty and a burnt roasted flavor that I just was not a fan of. I usually judge a Mexican restaurant by their salsa but I was pleasantly surprised with the freshness and flavor of food. I would recommend this location to other and encourage you to make a stop right off the highway. Also it was very clean booths, floors, kitchen area you can see from dinning area and the restrooms. They take pride in their establishment. read more

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If I'm up in North County and I'm craving Mexican from an authentic and cozy Mexican restaurant, I choose this place. It's always busy at dinner time which can only prove just how good it is.. so we usually just go for lunch. I love the nachos, each bite has the perfect amount of delicious goodness. Their beef stew, when it's on the menu is bomb and BIG! Plus you get yummy warm tortillas. Plenty of leftovers. Their carne asasa quesadilla, vegetable soup with albondigas, and cabbage salad are my favs. Ricardo is the coolest server, really makes it a fun experience. :) Also, from their story, theyhome read more

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Went to the San Diego Fair and we found this little place because of the reviews. The food and the atmosphere were good. We sat outside which was nice they had heaters on. I loved that they refilled the horchata for free because some places it's extra for a refill. When the food came out it was so hot and had to wait for it to cool down which is a plus because usually the food is warm. read more

Tony's Jacal - Flautas (2), Beef or Turkey and Enchiladas Enchilada Verde (Chicken) - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

I've been coming to Tony's Jacal since the late 1980s--back when the original family's children were running the place and the experience was defined by genuine hospitality. This has been a go-to spot for decades, which is exactly why this review is so hard to write. Back then, Tony's felt like a true family restaurant in every sense of the word. Teresa oversaw things with love and care--and humor. It was so refreshing and, honestly, made you feel part of the family. You see, it wasn't just owned by a family--it was run like a labor of love. You could feel that people cared. They noticed things, they stepped in, and they took pride in making sure every customer left having had a good experience. That was part of what made it special. I'm in Del Mar for a couple of nights and decided to come back to Tony's. I arrived around 5:45 PM. It was busy, which is expected. I was dining solo and took a small bar-top seat (essentially a narrow wall-mounted counter). It took about 20 minutes before anyone acknowledged me. I ordered a taco and a drink. The drink came. The taco didn't. After 30 minutes, I watched multiple parties who were seated after me receive their food. At the 45-minute mark, my taco finally arrived. At that point, I declined it. I asked for it to be boxed or taken back, paid my bill, and decided to leave. Up to that point, it was a frustrating but potentially forgivable service failure. What happened next is what prompted this review. I stopped at the front desk to share the experience. The gentleman there--who appeared to be a manager and/or member of the family--offered a brief apology but immediately distanced himself from the situation. He said he didn't know what happened, that he was "up here" while it happened "back there," and that he wasn't able to do anything about it. I pressed, respectfully, asking how that response addressed the experience I had just described. His answer, verbatim: "It doesn't." That was the moment it became clear this wasn't just a service miss--it was a culture issue. Tony's used to be a place where someone would step in, take ownership, and make things right. That was the family standard. Tonight, the message felt very different--more like a commercial operation where what happens to an individual customer simply doesn't matter, and where accountability stops at "I don't know." After nearly 40 years of being a customer, that's a striking shift. I'm not writing this because of a late taco. I'm writing this because of what felt like complete indifference to a loyal customer's experience. That's new--and it's concerning. I still have a lot of history with this place, and I don't say this lightly: something has changed here. What once felt like a family-run labor of love now feels like just another high-volume restaurant, where the personal care that built its reputation has been lost. I hope ownership takes a hard look at that, because the Tony's many of us grew up with was built on care, accountability, and pride in the guest experience. Tonight's experience, and that of the resturant leader at the front desk (at 8 PM) didn't reflect that. As I write this about an hour after the experience (simply so I do not mistake the facts), I cannot help but wonder what Teresa and her generation of the family would think about the restaurant today. Having reviewed a number of recent reviews (e.g., posted in 2026), I understand the culture I experienced tonight has happened to a fair number of other reviewers. In sum, very sad. read more

The nachos here are like heaven so savory and delicious we go every week. My kids are tough critics even they love the food best salsa in town. read more

So I found this little gem quite a while ago here on Yelp when I was driving up the coast. I'm glad I stopped in and gave them a try! They have been around a LONG time and it's a local favorite. They get pretty busy every night so if the waitlist is up it's a good idea to jump on. Happened to stop in this time on Father's Day and it was packed. Everyone was super nice and even though the wait was long the service was fast. I ordered the vegetable soup and a cheese crisp with ranchero sauce. Both were very good. The restaurant itself has a cool old school vibe. They have bar seating, restaurant seating, and outdoor seating. Your choice! Stop in and give this place a try!! read more

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Been dining here for years the food is great. The service tends to be good. But the customer service is horrible. There's no personality and they're almost annoyed that you're there. I would rather be ordering from a computer. There would be more personality. I think it's time to try Fidel's again. read more

This Mexican restaurant is a neighborhood favorite. It's nestled in a quiet area not far from the beach. The food is very good, very traditional and served very quickly. We enjoyed sitting in the bar, which looks like it was built in the 50s. Very charming very old-fashioned. Our only disappointment was the service staff. They were less than friendly and barely spoke to us after we had placed our order they never return to ask if we wanted a second cocktail. This being said I would still recommend having a wonderful meal at Tony's. read more

This place has gone downhill! Terrible service. The waiter essentially ignored us, then slammed down the wrong order saying the plates were hot, left with a huge attitude & never came back to check. We had to come find a hostess. Front desk guy had a similar attitude problem. What a shame! And, when lunch costs over $120 for two people, 2 entrees & 2 margaritas, this is ridiculous. I miss the old days when this was a welcoming, family-oriented place. read more

We've been coming here for a while. The food is getting worse, and the service isn't like it used to be! We will Never come back again! read more

Tony's Jacal - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

After leaving Fidel's in tears, I walked into Tony's Jacal -- and was immediately met with compassion, kindness, and care. Ricardo and Osbaldo went above and beyond to make sure I felt safe, welcomed, and supported. Their empathy turned my day around. Ricardo truly validated my feelings and made sure to check in with the kitchen about every ingredient to help me find a meal that was both safe and delicious. His attentiveness meant the world to me. Osbaldo was equally incredible -- making sure we had water, clean seating, and a calm, friendly environment throughout the visit. They helped me calm down from an extremely upsetting situation and took real, thoughtful ways to accommodate my severe allergies. Thanks to them, I was able to enjoy a warm bowl of soup, flavorful beans, and their homemade tortillas -- which were fresh, comforting, and absolutely delicious. My friends raved about their fajitas, too. The outdoor courtyard was gorgeous -- filled with flowers and peaceful vibes. It felt like the healing space I needed after such a hard experience just moments earlier. Thank you to everyone at Tony's Jacal, especially Ricardo and Osbaldo, for your kindness, your care, and for keeping me safe and nourished. I can't recommend this place enough -- both for the amazing food and the genuinely good people who work there. read more

Seriously, a hidden gem. Has been here forever and carries so much history, but also has kept with the times in terms of being one of the most accommodating places. My husband has celiac disease and they knew exactly what had gluten and what didn't. In fact, our waitress was even able to say that one of their chefs was out for the past few weeks and normally makes the Mexican rice and the substitute chefs may not be following the same recipe and recommended not to eat it this time. They have a dedicated fryer for their tortilla chips. That is a higher level of detail than we've gotten in some of the fanciest restaurants in San Diego. Nostalgic 90s Tex-Mex restaurant vibes inside with absolutely delicious food. Giant menu with so many options for combinations, including just having one entree item with a side of rice and beans, but also up to three and option for specialty items. read more

Tony's Jacal - Chicken Enchilada Verde (Chicken), Tony's "A Su Gusto" Combination - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

The soup rivals my other fav Mexican place but the SALSA!!! Like no other place we've been! Gotta try! read more

On a Sunday afternoon we were seated at the courtyard which was very pleasant and relaxing. The chips and salsa tasted great- the chips were fresh and the salsa very flavorful. The spicy margarita was just ok, could taste syrupy artificial flavoring and the cocktail was watery. Then our waitress disappeared for like 30 minutes. Finally some other waiter picked our order. My shrimp burrito was just ok. I get much better burritos from los tacos. Overall disappointing. read more

We love Tony's! Everything is delicious. Had shrimp fajitas last night- so good!! Staff is great. Don't go anywhere else. This is the spot!! read more

Very popular old school place. A bit dark inside and a beautiful patio outside. Table service is a bit unique with a team approach. Unfortunately, this doesn't always lend to great disposition. The margaritas are very good, and they offer very good cocktail, beer, and wine options. The food is very good with only a few clunkers. We have ordered guacamole 4/5, queso fundido 4/5, carnitas and asada combo 5/5, seafood enchiladas 4/5, chicken fajitas 4.5/5, hard taco and enchilada combo 3.5/5, and fried ice cream 1/5. read more

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Good food, great service. Had beef enchilada with beans and cabbage salad. All was great. Thanks!

I would rate it 3.5. Not the best Mexican food I have had but it still tasted really fresh. I expected the burrito to have more flavor. The carne asada was really good quality. We did takeout but the inside of the restaurant was beautiful. Friendly staff. read more

Tony's Jacal - Carne Asada Tacos - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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Super friendly and efficient service. Great buzzy atmosphere...not hip or trendy, but happy because most of the tables are groups of friends or families. Tony's is an institution for good reason! I think the sleeper hit on the menu is the turkey broth. Yup. I'll stand by that! Everything else is terrific - fajitas, enchiladas...but you better order the turkey broth! read more

Food is FANTASTIC. Coming from a Monterrey, Mexico girl... 15/10! I got tacos de papas, queso fundido as an app, and a chicken burrito with mole sauce on top. Will not be disappointed with anything I promise! read more

6/5 stars. Tony's, I could write you a love letter. This is hands down the best Mexican in town. We've been going here for years and I dream of their Mole and Calamari. I recommend ordering the special or anniversary plates if you want to try a lot of different items. Otherwise, all the appetizers are great and you can't go wrong with their margaritas. Absolutely love this spot and always get so excited to grab dinner here! The servers are all so kind and the spot is very authentic. read more

Tony's is a historic restaurant that has some unique characteristics. #1 they differentiate themselves by serving Mexican food made with turkey. The outdoor patio is a wonderful spot to eat at with the garden setting read more

Tony's Jacal - Tony's matriarch owner now in her mid 80's - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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My cheese enchiladas were awful tasting. There was no flavor. I cannot describe how bad it tasted. I was very disappointed.

Both the garden and inside of this old school authentic full menu Mexican restaurant have cozy, quaint, cute, friendly and clean ambiance. Service is very good, with quick refills on sodas. Tortilla soup is heavenly. The broth makes you feel like a super hero. It's intense and flavorful, yet light and comforting. Fajitas are HUGE and delicious. The shrimp burrito is also gigantic and fantastic. Chips and salsa are good. Tortillas are freshhhhhh! I can't wait to go back. read more

Tony's Jacal - Shrimp Burrito - Salad Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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A local favorite family hangout and very busy Friday and Saturday night. I recommend you make a reservation during those times of the week. Expansive menu. Full bar so order to your heart's content. Their margaritas looked amazing. Good selection of beers. I had their full dinner platter. Steak was good and cooked to your liking. Large dining area so lots of places to sit with booth space. Outdoor seatings are available with a beautiful garden view. Private limited parking is available with street parking across the street. Great service and comfort good food. Place has been around awhile I was told. You pay for your meals at the cashier counter and tell them your table number. There you will meet the nice lady who owns this place. Cheers! read more

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Great food and drinks! Had not been there in years, but it was just as amazing as it was years ago!

TallGirl, AdventurousAunt, TallDad, RedHeadHottie and her Family and I all went out to dinner here the other night. Oh. My. GoodNess!!!!!! RedHeadHottie and family have been patrons here for over 40 years. They know the menu like the back of their hand. We were a party of 10. Every entree we had was amazing. FroM salad to empanadas, Chile rellenos. I want to focus on a few things: Service - Sandra was our waitstaff, she was epic!!! Food - quality, quantity and taste - on point! Parking - easy :) Drinks. We had a variety. Margaritas, beers, sodas. I had my favorite Spicy Margarita!! I don't drink often, but when I do, it's this. And this one was made to perfection. It even made want to have more then my self imposed "one". Dessert. I think we ordered everything they offered. So. I had to have a bite of them all! For those who love sweet - get the dessert burrito!! The natural sweetness of the banana, with the simple add of a little chocolate is a natural pairing. It tastes almost Cuban, and is amazing!! For the purist - the churros were out of this world amazing! Fresh, hot, light, amazingly cinnamonly. Churros perfection on a plate. For classic tastes - fried ice cream. This one had a lot of whip cream on it. It was also encased in a good selection of flavors and textures. I think I tasted, oats, coconut, maybe some honey and chocolate wrapped around the ice cream (before it was fried). The ice cream was classic vanilla. All were good choices based on what your favorite flavors. It was less then a week ago, and I'm already craving to go back!! read more

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I think I'm officially done with this place. It used to be good but everything has gone downhill since 2020. The service is not there. The website states "dog friendly patio" It is not, you are not allowed to bring your dog here unless it's a service dog. Despite bringing my dog here multiple times in the past. Please change your website description and train all your staff equally so everyone has the same information. This was my final time coming here. Ive tried to give it the benefit of the doubt read more