Old Town Mexican Cafe

(619) 297-4330

2489 San Diego Ave
San Diego, CA 92110 32.75251 -117.19448

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Neighborhoods: Old Town, Western, Western San Diego

oldtownmexcafe.com/

Years in business

Established in 1977

Hours:

M-F 7-11pm, Sa-Su 7-12

Price:

$

Last updated 7.07.11

Category:

Restaurants, Banquet Rooms, Lounges, Catering

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Breakfast, Family-Friendly Dining, Historic Setting, Group Dining, Happy Hour, Cheap Eats, Bar Scene

Cuisine:

Mexican

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Old Town Mexican Cafe

Featured Review

Amanda Knoles

Contributor

In Short – The large picture window out front captivates tourists who watch jovial women making fresh tortillas, but it's the irresistible aroma of oak-fired rotisserie chicken and savory carnitas that draws people inside. A favorite with locals for nearly three decades and winner of numerous awards, this no-frills eatery serves up Mexican specialties like enchiladas rancheras and steak Azteca along with huge combination plates, tasty breakfasts and a choice of several killer margaritas.

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Taking home a stack of fresh tortillas after watching the famous "Tortilla Ladies" prepare them from scratch.
What to Drink:
Choose from more than 100 different tequilas and a variety of fresh fruits and mixers to create your own perfect margarita.
Parking:
There's a small lot behind the restaurant, but many prefer parking in a public lot and strolling through Old Town.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Great location in the heart of Old Town.”
  2. “Nice atmosphere good mexican food and margaritas to die for!”
  3. “The atmosphere and neighborhood are good in addition to the food.”
  4. “It has a festive atmosphere and very good margaritas.”
  5. “Parking is also best in the public free parking lot about a block away from the restaurant.”
atmosphere
100.0% positive
  1. “nice atmosphere good mexican food and margaritas!”
  2. “great location in the heart of old town.”
  3. “good food; fun place”
  4. “parking is also best in the public free parking lot about a block away from the restaurant.”
  5. “the atmosphere and neighborhood are good in addition to the food.”
  6. “add on low prives and great atmosphere”
  7. “their ceviche is also quite good, as well as their carne asada and carnitas sets.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “And don't forget to order a churro for dessert!”
  2. “had uncooked beans, some shredded velveeta-esque i.e. not fresh cheese, and clammy lettuce”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “you have one awesome resteraunt”
food quality
76.09000205993652% positive
  1. “The best and most authentic Margaritas in town.”
  2. “While our server was friendly, the food was not very good this time around.”
  3. “Good food; Fun place”
  4. “delicious mexican food”
  5. “the spinach enchilada, also with mushrooms and squash, was relatively light for hearty mexican food standards and tasty.”
  6. “The restaurant looks like its out of Disney and its filled with tourists, so beware - this is not the fabulous Mexican food that you thought you'd get so close to the border.”
  7. “The service is absolutely terrible and the long waits are not worth it for the quality and taste of the food.”
  8. “and its filled with tourists,- this is not the fabulous mexican food that you thought you had.”
  9. “you go for margaritas, chips, salsa, guacamole and their insanely fresh tortillas”
  10. “you are looking for good mexican”
  11. “love Mexican food and was looking forward to going to this restaurant since I had heard very positive things about it.”
  12. “to visit the restaurant, supposedly some of the best mexican food in old town san diego”
  13. “the ceviche was very good, but not excellent.”
  14. “serving some of the best and authentic mexican food in san diego”
  15. “The atmosphere and neighborhood are good in addition to the food.”
  16. “the homemade corn and flour tortillas are the best in the area, way better than other places that claim.”
  17. “This place has not changed a bit from serving some of the best and authentic Mexican food in San Diego.”
  18. “outstanding mexican food;, it 's worth it!”
  19. “After several stellar reviews, we were really excited to visit the restaurant, supposedly some of the best Mexican food in Old Town San Diego.”
  20. “The only good thing about them was the fresh tortilla.”
  21. “Old Town Mexican Cafe has great food at great prices.”
  22. “while, the food was not very good this time around.”
  23. “The restaurant would be great if you go for margaritas, chips, salsa, guacamole and their insanely fresh tortillas.”
  24. “it contained only white fish like the munu stated, but had great flavor and plenty of fish, unlike those that try to strech it by.”
  25. “good food; fun place”
  26. “My husband and I were originally enticed by this restaurant because of its homemade tortillas which is not something you find in every Mexican restaurant but the food itself was pretty lousy.”
  27. “had uncooked beans, some shredded velveeta-esque i.e. not fresh cheese, and clammy lettuce”
  28. “the tortillas and the fresh margs are absolutely worth the wait”
  29. “Anyone remotely familiar with mexican food will find this place mediocre.”
  30. “Best food”
  31. “the food was delicious”
  32. “old town mexican cafe has great food at great prices.”
  33. “the only good thing about them was the fresh tortilla.”
  34. “ordered the fajitas and the chicken meat (which was ALL white meat) had absolutely ZERO flavor, the guacamole and salsa were tasteless, and the margaritas were ridiculously watered down.”
  35. “best tortillas is san diego”
  36. “It contained only white fish (like the munu stated), but had great flavor and plenty of fish, unlike those that try to strech it by adding too much tomatoes and onion.”
  37. “Homemade tortillas, yummy margaritas, great salsa are just a few of the things that make this place great!”
  38. “So the wait for a table is longer than ever herebut the tortillas and the fresh margs are absolutely worth the wait.”
  39. “best food”
  40. “The food was delicious and the prices very reasonable.”
  41. “Nice atmosphere good mexican food and margaritas to die for!”
  42. “homemade tortillas, yummy margaritas, great salsa are just a few of the things that make!”
  43. “the atmosphere and neighborhood are good in addition to the food.”
  44. “This place gives authentic Mexican food a bad name.”
  45. “i love mexican food and was looking forward to going to this restaurant since.”
  46. “My wife and I were visiting from Houston, TX, and we actually felt we'd be dissappointed coming from a state who's Mexican food is the best in the land.”
  47. “nice atmosphere good mexican food and margaritas!”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Parking is also best in the public free parking lot about a block away from the restaurant.”
  2. “me and my husband love this place and will be going again for our upcoming anniversary.”
  3. “good food; fun place”
  4. “this place great”
  5. “old town mexican cafe seems and loved mexican restaurant in san diego.”
  6. “parking is also best in the public free parking lot about a block away from the restaurant.”
  7. “Homemade tortillas, yummy margaritas, great salsa are just a few of the things that make this place great!”
  8. “this place mediocre”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “the burritos were inedible.”
  2. “Love Old Town, love spending time there but we will not come back to this tourist trap!”
service
50.0% positive
  1. “the waitress was attentive”
  2. “excellent margaritas”
  3. “The Menu is pretty big, and our server was very friendly.”
  4. “The service is absolutely terrible and the long waits are not worth it for the quality and taste of the food.”
  5. “The waitress was attentive, and they even had a live guitar/singing duo come play (for tips).”
  6. “The service is awful, the wait is not worth it.”
  7. “our server was friendly”
  8. “the service is awful”
  9. “the tortillas are fabulous and served too hot, texas could learn a lesson from these babies.”
  10. “the service is absolutely terrible”
  11. “While our server was friendly, the food was not very good this time around.”
  12. “our server was very friendly”
value
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “outstanding mexican food;, it 's worth it!”
  2. “So the wait for a table is longer than ever herebut the tortillas and the fresh margs are absolutely worth the wait.”
  3. “Outstanding Mexican Food; brave the crowds, it's worth it!”
  4. “the best and most authentic margaritas in town.”
  5. “The service is awful, the wait is not worth it.”
  6. “The service is absolutely terrible and the long waits are not worth it for the quality and taste of the food.”
  7. “i would recommend in that case to put your name down and walk around scenic old town, or go during lunch when.”
  8. “the tortillas and the fresh margs are absolutely worth the wait”
  9. “old town mexican cafe has great food at great prices.”
  10. “they have great margaritas as well.”
  11. “The food was delicious and the prices very reasonable.”
  12. “they serve a great breakfast, though.”
  13. “i recommend them for lunch”
  14. “Old Town Mexican Cafe has great food at great prices.”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “The service is absolutely terrible and the long waits are not worth it for the quality and taste of the food.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

05/02/11

Worst I have ever had!

by ciscodan at Citysearch

Out of 5 Stars:

Food: 1

Service: 2

Atmosphere: 2

By far, the worst salsa I have ever tasted. Think of water with a hint of tomato

Tortillas are great.

I ordered the carne asada dinner and had to send it back because it only had the flavor of burnt, dirty grill.

I definitely do not recommend this restaurant.

1 Star Rating: Poor

04/06/10

Not Great...

by goethe28 at Citysearch

My husband and I were originally enticed by this restaurant because of its homemade tortillas which is not something you find in every Mexican restaurant but the food itself was pretty lousy.

I ordered the fajitas and the chicken meat (which was ALL white meat) had absolutely ZERO flavor, the guacamole and salsa were tasteless, and the margaritas were ridiculously watered down.

Love Old Town, love spending time there but we will not come back to this tourist trap! This place gives authentic Mexican food a bad name.

  • Pros: In Old Town
  • Cons: Touristy, Weak Drinks, Bland Food
1 Star Rating: Poor

07/31/09

It appeals to tourists...

Contributor at Citysearch

That's the only reason this place is in business. Anyone remotely familiar with mexican food will find this place mediocre. The service is awful, the wait is not worth it.

1 Star Rating: Poor

07/30/09

Why anyone goes here is a mystery

by sd103 at Citysearch

First of all, remember where you are. This restaurant is in old town and caters mainly to out-of-towners who probably won't be back soon. The service is absolutely terrible and the long waits are not worth it for the quality and taste of the food. Take it from a local, if you're looking for good mexican there are lots of other places besides this.

  • Pros: Old Town kitsch
  • Cons: Terrible service, long waits, average food
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/09/08

Outstanding Mexican Food; brave the crowds, it's worth it!

by TheBestCritic at Citysearch

My wife and I were visiting from Houston, TX, and we actually felt we'd be dissappointed coming from a state who's Mexican food is the best in the land. However, we were greatly suprised with OTMC!!

The tortillas are fabulous and served too hot to handle, Texas could learn a lesson from these babies. We had guacomole and ceviche as starters and both were outstanding. Having been to El Agave two nights before where the avacodos were hard as green pears, we were concerned but ordered anyway. It couldn't have been better! The ceviche was very good, but not excellent. It contained only white fish (like the munu stated), but had great flavor and plenty of fish, unlike those that try to strech it by adding too much tomatoes and onion.

My wife designed her own plate with a chicken enchallida, a cheese enchallida, and a tostado. She was extremely impressed and didn't leave a morsel. I had the carnitas platter; unlike Texas carnitas it didn't have any sauce served on it, but the pork as tasty as it was.

After two margaritas each and the meal described above we walked out for $65 (including tip), feeling we had just finished a meal fit for a "Mexican" king. Two nights before we left El Agave with a $144 tab, and not nearly as impressed with the food quality.

Again, this comes from a couple of Texan's who eat Mexican food in restaurants at least 3 times a week. Next time in San Diego, we'll have OTMC on our agenda for a couple of nights.

  • Pros: Food, Service, Value for Money
  • Cons: Parking, Wait, Noisy

The Details on Old Town Mexican Cafe

Place Categories:

  • best authentic mexican food
  • fresh flour tortillas
  • great margaritas
  • good ceviche
  • nice atmosphere
  • friendly server
  • not fabulous mexican food
  • great salsa
  • recommended case
  • not fresh cheese
  • awesome resteraunt
  • great breakfast
  • tasty hearty mexican food standards
  • best most authentic
  • attentive waitress
  • best atmosphere good mexican food
  • nice margaritas
  • fresh tortillas
  • mediocre place
  • not very good mexican food
  • very good ceviche
  • very friendly server
  • loved mexican restaurant
  • awful service
  • inedible burritos
  • great atmo
  • fresh margs
  • great plenty
  • love old town
  • awful carnitas
  • tasteless guacamole
  • good atmosphere
  • great b
  • best parking
  • good neighborhood
  • good mexican
  • pretty big menu
  • great location
  • tasteless salsa
  • great m

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