Aldea Restaurant

Modern Mexico in La Jolla. with a top chef and seasoned bartender. Despite being in its fourth day, the restaurant was already bustling with patrons. The ambiance was bright and clean, with attentive staff and cozy outdoor seating by a fireplace. We tried the chef's selection and loved the cold dishes. Letting the bartender choose our drinks led to discovering the delightful "La Jolla" cocktail.

We were there last night to celebrate one of my friends, I was very impressed with the whole experience, 👌 food was delicious and the handmade tortillas were the bomb!!! The shrimp was so good... we had a guava cheesecake and OMG.... Besides the amazimg food we had the chef come say hi to make sure food was good. The prices were significantly lower than expected wow!!! Definitely coming back.

This place has phenomenal food. The new chef has definitely stuck in his claws into the kitchen and is pumping out amazing dishes. You can taste the fresh ingredients in every bite. With the most killer chilaquiles during brunch time, definitely worth going back time and time again.

The homemade corn tortillas where so good that even my hater wife loved them. Fish was fresh, staff was friendly and the patio was perfect with the small firepit.

This is a new spot worth your time! To start the cocktails and bottle wine list is nicely edited and the 50-50 Paloma was perfect (and I’m a gin drinker!) I’m usually skeptical that the Aguachile will be worth while. This one is delicious! Nice flavors and fresh tasting! The calamari was light and crisp, tender and perfectly prepared. We shared the braised beef dish. It was SO tasty and good quality! Super generous portion, so ideal for sharing. The service was excellent and spacious, relaxed ambiance felt really relaxing. We’ll be back!

Friendly staff on a quiet Tuesday night. Ceviche and fish tacos were great. Will return again!

We had no idea this place opened up about 6 weeks before our visit (transferred owners and beautiful decor. Modern, sleek and upscale. We had the ceviche, birria short rib which was enough for 2 people!, the Mexican corn, and Spanish rice as sides— these were phenomenal!! Palomas to introduce the palate to these flavors is a good choice. Shane, our server, was very attentive, easy going, and knew the menu!

Very nice place in a great location. I'm glad the hostess pulled our attention. They took good care of our two dogs and the service was friendly and professional. The drinks were so good, and they have a nice looking bar. From food, I would recommend the oysters and the ceviche!! Also, La Jolla salad was so fresh but tricky to eat.

Aldea: A Hidden Gem in La Jolla I was blown away by my experience at Aldea! This new restaurant is a must-try if you're looking for exceptional food, atmosphere, and service. The cocktails were outstanding. I had the 50/50 paloma and the la fortuna, both of which were perfectly balanced and incredibly flavorful. The table-side guacamole was the best I've ever had. The sea bass was cooked to perfection and incredibly flavorful. The service was impeccable, and the ambiance was unique and special, something that won't be found anywhere else in La Jolla. For dessert, I couldn't resist trying the Bavarian cream-filled churros. They were crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, with a delicious Bavarian cream filling. Don't be fooled by the lack of an ocean view; this place is a hidden gem. The food, atmosphere, and service are exceptional. The warmth of hospitality intertwines seamlessly with delicious flavors and great food. I highly recommend Aldea to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience in La Jolla.

Definitely recommend! Great atmosphere! Service was fantastic and everyone working there was friendly and went above and beyond to make our dining experience enjoyable. The drinks were delicious. We had the spicy watermelon and cucumber margaritas which were delicious! The table guac was made right in front of us-- so fresh!! Then we shared a taco plate with rice and beans-- Baja shrimp and short rib! The owner, Steve, was there when we dined and came over to chat with us and really added a personal touch to our evening! Overall, great food, great atmosphere, great staff! Definitely will be back!

My husband and I found this place while walking around after seeing the seals and sea lions. it appeared to be a newer restaurant and we arrived right when they were opening without a reservation, but we were able to get seated. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this establishment. Everything that we had was fantastic. It had been quite a while since we've had good Mexican food. We had salsas, chips, guacamole made table side, tacos, and drinks. we sat outside on the patio and they turned on the heaters for me since I was cold. I will definitely go back again if I'm ever in the area, the service was great. The restaurant was clean. The price point was good.

Arrived around 4:45 and the restaurant was quite empty which was surprising, as they have a great happy hour deal where drinks are 1/2 off and oysters are $1! Aldea also has a prime location on prospect street and is walkable from all the other La Jolla attractions. We tried their oysters which were fresh and light and the tacos which were pretty good. I'd come back for their happy hour oysters. Staff was very friendly and the restaurant had a lot of seating for larger parties, so it'd be great for groups.

We were there last night to celebrate one of my friends, I was very impressed with the whole experience, food was delicious and the handmade tortillas were the bomb!!! The shrimp was so good... we had a guava cheesecake and OMG.... Besides the amazimg food we had the chef come say hi to make sure food was good. The prices were significantly lower than expected wow!!! Definitely coming back.

Really liked this place! We started out with a lavender cocktail and a beer, while enjoying a dozen oysters (only $1 each, thanks to an all-day promo). As an oyster lover, this deal is priceless! Haven't found something like this in La Jolla since Herringbone closed its doors. Initially, we just wanted something to drink and an appetizer, but we enjoyed the space so much that we decided to stay for dinner as well. The menu had plenty to offer. I ordered the Yellow Fin Tuna, which I devoured--it was delicious! My husband ordered the Birria Bone-In Short Rib, which he absolutely loved. And hey! It was so much food that we took leftovers home, enough for a dinner for two the next day. The service was also wonderful! We also ordered the Spanish rice as a side, thought we needed it, but wish our waiter had told us that the plates were more than plenty! We barely touched the rice, and tbh we did not love the rice, it was just OK

Aldea (Spanish for village) has appeared in the village of La Jolla on Prospect St as the rebranding of Mermaids & Cowboys. The space has seen numerous businesses since a longtime Mexican restaurant closed nearly a decade ago. The large front patio remained with plenty of tables, but it's completely uncovered. The interior had a lot of sofa style seating which was good for large parties, however I didn't feel it was an optimal use of the floor space. I sat at a two-top table near the bar area. The one-page food menu was Baja inspired and featured numerous seafood offerings. Beef was available with a price tag of $50+ for each of the cuts. For my dinner, I chose the Ceviche as a starter. Slices of snapper and scallop were adorned with mango, habanero, cilantro, and breakfast radishes. Three pieces of street corn chips were provided to scoop up the seafood. The flavor had a nice balance of acidity and sweetness. I do wish a couple of more chips were added to the dish. The Line Caught Mahi Mahi was my entree. The fillet was grilled and served with mango habanero and a small salad. I noticed some avocado dollops were included while jicama, as described as a component of the dish on the menu, was absent. For both of my items, the portion size was small relative to the price. The service from the waitstaff was fine. Overall, my dining experience at Aldea was around a four star level.

Modern Mexico in La Jolla. with a top chef and seasoned bartender. Despite being in its fourth day, the restaurant was already bustling with patrons. The ambiance was bright and clean, with attentive staff and cozy outdoor seating by a fireplace. We tried the chef's selection and loved the cold dishes. Letting the bartender choose our drinks led to discovering the delightful "La Jolla" cocktail.

Came to celebrate my Besties Birthday and Have Dinner. While seated, Chef Auggie came and went over the menu with us and let us ask questions before choosing . Every one enjoyed his recommendations. The Baby Beet Salad was a hit, fish tacos and I had the Shrimp Cocktail. Amazing! The ambience was a lounge setting. Bar was beautiful too. Great date night recommendations. Will definitely come back! Oh and the drinks were amazing. I had the LA 75. Yummy !!

Great food & nice space! Happy Hour-$10 margarita and seven dollar for wines & HH menu!

My sister and I wanted to try this restaurant out. We had reservations but it didn't matter because the restaurant wasn't busy on a Tuesday evening. The server greeted and seated us immediately upon arrival. She was the only server waiting on 4 tables, the bartender was helping her out serving drinks. The bar is huge and was stocked with all different types of liquor. Glancing at the menu and the interior decor of the place, we were perplexed by the theme. We weren't sure if it was a sea theme or tropical theme or both?The drink menu font was tiny, we could barely read it. We ended up getting margaritas, which tasted great. When ordering, we were informed that they were currently modifying the menu. We wanted the sea bass but they said it would be a different fish so we ordered the ahi tuna which was okay. The side salad was good. We wanted the squash blossoms but they said they ran out so we ordered the Caesar salad instead. The menu description indicated "Spanish anchovies" but sadly there was no taste of that at all. The salad did not look freshly made, it looked like it came out of a salad bag that you would normally get from a grocery store (see pic). Also, if we would have known the tuna entree came with a side salad, we would have ordered something else. The pork belly was delicious, it comes with tortillas on the side so you can build your own taco. When looking at the kitchen, it reminded me of a diner style or food truck window. There is outdoor seating. For parking you can park on the side streets or nearby parking structures. I give this place 3 stars instead of 2 because the server and bartender were courteous and served timely. Being located on Prospect St. and with pricey menu items, we were hoping for a more finessed menu and salad. Maybe the change in the menu items will help. TY Aldea for the experience!

Aledea is the newest restaurant on Prospect, but you'd never know with its fantastic service, warm ambiance, and delicious food. The restaurant wasn't busy at all so we walked right in on a Saturday evening around 8pm. The two hostess were incredibly friendly and seated us at the "mafia table" in the corner. The inside is beautiful with a newly decorated bar, paintings on the wall, and the old tables and chairs of Cowboys and Mermaids have been switched out to beautifully upholstered booths in jewel tone velvet. The seating is more intimate and the lighting sets the tone. The service was absolutely fantastic. We had a server that really knew the menu and made great recommendations as well as a gentleman that stopped in to check on us and brought over some food who was more than happy to add to our tab when we peeped a plate come out on a neighboring table we had to have. We started out with 2 cocktails, the Jean Jacket and the Amiga. Both were delicious. The Jean Jacket wasn't too whiskey forward but very tasty and the Amiga was floral with a pretty lavender touch. As an appetizer we opted for the Calabacitas. This dish was phenomenal. A squash blossom with a perfectly seasoned tempura stuffed at the end. Delicious. For entrees we had the Mahi Mahi, Elote, and Birria Bone in Short Rib. The Mahi was a large portion and the accompanying salad was well dressed. The elote was fresh the cob stalk, very good. The show stopper was the Birria though. It's truly on the bone and absolutely wonderful. The consume was just fatty enough and the perfect spice level. Last but certainly not least, we enjoyed the butter cake like it was the last dessert we'd ever had. All in all it was a really fantastic experience and worth every penny. We will be coming back!!

Went there for happy hour on a Sunday. $1 oyster deal was amazing. We were gonna get 2 dozens, but they were running out of it, so we just got a dozen. So make sure you go earlier if you want to get tons of oysters.

Great new spot in the village.. Food was tasty...cocktails refreshing... and a cool spot to hang...we will be back soon.!!!

From start to finish everything was amazing. Best authentic Mexican food in San Diego. I would highly recommend.

As a La Jolla local it's great to try a new spot and be impressed by the cuisine, service, and overall experience. It was our date night and we enjoyed the ceviche, Biria Short rib for was amazing, and so were the Paloma cocktails. Shane our server was knowledgeable, and courteous! We are doing the butter cake next time for dessert we are stuffed!

Came here with my family on a tuesday @ 4:30 ish and the food was amazing! our whole family loved it especially their shredded beef empanadas!! Cristina our server was also amazing and even made our guacamole at the table! excellent service and excellent food

Bartenders were great , happy hour is nice variety really good cocktails half off. Walked by randomly and it was a good feel to it a little dj with some beats .

It was a great day to walk around La Jolla and we bumped into this place. We ended up sitting down for some drinks and for some their oysters. I had a cocktail and my boyfriend had a Mexican beer. I really enjoyed the oysters and end up getting another order. The service was friendly and fast. I thought the waiter was nice and great with his service. Would like to go back again when I get another day off from work.

Had an amazing time celebrating my birthday with friends. The food did not disappoint. It was delicious! The staff is so attentive. And Chef Augie is best in class!

Incredible food, service, and atmosphere! Beautiful indoor space as well as outdoor seating with fire pit and heaters. Miguel was our server and he is fantastic, great energy and service. We enjoyed the table side guacamole experience. Chef Augie is very talented, and creates amazing dishes and flavors. We especially loved the beet salad (WOW!) and everything else was delicious as well, you can't go wrong. The cocktails are also great, my favorite was the garden margarita, very refreshing. Overall exceeded all of my expectations. I will definitely be back!

Please eat here !!! So good !!! I'm very picky.....and I have to tell you it's excellent!!! Boyfriend is a chef, he approves! $$$$

Permanently closed. Tried to go today and open table says it's permanently closed too. Not sure what happened.

Is this place closed temporarily or permanently? On Sunday, 12/28/24, I made reservations only to arrive with the lights dark and nobody there. I also tried to call, but only got a voice recording. Now, it looks like their website is down.

I ordered fish tacos with rice and beans, Everything was delicious. The beans were not your typical beans. They were so much better. Dessert was even better with the Bavarian stuffed churros with strawberries and dots of chocolate and caramel drops. Ambiance was very nice, contemporary yet comfortable.

just a 2-3 weeks ago, i walked past this place with a sign outside saying "$1 oysters and 1/2 off entire bar" for happy hour tuesday through friday and sunday 4-6pm and made a mental note to come back a week when work and life were less busy but found myself a bit confused about the happy hour situation today. while happy hour still happened today on sunday between 4-6, the menu completely changed to $2 oysters and only discounted wine and $7.50 margaritas, so that caught me off guard. there were also only 2 other tables on a hot sunday afternoon, so that was a bit unexpected given the high reviews this place had. nonetheless, those who greeted us were very kind (!!), and our server was very sweet and explained to us how the place is undergoing some menu changes. she even caught herself telling us about the old happy hour menu, which had once included beers. this is on me, but i also didn't ask to clarify whether or not happy hours still happened on sunday's since their hosts and website still include sunday but the new menu and instagram does not, so be wary of that change if it does happen! this was all understandable though, given the current transitions, but what gave this place a lower rating was the oysters that were served on almost completely melted ice? not sure what happened there since it wasn't too busy of an afternoon. the grilled lemon only had a few droplets in them to squeeze out, but the sauces and cucumber, onion, and cilantro garnishes were a nice touch. on the other hand, the margaritas were decent for the price and refreshing. overall, i'd give this place a 3.5 but can't feel strongly to round up just because so many expectations were just not met food-wise, and i had been really excited to try this place for a while for the HH primarily :( this place does offer lunch and dinner too but unsure if they're undergoing any changes too, though unfortunately i don't feel too strongly about coming back for HH, lunch, or dinner.

With all the heavyweight restaurants in La Jolla, it may be easy to miss a newcomer to the scene - but don't miss Aldea Mexican cuisine! From Miguel at the bar to Hermann the GM, attention to detail was superb....refreshing margaritas, scrumptious guacamole done table side, insane pastor, and delicious fried halibut tacos - you don't want to pass this one up. Hats off to the culinary and service te

Aldea has been opened for three weeks. I was hesitant to go because I'm not a meat or seafood eater. I was glad I did! The restaurant itself is beautifully designed. Some may not like the booths but we loved it. The only negative thing, the tables could be a bit closer. We are looking forward to warmer weather, this will be the best place for food and drinks out on the patio. The service was impeccable. Everyone was friendly. They knew the menu and talked about their favorites and the items that have been ordered the most. We tried the chicken, tuna and short ribs. Everything was cooked perfectly. The meat was falling off the bone. The tuna was perfect and the chicken moist. We also tried the corn, rice and potatoes. It sure wasn't your typical papas bravos. They offered three deserts, we tried them all; the chocolate flan, the frozen ice cream and the butter cake. The deserts are made In house. The portions are huge! Some may think but the four of us could not finish everything. We will return!

This spot hits for real. I enjoyed it. Came in on a Friday by chance. Happened to be in LJ Vill and wanted to try something new. Andre makes a really good margarita and knows his tequilas well. He made the skinny marg a bit different for my date as well to her liking. After doing that we decided to stay and try their food. The fish taco fried was great classic fish taco for San Diego. The batter was thin and way crispy, the tortilla didn't fall apart and it has a nice sauce. The birria was great. Super tender, great consommé, really great beef flavor. They have killer salsas. The chef is really good. Had filet flautas which were super crispy and great to eat. Then there in there shrimp cocktail. Nice and chilled, great cocktail sauce, almost tasted like it had some tamarind. Overall gear vibes in there. Loved the decor too. Not TV's at the bar just a heads up. Really cool genuine staff, very local friendly. Will be back and def recommend this spot.

Had a wonderful birthday dinner here. Everything was great - the atmosphere, cocktails, food, wine, and service.

Food was amazing. Don't miss pomegranate in your guac Ceviche with mango and coconut took us to a whole new level of ceviche. Rice and beans were old school nana level Great location and service was amazing. Don't miss this place.

We celebrated my friend's birthday at Aldea's and we had so much fun! The ambiance is perfect and the staff is absolutely amazing. Food portions, and quality was also great. I ordered the birria tacos with a margarita on the rocks . I also highly recommend the guacamole and chips. Thank you for the amazing hospitality.

Was great food .. great service!! Refreshing new addition in La Jolla!! Would definitely come back .. want to check happy hour !

Went to Aldea for the first time for a good friend's birthday. Located on Prospect with the sun and ocean breeze.I loved the ambiance first of all of the blue marine colors! The place had an outdoor patio that took in our huge party. Service was exceptional. There were many servers to wait in us and replenish our water/adult beverages. The food was great. I could not pick what I wanted since it all sounded good. I ordered the ribeye, but will order the filet tacos next time. I definitely will be back.

Second time at Aldea and it's a shame this place isn't more busy. Food is very good, decor/vibe/location is beautiful. The prices are extremely reasonable for La Jolla. Everyone should check it out

We LOVED this casually hip, relaxed vibe of La Jolla's newest gem. With a modern Latin flare, the food was familiar and excitingly fresh. The bar served an amazing selection of craft cocktails and the wine list included some great selections from Mexico. I will definitely be back.

Amazing food and service. Aldea is a wonderful addition to the Village. We loved the mahi mahi, red snapper , pork belly, and the chocoflan is incredible! Thank you Chef John!

What a great place! We celebrated a friends birthday and ordered almost everything on the menu to share. We liked everything but the birria, fish and ceviche were our favorites. The cocktails and service are also great! We will def be back.

Happy hour one dollar oysters and an amazing " local" selection of Mexico's Valle de Guadalupe wine to pair - very unusual for CA - even in San Diego... Exceptional and knowledgeable staff about what matches ... 5 stars patio ambiance... SHhhh only coolest foodies will appreciate! Make a reservation to secure a locals table !

Great food, nice place and great service!!! We spent a great time with friends, good music

Great Mexican food they have an incredible view. The outside patio is comfortable to have a Maragaritas and enjoy the summer..

Our group of seven went to Aldea for happy hour last week. The hostess warmly greeted us. Our server carefully explained the dishes, and most of us ordered tacos and oysters. The grilled halibut tacos were delicious, as were my oysters. One person ordered a seafood entree, which was excellent. It is a high-end Mexican restaurant with a vast bar. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, and I will go back. The decor and ambiance are outstanding.

Been there 4 times. Overpriced. Empty. Lacks ambiance. Food is so-so. Doubt they will make it.

Excellent food. Excellent service. Mike the bartender could not have been nicer. Highly recommended.

Bobby, the host, was extremely friendly and personable, making us feel very welcome. Matty, the waitress, was very cordial and efficient, and the manager was very friendly as well. The food was surprisingly good! We ordered squash blossoms and chicken and they were very tasty. We'll be back!

Very nice place! The pork belly in salsa verde and the Cadillac margaritas were just perfect.

One of the worst place I've ever been in La Jolla. The food has nothing special, Chef Augie came to our table but he was just talking about himself. The taquitos sounded good but they are deep fried and the steak it is not filet, sea bass was small but the salad was delicious. I heard the cocktails were amazing but i did not like it, it's too acidic, doesn't seem fresh at all. The restaurant is cute but Mexican gourmet in La Jolla there are better ones just down the road.

While the menu not too big there were enough options. The homemade chips and salsa were delicious. In fact everything we ordered was tasty. The Caesar salad was enough for four people to share as were the patates bravo. The prices were a bit high but that seems to be the case everywhere. The food was absolutely delicious. Only suggestion was overhead music louder than necessary for our small group. Seating and ambiance attractive. We definitely will visit again during happy hour

Great atmosphere. Loved the music. Food was perfectly prepared. Ribeye was incredibly tender and the Tuna was perfectly seared! I'm beyond happy with my experience. The Jean Jacket drink was delightful and balanced. I will absolutely be back to support this wonderful new establishment. A++!