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    Vanessa's Deli

    3.5 (204 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican, Delis
    Closed 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Vanessa's Deli Takeout or Delivery

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    VANESSA'S DELI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Burnt French toast in wheat bread

    My experience was terrible, I ordered French toast and it was burnt and in wheat bread which I wanted in white bread, no syrup was given the app doesn't give you any options on this. I ordered a green drink it had no ginger nor lime or ice as it says on the menu. I called and I got an employee who acted like they didn't know anything. Then I got another employee that spoke English and the only thing she could say is take my number to see if the manager is going to call me on Monday. I do not recommend this place.

    Raw chilaquiles
    Marissa R.

    A little hole in the wall. I have been coming here for YEARS!! I love this place but lately they have been messing up my orders & today is the LAST Straw!!! I ordered chilaquiles rancheros extra crispy... the tortillas were not even cooked and it took 20 minutes to get my food... I called later and told them about my poor food quality and the girl on the phone said "we make the tortilla chips and then once we get an order we mix in our sauce with the chips" ... if that were the case my tortillas would not taste raw. Poor food. Poor customer service. Vanessa's Deli Management please read!!!

    Francisco C.

    Pésimo servicio, llegue, ordene y decide pagar primero. ordene una orden un bistec y una orden de tacos de 2, uno de asada y de adobada. Me siento, la mesa está sucia el joven que me atendió me dijo que la muchacha limpiaría la mesa. Nunca la limpiaron. Llega mi orden de tacos y son de adobada, le dije que pedí uno y uno. Me dice que se les acabo los de adobada, cuando mis tacos eran de adobada y les falto el de asada. El bistec estaba rico. Pero me entregan las tortillas como la foto que les dejo abajo. No tiene tapa ni nada.

    View of the menu against the wall
    Jennifer H.

    update - I LOVE this place. The food is always delicious. My wallet is taking a hit and I am gaining weight but I leave a happy camper. Joshua is such a sweetheart. My friends and I always sit in his section. He is so attentive, nice, friendly, funny and an all around great guy. All of us have a little crush. My usual order for food is the super mixta torta without cilantro or onion. The bread is fantastic. One of the best bolillos I have ever had - soft, a little sweet, fresh. I can imagine eating it warmed with some butter. The torta is huge! I will normally only eat half so the remaining half I give to a coworker or save for dinner. The torta tastes great rewarmed later. Two co-workers of mine introduced me to this neighborhood spot over lunch. We went on a Friday afternoon approx. 11:35 am and found a table immediately. I was surprised that it was a full service restaurant. Since it is a smaller restaurant located in a strip mall, I expected a place where you order, find a table, sit down and then pick up your food from the counter. The restaurant seats about 45 people (8 tables of 4 and 6 tables of 2) The service was great. Joshua was our waiter. He was quick and attentive. Since I had not been there before and didn't have time to review the menu in advance, I asked a lot of questions. He was friendly and descriptive with explaining the ingredients of the various menu items. He took our order without writing it down and got everything correct. The food was served promptly. We only had to wait about 7 minutes. My co-workers wanted to visit Vanessa's to get a Chamango smoothie. I had never heard of it before today's visit. It was nothing like I ever tasted. I think the chamoy is what threw me off. I have never had chamoy before today. How do I describe what it tastes like? Chamoy is a salty, spicy and tart chili sauce with the same texture as mole. I am not a big mango eater but I enjoyed it. The mango is blended in the smoothie but there are chunks left in big pieces. I wish they were a bit smaller so you could drink them through the straw. There were also chunks of tamarindo, which I love. You will need a spoon. If you like tamarindo, then you will most likely enjoy it. For lunch, I ordered the chilaquiles with pollo and scrambled eggs with mole. The mole was pretty amazing. Nice and thick with good flavor. The scrambled eggs were served alongside a side order of beans. The beans reminded me of my grandmas. I would assume made with lard. Very authentic tasting. I tried some of my friend's rice and it was good too. The rice was fluffy and had good flavor. The rice had the right color. My friend got the crispy tacos. She was disappointed as she expect a real corn tortilla deep fried with the meat and toppings. Instead she got a pre-made shell. Having the shell loses the authenticity of a taco. She said the contents of the taco were good but not having the real tortilla made a huge difference. My other friend got three flautas. I don't know how they tasted as she inhaled them without offering me a taste. :) There was ample parking at the end of the lot. I was surprised that the restaurant is also a water store. Raspados, paletas and dulces are also available.

    Super bomb!
    Carlos A.

    Super delicious I love their kind of southern fries with nacho cheese super bomb I recommend them

    Raspado (tamarindo & chamoy)
    Angel G.

    I rated this review 2 stars just because the price is fair. On the other hand the quality and taste of the raspados (chamoy/ tamarindo) sold at this location is horrible. Maybe I got a bad batch, maybe I have as luck. Who knows. I had high expectations about this deli. Friends and family recommend this place for raspados. Hopefully they improve the taste in the near future. Also the ice tasted a little funky. Not sure if where's it's coming from but it does not taste normal. More like freezer ice when you have a bunch of random things in there. Hopefully I can go back in the future and change my mind about this place.

    One and done!
    D A.

    So my work has been buying us lunches now and then to help support small businesses and reward us during Covid time. We got Vanessa's today, gotta say if I had paid for this I would have sent it back! The portions are ridiculously small for the price this is my $16 beef fajita plate literally not enough meat to fill the 2 small tortillas given.Im all for helping support small businesses but we were all disappointed with portions it's a one and done won't be going back!

    This big ass bowl for three pieces of meat I will be getting my money back for $11

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    2 months ago

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    8 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Amazing food and customer service , would definitely go back there ! The tortas are my favorite

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    5 years ago

    Bombskies !! Everything looks so good in here idk what to order it's more of a fruteria/ taco shop we had the tortas today they were fire !!

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    2 years ago

    Vanessa Restaurant is okay the only thing they lack is not giving enough food very lil your still hungry after eating there

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

    I like to come here to refill my water and although the food is a little pricey it is really good quality.

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    6 years ago

    The food speaks for itself. Homemade style Mexican food. Try it. You won't be disappointed

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    Page 1 of 6

    Vanessa's Deli Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Vanessa's Deli

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    De Cabeza el único

    De Cabeza el único

    4.7(1k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Parking 3/5 -parking lot in front of the restaurant has…read moreabout 20 spots that are shared with other shops in the plaza so you most likely have to park across the street in the residential area during busy hours Service 4/5 -server is friendly and accommodating however feels understaffed during busy times, the owner is always present and very helpful and enthusiastic/passionate with customers, honestly great service! Just be more patient and mindful that they're doing the best they can Food 5/5 -mixed(surtido) and cheek(cachete) tacos, meat is TENDER. I honestly can't taste the difference between the two, I just knew I wanted to keep eating them(even after eating 3). Sturdy tortillas so the tacos weren't falling apart as I was eating, I also really liked that each table had two squeeze bottles of salsa, so convenient -orden/order, if you come here, you have to order this soup with the head meat. It's the essence that sums up the restaurant, it's a little peppery with the sweetness from the diced onions and meaty goodness. It comes with about 4 tortillas and there's a lot of meat in the soup to be made into more tacos Ambiance 5/5 -restaurant was full of people eating food happily(obviously the food was delicious) and there was a guy that sang for donations and vendors that came through selling trinkets, just a mixing pot of life and happy place to eat

    Pretty good asada. pastor decent…read more cabeza is not my preference but it was okay here. not too stinky. flavor in chilaquiles was cool. not best.

    Photos
    De Cabeza el único
    De Cabeza el único - Taco de cochinita pibil  Taco de cabeza

    Taco de cochinita pibil Taco de cabeza

    De Cabeza el único - Michelada

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    Michelada

    El Viejon Seafood - El Viejon Taco, our favorite. There's sooo much stuff in it, be prepared to get messy. Worth it though!

    El Viejon Seafood

    4.1(122 reviews)
    7.4 mi
    $$

    You have to try this place!…read more It's one of my family's favorite seafood spots. I've had the pulpo tostada and taco multiple times and they're always amazing, super fresh and never overcooked. I usually get the macho sauce on the side so I can spice it up to my level lol. My family has also tried the tuna tostada, micheladas, chilaquiles, and even Dino nuggets for the kids, everything has been consistently great every time we go. The service is always on point, the ambiance is nice, and it's in a great central location. We usually stop by Wood Market afterward to grab a few things. Highly recommend! definitely a spot we'll keep coming back to. Also, shoutout to the Convoy location, it's just as good!

    Love spending time with mom and sis. I was the one driving, and I got to choose this casual dining…read morespot. We got some chilaquiles! Even though we were a bit late for the breakfast menu, they still let us order the Smoked fish, Gobernador, and Pork Belly-quiles. I loved the flavors, and it had just the right amount of spice I prefer. I also had a Mango-rita that snuck up on me in a good way. We each tried all three plates, and all agreed they were sumptuous. Everyone running the restaurant was super friendly and accommodating to special diet needs as well. I'm glad we tried this establishment. It was quite busy that day, but there was still plenty of parking, and they had booths to sit and enjoy the experience. Portions were large - we all had leftovers to take home. I would love to come back and try more of the menu!

    Photos
    El Viejon Seafood - Bye bye Crudo

    Bye bye Crudo

    El Viejon Seafood - 2 Birria Tacos

    2 Birria Tacos

    El Viejon Seafood - Porkbelly Taco

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    Porkbelly Taco

    Kalaveras - Lomo Saltado with steak

    Kalaveras

    3.9(393 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    We went to Kalaveras for Happy Hour and we really enjoyed it! This was the Chula Vista location on…read more3rd Avenue, used to be the old Fudruckers. Parking shouldn't be an issue, they have spots in the front but then there's the big garage right behind it, and it's free. There's also street parking but you might have to pay. The place itself is very spacious and clean. They also have an outdoor patio for dogs. I do know later in the evening it gets louder and more like a club vibe, but it's not bad. Service was perfectly fine. I had no issues at all. Staff greeted us with a smile when we walked in. They were always checking up on us when we needed things. No issues at all. I thought everyone was doing their jobs. Happy hour is so worth it here. $1.99 tacos! I had the carne asada, birria and Chicharonnes tacos! While the meat portions look small, y'all need to realize this is happy hour street tacos! Adding some salsa from the self serve bar, it was so worth the price. We had 11 tacos, cheese nachos, 2 beers and 1 margarita and it was about $50! So worth it! I highly recommend Kalaveras for Mexican food. Great vibes. Great happy hour prices. I think this place is good for large groups also. It may not be kid friendly later into the night but it's very worth it!

    Was visiting San Diego for the weekend and my friend recommended Kalaveras for Sunday Brunch…read more They opened at 10, and we were one of the first to get there. The brunch buffet is definitely worth the price. The food was excellent, the service was attentive and fast and the music and indoor area was cool. I can't wait to be back in San Diego to have brunch at Kalaveras again. Authentic Mexican food, friendly service and great vibe.

    Photos
    Kalaveras - Kalaveras Chula Vista has the best Sunday Brunch in town from 10am-2:30pm

    Kalaveras Chula Vista has the best Sunday Brunch in town from 10am-2:30pm

    Kalaveras - Ceviche Sunday Brunch at Kalaveras Cantina Urbana in Chula Vista, CA.

    Ceviche Sunday Brunch at Kalaveras Cantina Urbana in Chula Vista, CA.

    Kalaveras - 12/6/2025 - San Diego Water & Sex on the Beach

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    12/6/2025 - San Diego Water & Sex on the Beach

    El Pueblo Mexican Food & Bar - Carmel Valley - Best fish tacos (on flour tortillas)... and even better for $1.50 each

    El Pueblo Mexican Food & Bar - Carmel Valley

    4.5(557 reviews)
    23.1 mi
    $$

    Where else can you get $1.50 BIG FAT fish tacos EVERYDAY!! Yup.. you heard it right, not just on…read moreTaco Tuesday's.. that's their EVERYDAY price! And I'm not kidding when I say that the fish is HUGE! I usually order it on a flour tortilla and the fish practically fills up the length of the tortilla. And it's not all oily batter either... it's the best fish taco in San Diego and even more so because of the cheap everyday price! Service is good too and lots of seating (inside and out). They have a full bar set right in the middle and tons of tvs to watch sports and grab a drink. One weekday tip... (during the school year) Try and avoid it around 12-1.30pm on weekdays as the high schools are out for lunch and it gets a little insane. Other than that.. you can't go wrong with this spot.

    We chose El Pueblo to celebrate my husband's birthday and were really looking forward to trying it…read more- but unfortunately, it ended up being a stressful experience for us. From the moment we walked in, the environment felt chaotic. There were long lines everywhere just to place an order, and no hostess or server to help seat you or explain how things worked. You order at a kiosk, which might work in some settings, but it didn't feel organized here. Two out of our three meals came out completely wrong. My daughter ordered a very simple taco (beef and cheese only, no onion or tomatoes), and the first one was incorrect. After waiting in another long line to fix it, the replacement came out as potatoes and lettuce only. At that point, it just felt exhausting. My husband's protein bowl also included ingredients he specifically asked to leave off. We also had to stand in separate lines for drinks... and then realized we had to get back in line again just to order water. For a family dinner -- especially a birthday -- it felt unnecessarily complicated and frustrating. My enchiladas were cooked correctly but much spicier than expected for my mild taste buds (hence all the water runs). That said, I will give credit where it's due -- the drinks were excellent. If you're going just to grab cocktails and sit at the bar, I could see this being a fun spot. The bar vibe seemed lively, and the drinks were genuinely well made. Overall, the food might work for some, but the disorganized setup and repeated order mistakes made it a birthday bust for us.

    Photos
    El Pueblo Mexican Food & Bar - Carmel Valley - Order at Registers

    Order at Registers

    El Pueblo Mexican Food & Bar - Carmel Valley - Fish tacos!

    Fish tacos!

    El Pueblo Mexican Food & Bar - Carmel Valley - Working during "lunch hour", but can't beat 2 yummy fish tacos for $3.. love this place

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    Working during "lunch hour", but can't beat 2 yummy fish tacos for $3.. love this place

    Vanessa's Deli - mexican - Updated May 2026

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