We've rounded up Carlsbad's top Mexican spots for you to try.
“Lived in North County since 1998. I have never been to this restraunt and its a shame. The food was very good the prices were decent and the staff was friendly. We sat outside and the heaters work. I cant wait to share this place with friends and family.“
“Great burritos. I tried La Bombs the tri-tip breakfast burrito and the Grand slam. Both burritos were great and reasonably priced. The service was great. The location is a little hard to find but has plenty of parking. Give Sam's a try for a breakfast burrito served all day.“
“Great Mexican restaurant in Carlsbad. The restaurant is very welcoming, the service was friendly and personalized, and the food is absolutely delicious. We had Catherine as our server and she took care of us from the moment we sat down, guided us honestly through the menu, and made our experience totally enjoyable. This is a great place to stop for lunch or dinner between San Diego and Los Angeles.“
“This is an innovative gourmet taco shop with a lovely atmosphere, and a living-room like area with chairs and a sofas facing the bar. It is the sister restaurant of the Michelin-noted Lola 55 in downtown San Diego. Every taco is assempled with care, with some unusual pairings, and photo-ready. The margaritas are zesty and unique, with black salt (?) on the rim. And I had attentive service, including from the owner. I only wish they had more things on their menu, but have liked everything I have had.“
“Man...where do I begin. Let's start with Thursday lunch. The menu is simple and easy. We ordered an array of items for our family... Some chicken tacos, some carne asada tacos, a chorizo burrito, some rice and beans and a chicken quesadilla a carne asada quesadilla. I know that's a lot. But we were hungry. ?Anyway, the food came out quick and hot. We were given some yummy salsa options (another plus). The food was ?. So so good.... everything was delicious. ?And not only was the food great but the service was amazing. He asked if our food could be photographed for a promo, which we said yes to. He then quickly came out and gave us some agua fresca (Pinappple & Watermelon) which were also yummy.Lastly, he topped us off with their fried Oreo.OMG THIS PLACE IS A TACO MUST IF YOU ARE IN THE CARLSBAD AREA.“
“Had lunch there today with wife, son, and daughter in law. It was our 4th or 5th visit in the last couple of months. Food and service, as usual, both outstanding! We left for a gelato, and I freaked out, finding out I didn't have my wallet. Went back to restaurant front desk, "no problem, here is your wallet". Whew! Thank you, Thank you - Le Papagayo!!!“
“We ate dinner on a Friday evening with a party of 7 around 7 pm. Luckily, we got there before the evening drinking crowd because they got crazy busy about when we were leaving. They made everything perfectly, and the portions were very generous! The man taking our order was so friendly and patient with our large family.Parking: There is a small parking lot behind the restaurant. It was completely empty. I don't think many people know about it.“
“This is the BEST place ever!! We LOVE eating here. The owners are amazing. The food is the best you can get. The service is out of this world. I buy gift cards for this place for all of my kids' teachers, and many of them have said it's their favorite gift ever. Seriously, Lola's is legit. Eat here. Order the guacamole. You'll thank me.“
“I go to Casero taqueria with my girlfriends every time we go to Carlsbad, the food is so fresh and so are the margaritas, they also have a variety of items in their menu, I highly recommend. I don’t know where the people who rated this place with 1 Star came from.“
“My niece brought me a 2 taco plate from here today (first time customer) and I have to say it was great, the beef tacos were good but a little of the red sauce made them amazing. I love beans and theirs were very good. Now I don't normally like Mexican rice as it's always too dry but theirs surprised me and was great, I ate every bite of the meal and was very satisfied.I see some negative reviews about this location in particular but I will be trying it again, don't know if I just got lucky this time or not.“
“My first time at an El Pollo Loco (btw love the name ?). We chose to dine-in. The place was quite, clean and the staff was very friendly and helpful with my questions about their menu. I had the chicken&avocado bowl and the rest of the family had chicken quesadillas, tacos al carbon and chicken burritos. The flavours were there and the prices were good. My only comment for the store manager would be to ensure that the avocados in the chicken&avocado bowl be as fresh as possible because mine were a little passed their best point and they are one of the two main ingredients of the dish. But we would definitely go again! Thank you.“
“Taco Shop 101…. The iconic idealism of what a SoCal taco shop is…. Great food… Decent pricing… Good variety of choices… Authentic taste… Great taco shop vibe… Winner winner taco combo dinner. The taco shells were on point crispy, light and had great bite. the meat was seasoned well. Great amount of cheese and lettuce… The beans were just perfectly cooked and had great flavor. The rice was classic mexican rice taste and was not dry or flavorless. The enchiladas were delicious and the sauce had a perfect mix of tomato and seasoning. The breakfast burrito was big and was packed full of flavor. Plenty of seating… Drive thru.. Fast ordering.. Quick service… Close to beach… This is a great classic taco shop spot.“
“The tejate was a nice experience. I've never had the drink before so it was good just to try it out. He checked in regularly with the tables he had which was cool. I got the mole negro burrito and it was HUGE I don't think anyone can finish it in one sitting. Personally I'm more of a brown mole person instead bc I like the chocolate taste but I wanted to try the mole negro and it was good, had a spiciness to it.“
“Stopped by for lunch with friends when we were in Carlsbad. It is located a block away from the beach. It's a casual Mexican Spot with good food and drinks. My husband and I shared the Carlsbad Carne Asada Burrito, Wet, but couldn't decide between green or red salsa so the waiter recommended doing half and half. It was delicious! Everything I love all in a burrito! We also ordered Ernie's Caesar Salad and I expected an ordinary Caesar salad but this one was really good! The dressing was delicious and I think they had different cheese that made it flavorful! What a nice surprise. The staff is very friendly and attentive and we enjoyed this place!“
“These fish tacos are unrivaled on the west coast. Despite the price, which might initially give pause, the flavor is beyond compare. Opt for flour tortillas over corn for an unparalleled experience. Freshly made every time, the hot sauce complements the dish perfectly. Moreover, their customer service consistently exudes warmth and kindness.“
“Being here on a weekday setting and as a visitor, being in the town obviously it offers different atmosphere. The Tacos and location make me feel like I'm in the center of Mexico eating the finest tacos. Amazing grilled tacos to be exact. Yeah, beer off tap. Can't loose here!“
Mexican • $$
“The food is no longer what it was. The brunch menu was OK, but the food was bad. Probably the chef is trying new approaches to Mexican food, well, it did not work. The food was bad. The service was slow, but polite. The restaurant was empty, spoiling the atmosphere for an Easter brunch. Very disappointed.“
“I'm here once every two weeks for lunch. Fast service, even when it does get a little crowded at lunch hour. I normally get a carne asada rice bowl, and the thing is PACKED. I definitely get my moneysworth. They don't flake on the meat or toppings. Plenty of guacomole. I usually get a side of chips to dig into the bowl, and it's a filling combination, which is saying something - I have an appetite working 12 hr days.At least a dozen salsas to choose from. Several meat options. Wide variety of drinks to but I'm stuck on the horchata.I get it to go most of the time, and it's still hot when I reach my destination. Even the chips are still warm. The place is definitely worth a shot.“
“A nice spot located at a quiet spot within the plaza. The staff is friendly and attentive to my needs. Their menu selection is big and easy to understand. I ordered the chorizo burrito and horchata. The food is tasty and I will definitely visit again.“
“I had the chili colorado and it rocked. My wife had a bowl of chicken tortilla soup and it was huge and awesome, she only ate half took to rest to go. I will go back! If you want fancy drinks, it not the place to go, but for great food and a beer in a frozen glass it's not to be missed. The service was very good as well. P.S. I rarely write reviews and only for great places.“
“I read the past harsh reviews but tried it for myself. I always like the vibe at the Windmill. It’s chill. Love the ambience. Prices reflect the nice space at the Windmill. I was prepared to ask for salt bc ppl complained about blandness. It was good to me. Maybe they make it bland bc they are catering to ppl with different taste buds or high blood pressure. Simple dash of salt can fix the blandness. The 3 different salsas were delicious; I added salt in one salsa. The flavor depth of one of the green hot salsas was heaven! Lady who took our order was nice. Glad I tried for myself.“
“Pleasantly surprised! A very nice date night meal of Caldo de Siete Mares (a special, not on regular menu, with scallops, shrimp, octopus, mussels, calamari, fish and lobster) and steak fajitas. Delightful! Also a nice dessert of passionfruit creme brulee, also excellent.“