Jalisco Cafe

I absolutely love this place for breakfast. I always get the Chorizo and egg combination (B3). The Chorizo isn’t greasy like some places and the salsa is fantastic. The beans go great with the combination although my wife prefers the hash browns with hers. Very nice local place to get authentic Mexican cuisine. Can’t say enough good things about this place.

Have had breakfast here three or four times. Usually get the Red Pork dish with beans and rice and its very good. Food is always hot and fresh. Ive ordered the pasole from here before too and its one of the best I’ve had as far as restaurant pasoles go. Great place in IB for breakfast for sure! Havent tried it for lunch or dinner yet though.

The food wasn’t that good… nothing special about it. I love Mexican food and I know Mexican food and this was not authentic Mexican. Afterwards, I had a bad taste in my mouth… I don’t think they used natural ingredients. Also, the waitress was not helpful; she took about 10 minutes to help us. Overall, customer service was terrible. Not impressed at all! I won’t be visiting this place again!

Brought my friend «Don Ricardo» here for his 85^th Birthday! This is still one of the best old school Mexican places north of the border. Love all the sauces and salsas! STILL 5 STARS! !

I was introduced to this place by my hubby. He found this place with his shipmates way back in early 2000. So When my hubby and I come here all the way from LA to visit family in SD this is always one of our stops. We always order the Carne Asada Enchiladas with red sauce. Let me just tell you, we are never disappointed.

My husband and I just visited this today. We were looking for a Mexican restaurant and we found this. It is funny because we live just around the corner from this place. When we entered the restaurant we were greeted by be waitress who was very kind. She was also very good and made sure that we were good with our orders. The place was very homey and the food was so good. The chips and salsa had a lot of flavor. I ordered the carne asana and it was so good. A large portion was given and we also had dessert. Dessert was buenlitos and flan. The flan is the best home made flan I have ever tasted. I would highly recommend this place.

What a nice surprise to find out Jalisco’s delivers! The food was delicious as always. Hubby had the bean burrito, I had the carne asada taco and chile relleno. We both had churros (not recommended) and the flan was good.
Thank you, Jalisco’s for being the first Mexican restaurant, that I know of, to have a delivery service!

Okay just a heads up this is NOT some cheap hole in the wall place. Somewhat of a hole in the wall in that the place isn’t visually anything fancy but price wise you can expect to pay at least $ 11 for a plate. Yikes! That’s kind of a lot for not being in Old Town, haha. Salsa for chips is tasty not spicey… Pico de gallo. El Tapatio down the street though has a nice view, prices are better and chips are thinner and taste like they’ve just been fried. Salsa is way better there also. Oh and the rice is a little more authentic. Jalisco isn’t bad just not worth all that you pay. Service is awesome though and they bring your plates out super fast! I will come back but when I have the extra cash to blow.

First time in this part of town and came here based on a random recommendation from someone who lives a few blocks away. A hole in the wall kind of place with good Mexican food. Yes, please. We came on a week night and there were a like 4 – 5 tables in the restaurant. We were greeted and seated promptly and given their diner style menus. We were served some chips and salsa while we waited.
I got the taco and enchilada combo. Yum. I am going to have to get enchiladas more.

Great service, incredible carne asada, huge portions, and ice cold Pacifico! Start with a nachos appetizer. Great prices also! Don’t blink or you’ll miss it, we did… parking in the rear…

Been going here for years and years. And still impressed and in love with their food. Their enchilada sauce is to DIE FOR. Chips are always warm and crisp. Tacos are fresh and delicious. Never been disappointed. Happy to have a local authentic and delicious Mexican restaurant here in IB.

The WORST SERVICE EVER. I went with a date, for breakfast and we were there for 25 min. to be asked for something to drink. Will never go again, and will continue to give bad recommendation towards this place. Food is great, however, service is the WORST

Ordered a chorizo burrito added hash browns and beans and my boyfriend ordered a Carne asada burrito added beans and rice. We took it home to eat, opened his up and beans and rice were on the side no inside the burrito and my chorizo burrito fell apart as soon as I picked it up. We had a side of guac an it was super a super small side. Bad quality in food hash browns were soggy. Not even 1 star for this place.

All I have to say is great Authentic Mexican food and great service always attending with a smile.

Had better. Service needs to be more on point they had us getting up going over to the bar and asking for service a few times. Other than that foods ok nothing cra cray prices for dishes range from $ 6 – 12

Happened by and the place was PACKED! Got seated in less than 10 min. They have cold beer and the food came fast. It was a unique flavor of mexican food but was really good! Little hard to see and park in back of building (down the next real street) but worth the stop.

Omg this place is super overrated 5 stars !!! Comon!!! The food is no were near mexican taste, we had chilaquiles with canned enchilada sauce r u serious!!! if you know what a real chilaquiles are you know what they are made of, also had menudo, canned menudo i know, ive had it many times, never in my life had i had such unmexican food, only people that know real mexican flavor food would know the diffrence, dint bother coming here if you want canned food

5+ star food, and –1 star for service. They don’t get a STAR for service… more like an OVAL!
I’ve been here 3 times in the past month, and — to be honest — I plan to keep going back (they have some of the best Mexican food I’ve ever had, and I love Mexican food, and they’re very close to my house), but not without first (and finally) warning potential customers of this establishment’s truly abysmal overall customer service (I do love Mexican food, but I ALSO love good customer service, which this place most definitely does NOT have).
My first experience: I used their online ordering system, paid for and placed my order. (Should be sufficient to go in and pick up food, right?) I took it a step further and called in to make sure that they received my online order. The lady said that ALL online orders go to their other location, but that she will call over to get the order, and my food will be ready on my arrival. I offered to call back in 5 minutes, after she had a chance to check. «No, no… don’t worry, you can come now… your food will be ready when you get here.»
(I feel like you already know where this is going.)
I rode my bike to the restaurant. As I arrive (literally) at the front door of the restaurant, my cell phone rings. It’s the store manager, calling from their other location. He wants to know which location my order was for. (Doh!) I was now irate. You mean to tell me that, after all this, the restaurant hasn’t even RECEIVED my order?
For the inconvenience, I was offered a nice complimentary soda and chips/​salsa, right? (Keep dreaming!!)
«Your order will be ready soon… sit and wait.» Mmmm-​k.
Already plotting my Unilocal review, 15 — 20 minutes later, I was starving and didn’t wait to get home to bite into my burrito (also I had to check if they messed up the order). Like a puppy dog staring up at me, the delicious food abated my anger. In fact, it was so good, I actually sat down at a bus stop and finished the entire burrito instead of waiting till I got home… I mean, it was REALLY frickin’ good!
So, the VERY next day, I wanted more… I had trouble placing the order online (their website might have changed), so the manager (who was at the other location the day before, but was now at the Imperial Beach location) took my order over the phone.
I was happy that I would now get to talk to him, face-​to-​face. He wasn’t unpleasant, but had a very «beach area”-type of approach (sh*t happens… don’t let it ruin your day… move on with life). So that was that.
And then came TODAY.
I tried placing the order online. (Surprise!!) It didn’t work, again. So, I called in and placed my order with a woman.
Did I want red (rojo) sauce or green (verde) sauce on my chilaquiles, she asked. I wanted red (rojo), and told her as much (in BOTH languages/​lenguas, as I am bilingual.)
(You know where this is going, too, right?)
I get to the restaurant. There is literally ZERO customers in the restaurant, besides myself. The woman I spoke with is sitting at their counter having a cup of tea.
She awkwardly hands me the order paper (whatever that’s called, the paper she wrote my order down on), and then looked at me funny, and asked if I needed it. I replied no, and handed it back.
As she goes to run my card (based on my past experience with this place) I open the bag and check the food. Green (verde) sauce and no red sauce.
I inform the waitress. Of course she offers to have the order fixed. Yet again (3X for 3, now), I’m forced to sit/​stand in the restaurant and WAIT for food that SHOULD have been properly prepared… waiting for me as I walk in the door.
ZERO apologies, ZERO explanations, ZERO offerings for their screw-​up… she had the same attitude (naturally) as the manager I’d spoken to previously. («An error was made on our end… suck it up… we’ll let you know when your food is ready.») I even asked her if it was the cook’s fault… «is he new», I asked?
«Nope, I’ll let you know when the food is ready.» Really DISGUSTING customer service, no matter HOW LONG this restaurant has been open.
Before she took the improperly-​prepared food away, I snagged the chips and salsa from the bag and began to munch on them, while I waited. While doing so, another male/​female customer couple walked in, was seated by this waitress and served alcohol.
She walked past me several times, watching me munch on the chips. NOTHING! Can I get you a glass of water while you wait… a soda, perhaps? Absolutely nothing!
So, I took the initiative. As she walked by me the last time, I told her, «you know, perhaps you could throw in another bag of chips and salsa with my food, when it’s ready.»
This («woman») brought me an extra cup of salsa! «Tambien (and) chips, please?»
And here’s what she did: She rudely grabbed the bag of chips off my table. I originally thought it was to fill up the bag with more chips (perhaps to help the environment or save using an extra bag?) Nope! To stop me from eating them! No more chips!

Visited here with my mother on Labor Day, and they stayed open for us even though we came in as their last customers were leaving. Excellent service at this family owned business. It has a very cozy yet casual atmosphere with plenty of tables and wooden chairs. The rice was tender and perfectly seasoned. The guacamole and refried beans were very mild in seasoning but additional herbs, onion, and chillies we are brought to the table for us to customize these to our taste. The guacamole was complete with diced onions and fresh tomatoes. Both meals came with plenty of sauce and an ample amount of cheese. Servi g sizes were generous, and we had plenty to take home for the next day. We will definitely be back to sample their breakfasts as this is what they are most known for locally. I asked a bunch of questions before ordering and everyone was patient, friendly and knowledgeable. The owner even helped me select the perfect meal. Only caveat is that they serve wine based margaritas and sangria. No tequila or hard liquor served here. Street parking is sparse but there is a small lot available behind the restaurant.

I am only giving three stars because we ordered by phone using the menu on the website but weren’t asked our preferences for A2 (which is now A4) pancakes or hash browns with toast. When we tried to call back someone picked up the phone and just left it off the hook with just background noise. We tried calling back but the line was busy then no answer. Once we picked up we confirmed our orders but got home to discover no pancakes or hash and toast. However my order of Chorizo con Huevos and machaca con huevos wad delicious. Tried to call back about missing food no answer.

Craving a chili relleno and got an over fried hard battered covered chili. Sauce
The fam got chili con carne which was bland and crunchy meat tacos were tasteless.
Nothing to see or taste here. Sorry.

Best place in south San Diego !’
Been a local here for thirty years and. Has never disappointed. It s my little comfort food place. Always welcome with loving arms when I walk in. Menudo is the BOMB! I am a C-​8 regular with chicken and flying saucer with carne asada forget about it won’t be disappointed

Not the friendliest staff that’s for sure but
The food speaks for itself. It’s a main staple for family style Mexican food in IB.

Food is great, five stars, but the lady today and in the past in NOT nice at all. Kinda bossy and I don’t like that. I came to escape the bullshet of the outside world and come here to enjoy. I guess I will just go back to the bonita location.
Disappointed with the service, luckily she passed us off to another waitress cause I was about to leave. Place isn’t FREE it costs hard earned money

I come here often and order the delicious chilaquiles and my husband orderes the the chimichanga quite often. I was sick and my husband brought me here for breakfast so I can order a soup. I decided to get Pozole and sat right next to the kitchen when I noticed that this restaurant is VERY GUILY OF USING MICROWAVES. I AM VERY SURPRISED HOW MUCH THEY USE THAT MICROWAVE. They used that microwave for the chimichanga and my Pozole. I am very, very, and let me say that I am very disappointed.

Kind of late night on the menu, but my friend was really craving some Chile Relleno so we decided to pick this place and I must say I am impressed with the quality of the overall meal.
We were seating within a couple minutes of entering. Promptly a minute later we were brought some chips and salsa. I would say the salsa is on the maybe 4 spicy level from 1 – 10 for most Americans but delicious to where you cant still keep eating it over and over again!
I ordered a coffee which was fresh, I don’t know about all the advertisements on the mug it was brought it though, that seemed kind of odd. Either way it was really good and hit the spot.
Onto the main course which is why we went, A Chile Relleno plate with an extra Enchilada made of chicken covered in mole! It was served with rice and beans and was one of the best blends of sauces I can think of from a late night snack. Everything was garnished appropriately and the creamer and sugar for my coffee were within reach. No need for cover up sauces of salsas since the meal was hitting every tasted bud I had left: D
Happy would be an understatement for what my stomach was feeling: D
Recommend this place for what I ate, still have yet to go back and try more items from their appetizing menu!
Jonny
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I am originally from Los Angeles, and took a vacation trip to San Diego and decided to eat at this restaurant after reading the reviews in Unilocal and been that is close to the Mexico border.
Let me warn you, this is not true mexican food, this is more Americanized Mexican food. The chilaquiles were not spicy at all and were not true chilaquiles, they just added some mole type sauce on it and called it chilaquiles.
As for the menudo, they do not, I repeat they do NOT wash the meat prior to cooking it.
As soon as they were bringing the menudo to our table we immediately caught that nasty smell, it smelled like a$$. And immediately returned it. My spouse’s mother is from Guadalajara, Mexico and she always washes the meat for the menudo so it doesn’t smell.
Also, they do not substitute any of the sides, i wanted eggs instead of rice (carbohydrates :)) and they said no, they actually gave me more beans and charged me extra for the eggs.
They also never came by to ask if we were «ok» or needed anything else or refills.

Well. I’m not impressed by this place to put 5 stars. And the food was agh. Agh. Okay.
I ordered a machaca plate. Omg. Egg was burned and could find the meat. No seasoning or onions, tomatoes. Beans were over cooked and no taste. Rice. Um well I think Taco Bell has a better taste.
The one thing I like were the warm chips and the home style salsa. Ooh the coke was good.
The service was agh. Agh. Well we kept looking for the waitress for a refill and service. She sat us down took the order and walked back with a check. Not once did she stop to refill or ask us how our food was or if we needed anything.
Next time. I’ll just keep driving.